• Purpose of the visit:

First you need to decide with whom and on what occasion you go to a bar or cafe. Restaurateurs divide the purpose of the visit into four groups:

1. family and friendly get-togethers;
2. business meeting;
3. romantic date;
4. banquet (birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, etc.).

Each group has its own selection criteria. For a romantic date important factors are: quality service, cozy interior, live music.

When choosing a place for a business meeting pay attention to: the prestige of the institution and the contingent of its visitors, the speed of service, the noise level (the less, the better).

For a holiday with friends or family are guided by these indicators: the best price / quality ratio (cost of food should be adequate to its quality, in this case there is no sense to overpay), proximity to home (especially if the company will be children), a wide range of alcohol, speed of service.

In the case of a banquet, the availability of a spacious hall, secure parking and the cost of food are important indicators.

• Gathering information:

Once the purpose of the visit is known, move on to the selection of a particular institution. First, you need to gather as much information as possible about the candidates closest to your home. Perhaps one of the institutions will suit you. If you don’t find any, you will have to widen your search.

You can get information from directories, brochures, the Internet, or ask acquaintances about their favorite places. Now more or less respectable restaurants, bars and cafes have their own website, which indicate: the exact address, map, pictures of interior and even the approximate cost of food.

The advantage of the Internet and the fact that the forums can find reviews from visitors who were there. I advise you not to ignore such a source of information. If there are a lot of negative reviews and specific shortcomings, it may be an indication of problems in the institution.

• Pre-visit or phone call:

A very important stage, during which the institution is evaluated. Of course, it is better to go and orient yourself on the spot, but not always there is such an opportunity, so many make an order by phone.

During the visit or a phone call, I advise you to evaluate the politeness of the staff’s answers and the completeness of answers to questions. The representative of the place, talking to you, should give out as much information as possible, and not wait until they start asking questions.

An important factor is the time after which you were given attention. Indirectly, it indicates the speed of service. If no one came to the phone a couple of minutes, or during a personal visit you had to wait a long time for the representative of the institution, it is possible that the ordered dishes or the waiter will also have to wait for an eternity.

In addition to questions that depend on the purpose of the visit, you need to ask the representative of the institution the following:

• The availability of ventilation (air conditioning) system in the hall where you will rest;
• style of cuisine (Russian, French, Italian, etc.);
• whether there are alcoholic beverages that your company prefers, for example, people who are used to drinking grappa, find this drink not in every bar;
• whether there is security;
• the number and contingent of other people who will be in the same room with your company;
  payment methods (cash only or cashless payment is possible).

The post How to choose a restaurant, bar or cafe? appeared first on The Sundry Chow.

__Cracker Barrel__

If you still think Americans only eat fast food, here’s a rebuttal. Cracker Barrel, a chain restaurant founded in 1969, is an example of American home cooking. At this point, the chain has locations in almost every state, and the total number of locations has surpassed 600.
One of the interesting features of each restaurant is the presence of a gift store with unique products. You can buy the most unusual things there, from homemade sweets to fun pet clothes.
You can’t miss the decor of the restaurants either, as each establishment is somewhat of a “museum” with unique exhibits from the wild west (and probably later).

__Panera Bread__

Another major player in the food market in America, but little known in our country. The chain of café-restaurants Panera Bread. The main assortment – healthy sandwiches, pastas and salads, prepared only from natural products without GMO content. The main assortment – healthy sandwiches, pastas and salads, prepared only from natural products without GMO content.

__Mellow Mushroom__

The Atlanta, Georgia-based chain, formed in 1974 by two enterprising students, also made the list. Mellow Mushroom pizzerias stand out from the competition with their enormous pizzas and the sale of beers of all varieties and tastes. Which makes this place almost a bar.
For alcohol there is a separate menu (or rather even 2 menus) with an average of 20 kinds of draft and about 50 kinds of bottled beer. Plus different cocktails, wine and spirits. All this is complemented by the presence of screens broadcasting sports matches.

__Waffle House__

In my opinion, it is the most American place in the United States. Waffle House is just an example of those very movie places, with a unique atmosphere and very simple food (and cheap, by the way).
The food is prepared right in front of you, there are very few seats and they are designed for a maximum of 4 people. The menu, according to the waiters, has not changed since the founding in 1955, as well as the style of the institution. One of the main side dishes is Hashbrown, which is essentially a potato grater, only the potatoes are grated on a coarse grater.

The post A tour of American restaurants. appeared first on The Sundry Chow.

Milk and Honey

On the window of the building at this address, you may notice a small sign that reads M&H, Tailors, Alterations. The iron door right next to the sign is the right entrance.

Milk & Honey Bar opened in 2002 in two cities at once – New York (Soho area) and London. The institution has a club system, so if you are not a member of the club, you need to make a reservation in advance to visit the bar. However, the entrance is allowed only until 11 p.m.

Cocktails from the bar are made only from natural ingredients: freshly squeezed juices, handmade syrups and natural flavorings. Besides cocktails, the bar offers wide wine list, rich choice of champagne, whiskey, armagnacs. Gaming room, designed for private parties, is situated on the second floor of the bar. Poker, chess, a special menu of drinks, the possibility of ordering music – all this is waiting for the company of guests from 25 people.

Little Branch

“The Twig is located in the West Village neighborhood. To get to this bar, you must find an iron door with no sign on it. The only indication that you have come to the right address is the guard at the entrance. After climbing a long staircase, the visitor enters a classic American bar from the 1920s. Even the bar staff are dressed accordingly. The institution offers guests a cozy atmosphere, light semi-darkness, masterfully created cocktails. Also the bartender will be happy to prepare an individual cocktail – just name your preferred flavors and alcohol, and then watch the creation of a personal drink. Often the bar hosts jazz evenings and live music concerts, which makes this place even more attractive for guests. It is worth noting that in the bar you can pay only in cash.

The Raines Law Room

The semi-dark, lively, and loud atmosphere of the bar called the Raines Law Room makes the visitor feel like they are entering a private party in someone’s living room. Upon arriving at the right address, one must find a staircase leading down to a black wooden door. All one has to do is ring the bell and the bar doors will be open.

Pre-booking is highly desirable, otherwise there simply may not be any free space in the bar. To make a reservation you need to send an email with the exact date, time and number of guests.

Often visitors to the bar are amazed that the cocktail list in the bar is too large, so it is sometimes very difficult to make a choice. There is also a wide range of spirits on the menu: rum, whiskey, vodka and gin.

Death & Co

During Prohibition it was believed that people who drank alcohol lived under the shadow of death. The name of the bar “Death and Company” comes from this belief. The establishment offers guests the simple pleasures of life – good wine, quality cocktails, expertly prepared food.

The bar does not offer reservations, so sometimes you have to wait your turn to enjoy the interiors and atmosphere. To find the entrance to the bar, you have to walk to the store, which has wooden panels instead of windows. A metal sign with the name Death & Co. on the sidewalk will let you know you’re in the right place. If you’re lucky and the bar is vacant (which is unlikely), the security guard will let you in right away. Otherwise, you’ll need to leave your phone number, which you’ll be called when seats are available. Usually the wait is about 20-30 minutes.

The post Milk and Honey appeared first on The Sundry Chow.

The most notable of these phenomena are the secret bars, which used to be the only way to get around the law and get into a real bar with alcohol, now they have turned into entertainment for tourists and just places “for their own”, where there is always a special atmosphere.

The principle of these bars is very simple: on the outside they are an ordinary cafe, a barbershop or just any store. This exterior space is usually small and not particularly popular. Everyone who walks in here in the evening heads straight for the completely unremarkable back door, behind which is a spacious bar room with the lively ambience of 1920s America. Rarely do you see small signs or mentions of bars on the buildings.

Despite the veil of mystery, finding a secret bar is not that difficult, the main thing is knowing where to look. Many of these bars are particularly popular because they offer guests not only a specific atmosphere, but also regularly hold performances, live jazz concerts and other entertainment events. In some venues it is not so easy to get a seat in the evening. Below is a list of seven secret bars in New York City that even tourists can get into if they want to.

PDT – Please, do not tell

“Please Don’t Tell” is how the name of one of the most famous secret bars (as strange as it may sound) translates. This place is located in the East Village neighborhood and is incredibly popular. You can get in here only by making an appointment by phone, listed on the website. Make sure to call after 3 p.m., before that time there is simply no one at the bar. The bar is in the back of the Crif Dogs diner (you can get there by going through a vintage phone booth), so look for this sign.

The menu will welcome you with classic cocktails that are prepared according to the original recipe and using the highest quality ingredients. The choice of wine and beer will please you. Also at the bar there is a kitchen where the guests are offered hot dishes and snacks.

Facility’s interior can be described in two words – simplicity and style. Wooden planks, brick walls, animal heads, leather upholstery of chairs and sofas – all this creates the right atmosphere and allows you to feel most comfortable.

Bathtub Gin

Another popular bar is The Gin Bath, located in the Chelsea neighborhood. This establishment hides behind one of the interior doors of an ordinary, unremarkable coffee shop where you can buy pastries and have a cup of coffee. However, if you head to the white door at the back, they will open it for you and take you to a noisy and crowded bar. No reservations are required here. The bar is famous for its performances, live music concerts, and a bathtub that stands right in the middle of the room.

During Prohibition, gin was one of the most popular and affordable drinks, but due to the prohibition of alcohol sales, its quality often left much to be desired. To make it more or less palatable, barmen added other ingredients to the gin, and the first cocktails were born out of it. Now the bar offers cocktails based on high quality gin, as well as a number of other alcoholic drinks and a small menu of appetizers.

Employees Only

A red neon Tarot card fortune-telling sign will serve as a landmark for the entrance to the bar called “Employees Only. On lively evenings you can meet a security guard at the entrance, who will lead you inside the place. Just this fact alone sets the atmosphere of mystery, and the interior of the bar only complements it.

Besides tasty and high quality cocktails, the bar offers a full menu for all tastes. Here you will find dishes from fried chicken to dried clams. The bar offers options for both dinner and appetizers for cocktails and other drinks. The place is popular on weekends, so it’s advisable to arrive early to grab a seat at a table or bar.

The post Secret Bars, only in The USA appeared first on The Sundry Chow.