CMH Gourmand – Eating in Columbus & Ohio

A long while ago I wrote a series on Restaurant Rants. It was a fun discourse. I covered some raves in there too but thought now would be a good opportunity to review some of the things that make me happy at a diner dive or a Four Star restaurant. What about your raves?

Clean Bathroom:
It does not need to be fancy but a clean bathroom is usually a sign that other things in front and back of the house are being watched over. I like that Cameron Mitchell Restaurants and some other places have plenty of mouthwash, etc., on hand, that is a nice touch. But clean and well stocked is what I hope for and sometimes what I check out before I make my dining decision.

Water:
I have strong feelings about water. I do not like to see it wasted. So I do not think water should be served unless requested. That being said I drink a lot of water. So when I can get by own decanter that makes my life easier. It helps the server too especially if there philosophy is no glass should be less than 75% full. I drink water like a fish so that is a lot of pouring for one person with multiple tables to manage.

Napkin:
Every once in a while, I find myself in front of a very nice and soft cloth napkin. I know these are a pain to clean, but I like it. I like it very much thank you.

Napkins:
In lieu of a cloth napkin I would like access to a lot of paper napkins because my eating style is somewhat daredevil in nature and leads to some messes that don’t seem possible, but that do indeed happen with a regularity that can be counted on.

Dine Originals:
Great organization. Event better when you can get a discounted restaurant certificate. A good value is always appreciated at a lower price.

Butter:
I like my butter warm, easy to maneuver on bread and soft on the knife. Frozen butter makes me sad because I have to wait. That may mean that I eat less bread which is probably a good thing. Anyway, keep the warm butter coming.

Music:
Often I prefer no music, but if it must be on then do it right. I like the piano player at Mozart’s. Soft music – either classic or eclectic is fine as long as it is low and fits the menu and the character of the place.

A Great Server:
My criteria for a great server is different that some. And not all servers are going to be the right fit for great for all people. In my case, two servers come to mind. Lou (female) was my favorite server at Galaxy Cafe and Lost Planet Pizza and Pasta. Best ever. I had a big crush on her when she was at the Galaxy but I was always professional in my manners and only slightly out of percentage for tipping. The other server is Tiffany at Latitude 41. She knows me by name and makes sure I get my credit card back when I forget it (twice).

These are a few of my favorite things. What are yours?