Flight Savor Fare

In April’s issue Andrew Knowlton, Restaurant Editor of Bon Appetit, lists 5 things he hates about restaurants. It’s interesting because fine dining restaurants are struggling all over the country just to survive and some have converted to Family Style dining — take Savoy in Asheville, for instance, now a casual Italian restaurant called Vinnie’s. Most of the things Andrew “hates” about restaurants stem from financial considerations. Fine dining has what one writer calls “a razor-thin profit margin.” Take a look at some of Andrew’s points and see if you agree.
1. “No one to greet you as you arrive or say thanks for coming as you leave.

Well, Andrew, as a restaurant owner trying to make it through these trying economic times, let me just say that that gracious person is going to be making $10/hour plus. She or he may well be there to greet you, but after everyone has been seated, she will probably be released, so hopefully, you’ve tipped your server well and he or she tells you, speaking for all of us, how grateful we are you’ve come out to support us.

Our main goal is to maintain the quality of the food, the presentation and the service. But the white tablecloths and the flowers are always hanging on by a thread!

What do you think?

tomorrow: Number 2