Rant: Dining Out On Valentine's Day & Other Holidays

Last Friday was Valentine's Day, considered the second most popular day for dining out, with Mother's Day taking first place. However, despite its popularity, there were plenty of people warning others against dining out, alleging that it's actually a bad night for restaurants, chefs, servers, and guests. Similar warnings are often given about other popular holidays or events like the upcoming Dine Out Boston.

There is some truth behind the warnings, but it's not an absolute. You simply have to be very selective in where you dine, carefully choosing the restaurant where you plan to celebrate. You need to do your research, to locate those places with the best menu choices, those which are best likely to be able to handle the crowds. Not everywhere will be able to provide a satisfying dining experience, but there certainly are spots which you will enjoy and provide a pleasing meal.

On Friday, I dined out on Valentine's Day, for the first time in years, and it ended up being an excellent experience. I selected A Tavola, in Winchester, and Chef Joe Carli and his staff didn't disappoint. Why did I choose this restaurant? First, I wanted a smaller restaurant, something more intimate and which wouldn't garner the huge crowds you'll find at some of the large restaurants. Second, though the Chef created a special Valentine's Day menu, which could be ordered as a three-course prix fixe or a la carte, their regular menu was also available. Diners had plenty of options, and I had some difficulty choosing my entree because too many options appealed to me. Lastly, I had faith in the chef to handle the holiday properly.

It was certainly a busy evening at the restaurant, mainly couples, though there was a large table of guests that sat a short time before we finished our dinner. The restaurant had plenty of staff to handle the crowd and I had no complaints about service. All of the food was delicious, prepared properly, and arrived at the same quality as it would any other night. The other guests sitting near us seemed to be very happy with their dinners as well. I made a great choice and expect A Tavola would do equally as well on any other holiday too.  

With Dine Out Boston coming up in March, and similar Restaurant Weeks in the near future, you again need to be very selective as where to dine. Check over the menu offerings at the various restaurants and find something that appeals to you. A number of those restaurants seem to offer similar menus, ordinary salads and chicken dishes, items that don't really thrill the palate. If you look carefully though, you can find places offering something different, something much more appealing. It can be worth the effort to search for these special spots.

You shouldn't just dismiss out of hand dining out on holidays. With a bit of research, you can find a restaurant which will provide an excellent dining experience, even on the busiest of holidays.