business friendly

a good place to bring a client or business partner and seal the deal

chef's table / bar

some of the best chefs provide a table in the kitchen for special chefs dinners, etc.; less dramatic but also fun is a counter or bar that allows you to interact with the chef

communal seating

you never know what might develop when you find yourself sitting with somebody new…

cultural connection

the food/place/service/scene give you a sense of connection to culture and tradition

• Andoh, Elizabeth, Washoku: Recipes from the Japanese Home Kitchen, Ten Speed Press (2005)

dancing

yes, some restaurants even provide the option of dancing

fun emporium

a place that really knows how to have fun, and to ensure that you have fun, too (if you want to)

good for dining alone

accommodating the needs of the single diner (welcoming, attentive, connecting, providing appropriate seating, etc.)

great bar

an attractive/interesting and approachable place to relax, meet people, enjoy a drink – or a comfortable place to hang out and enjoy food & drink

hang out for a while

a place where you feel comfortable to linger, socialize, relax

• Oldenburg, Ray: Celebrating the Third Place: Inspiring Stories About the “Great Good Places” at the Heart of Our Communities, Marlowe (2001)
• Matanovic, Milenko: Multiple Victories: Pomegranate Center’s Art of Creating Community-crafted Gathering Places, Pomegranate Center (2007)

kid / family friendly

accommodating the needs of kids & their parents (kid’s pal area, kid menus, accessible food, playthings, segregated area for kids, etc.); family attitude

lectures, readings, events

sometimes you can feed your head, too

live music / entertainment

live performances in the dining area

make a friend

in the design of the place, the menu, and in the operation, people are brought together

people watching

relax and enjoy seeing the interesting and beautiful people

pet friendly

face it, our pets are part of our lives and accommodating them, if possible, is a benefit to pet owners

romantic / intimate

self-explanatory

senior friendly

simple food (accessible to seniors), attentive service, patience, disability access, etc.

singles friendly

you feel comfortable, welcomed, engaged, entertained as a single diner

special occasion

a place you would love to go to celebrate!

theatre / comedy

in-house entertainment

can be noisy

noise is sometimes a natural result of doing everything else right (popularity), but it can be annoying and detract from the experience; it should be mitigated

lots of suits & hushed tones

focused on the business and special occasion clientele; not approachable for casual dining

rushed

how can you enjoy your meal when you feel you’re being scurried out the door?

very busy (possible wait)

this often is a sign that the place is wonderful; occasionally it’s just bad planning