Service Station

When you're choosing a restaurant, pay attention to how they handle the basics: Are tables properly spaced so you're not sitting in someone else's conversation? Does the menu reflect actual skill with ingredients, or is it covering inexperience with novelty? How quickly do they move you through service without rushing? Good restaurants know their weaknesses and either fix them or accept they're not right for everyone. Watch whether the owner or management is actually present during service—it matters. Listen to how staff speak about the food; if they can't articulate what makes something worth ordering, there's a reason. The best indicator isn't always the fanciest décor or the longest wine list. It's consistency: the same quality on a Tuesday that you got on Saturday, and the same care whether you're a regular or a first-timer spending real money on a night out.