I'm a restaurant expert - here's how to have the BEST dinner out
Restaurant insider Danilo Mangano (above) has revealed his eight simple hacks to having the 'best' meal out
There's nothing worse than forking out a small fortune for a disappointing dinner out.
But subpar dining experiences can be avoided if you follow the advice of restaurant insider Danilo Mangano reveals.
Mangano, who is the managing director of SevenRooms, the reservation platform behind restaurants including Nobu and Michelin-starred Gymkhana, has revealed his eight simple hacks to having the 'best' meal out, which he assures will 'make a world of difference' to your experience as a diner.
From choosing the right arrival time to successfully bagging a table at the hottest restaurant in town, here are his top tips. Bon appetit!
BOOKING DIRECT
Mangano says that 'restaurants will reward you for booking directly on their website'
Mangano recommends booking directly with your restaurant of choice. 'By booking through marketplaces like OpenTable, you risk missing out on the best availability and experiences,' the insider says.
He explains: 'Restaurants will reward you for booking directly on their website with better availability and you may find out about unique experiences that you might have otherwise missed.'
LOYALTY IS KEY
'Booking a table at a great restaurant feels more competitive than ever,' says Mangano, highlighting that this is especially true 'at well-known favourites like Dishoom [a Bombay-inspired restaurant group in the UK]'.
He adds: 'An insider secret is that many hard-to-book restaurants save a few tables for their most loyal guests.
'As in any relationship, loyalty is an essential ingredient of success. Regularly visiting a restaurant and getting to know the staff is a great way to build your customer profile and guarantee yourself a spot in the future.'
DON'T BE SHY IF IT'S A SPECIAL EVENT
Let the staff know you're celebrating a special occasion and you could bag 'anything from a discount on your meal, a free drink or dessert, to a special bottle of Champagne'
Mangano advises letting the restaurant know when you are looking to celebrate a special event 'whether it be to celebrate a new promotion, a birthday or even to pop the big question'.
He says: 'Many restaurants have a little something extra to offer to make your memory of the night just that bit more special.
'You could gain anything from a discount on your meal, a free drink or dessert, to a special bottle of Champagne.'
CHOOSE YOUR ARRIVAL TIME WISELY
'If you've booked a table for 8pm, it's likely that at least three or four other parties will be booked in for that situs slot gacor too,' Mangano says.
He continues: 'Instead of arriving at 8pm on the dot, aim to get to the restaurant at least five minutes early.
'You'll get in ahead of everyone who arranged to arrive on the hour and get seated much sooner - and likely at a better table.'
The restaurant insider adds: 'You'll also be able to place your order before others, which means your food is far less likely to ...
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