How Do You Find Restaurants in New Cities?
May 24, 2008, 10:30 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Santa Cruz, CA USA
Programs: AA, UA, WN, HH, Marriott
Posts: 7,290
How Do You Find Restaurants in New Cities?
There are obvious strategies - Chowhound, Zagat, Trip Advisor, various guidebooks (Fodor, Frommer, etc). I'm wondering what other people do and what you find most reliable.
Here's one thing that has worked for me. Once I do find a restaurant I like, I ask the waiter and/or maitre d' whether they would go if they weren't eating in their own restaurant. It has worked very well.
Here's one thing that has worked for me. Once I do find a restaurant I like, I ask the waiter and/or maitre d' whether they would go if they weren't eating in their own restaurant. It has worked very well.
May 24, 2008, 11:36 pm
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Metro Detroit
Programs: DL Plat, NW Plat
Posts: 708
I use all of your examples, and merge what I learn to narrow it down. In addtion, I speak to people that I come in contact with during my travels in that city and ask what they think. Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't. But to me, it's always an interesting experience that I always look forward to.
May 25, 2008, 12:27 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Mile-High Club, Marriott Plt, SPG P-75, PC Plt, Hyatt Dia, Carlson Gold, BW Dia
Posts: 1,845
Zagat would only be useful if it were printed of 2-ply toilet paper.
Obviously, if a Michelin guide exists for that city, then one should start there.
But for everyday chow, I check OpenTable and iDine to see what will earn me points. OpenTable usually has higher-end restaurants, while iDine covers more geographical area.
As a wino, I check reviews from wine-oriented magazines/sites such as Wine Spectator and Wine & Food.
Obviously, if a Michelin guide exists for that city, then one should start there.
But for everyday chow, I check OpenTable and iDine to see what will earn me points. OpenTable usually has higher-end restaurants, while iDine covers more geographical area.
As a wino, I check reviews from wine-oriented magazines/sites such as Wine Spectator and Wine & Food.
May 25, 2008, 4:10 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: BWI
Programs: LH M&M, CX MPC Green
Posts: 1,757
I do the guidebook thing, like the OP mentioned, but I also ask my hotel's concierge. If I have time on my own, I usually just kind of wander around and see what makes me hungry and go for that. Usually try to avoid touristy places. Often I'll even stop locals and ask for suggestions.
The OPs second tip sounds like a great one and its something I should use.
The OPs second tip sounds like a great one and its something I should use.
May 25, 2008, 6:20 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
Zagat would only be useful if it were printed of 2-ply toilet paper.
Obviously, if a Michelin guide exists for that city, then one should start there.
But for everyday chow, I check OpenTable and iDine to see what will earn me points. OpenTable usually has higher-end restaurants, while iDine covers more geographical area.
As a wino, I check reviews from wine-oriented magazines/sites such as Wine Spectator and Wine & Food.
Obviously, if a Michelin guide exists for that city, then one should start there.
But for everyday chow, I check OpenTable and iDine to see what will earn me points. OpenTable usually has higher-end restaurants, while iDine covers more geographical area.
As a wino, I check reviews from wine-oriented magazines/sites such as Wine Spectator and Wine & Food.
zagat reviewers are not paid
open table and iDine charge significient fees for diners.
i use Zagat, the local newspaper if it has an organized review section, and the CITY magazine.(Dallas, washingtionan, NY, LALA)
May 25, 2008, 6:55 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
Programs: Hilton Gold, Priority Club Blue, SPG Gold, Sofitel Gold, FB Ivory, BA Blue
Posts: 8,477
Google Maps
Centre on where I'm staying and then type in the cuisine type I'm interested in. The restaurants come with links to reviews by individuals and commercial services.
May 25, 2008, 6:34 pm
#10
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
If I have the time, I'll check out the reviews in the local newspapers too. They are usually fairly objective and instead of just a few lines can be a half page or more, with way more detailed information.
May 25, 2008, 6:35 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 757
I generally trust Chowhound more these days than Zagat/Michelin and some of the other popular websites. Opentable is a good resource to gauge availability of seats and a quick general info about the restaurant.
May 26, 2008, 6:12 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
iDine advances money to the restaurant. the card charge passes through idine. the restauant gets a 50% credit against the draw. somebody sued for usery and lost.
restaurant pays for each open table res. i do not know how much. certainly at least double the reward to the customer for using ot. a lot of people using ot do not put their high demand times into ot. in the dc area, 630-700 are a tough date, even a few weeks out. the popular restaurants(not good, but popular) do not use open table around here.
restaurant pays for each open table res. i do not know how much. certainly at least double the reward to the customer for using ot. a lot of people using ot do not put their high demand times into ot. in the dc area, 630-700 are a tough date, even a few weeks out. the popular restaurants(not good, but popular) do not use open table around here.