#FoodieFriday – How Important to You is ‘Ambience’ in Restaurants?

Let’s talk about eating out …

I am not referring to basic eating establishments such as ‘McDonald’s’, ‘Pizza Hut’, and other fast-food chains; I mean restaurants that create their own menus and food. Okay, so “Ambience” is just a fancy word for the feel or atmosphere of a place.

If I walk into a restaurant with cosy, warm lighting and soft music, it creates a welcoming, relaxing mood for me. That’s the ambience. Same idea for a restaurant with entertainment, a peaceful garden or terrace. Sea, lake or mountain view. It has the vibe you are looking for to enjoy your meal, and I get that everyone’s preference is different.

What is your preferred vibe – likes and dislikes

My Likes

Last week, we discovered a lovely restaurant in Alvor that ticked all the ‘cosy’ boxes. ‘Adega d’Alvor‘. Not only did it have a great ambience, but the food and staff were terrific. It also had kerb appeal.

inside cosy courtyard

The food we ordered was also delicious … amazing choice of desserts.

I also like restaurants with a nice view!

Good food at reasonable prices

Dislikes

One of the things I dislike about the ambience of many Portuguese restaurants is the blindingly bright lighting and a TV muttering away to itself in a prominent position. While the food is often great, sitting under bright lights (other than when I eat fish with lots of bones) is not my idea of a relaxing meal out.

Plastic food.

When you order an extra bottle of wine with dessert, and then, as they pour the wine, you are informed that you have to vacate the table in 10 minutes because people are waiting. ~Oh, but you can sit on the stools outside the restaurant. Great. If you have ‘sittings’, tell us when we make the reservation.

Inflated prices. Yep, I understand restaurants with great views can charge more for the privilege, but nothing gets my goat more than establishments that inflate their prices like some restaurants with no view, nada, in the town where we live.

And when a reviewer on TripAdvisor states, ‘This is the BEST restaurant in *****’ (Choose a town). I want to reply: How do you know? Have you tried them all?

What are your likes and dislikes?

Why not join the Foodie Friday Challenge Blog Hop?

Let’s talk about food, whether it’s sharing your favourite recipes, growing fruit and vegetables, your harvest ups and downs, hints and tips, favourite restaurants or pictures of plates of food – even diets. If it’s food-related, why not post it on your blog and add it to the Foodie Friday Blog Hop

• Create a post about food at any point during the following week and include the tag: #foodiefriday. You’re welcome to use previous ‘food-related’ posts.
• Link to my weekly post to create a pingback, and I will endeavour to visit and comment.
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• Don’t forget to add a link to your post when you comment below so we can keep track and support each other.
• Please don’t forget to check out other bloggers’ posts.
• tag #foodiefriday

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