When you're out of town, you'll likely be eating in unfamiliar restaurants. Here are some ways to find good ones.
When travelers are visiting unfamiliar towns or cities,
they may not know which restaurants to try. Unless diners go to something widely-familiar like the golden arches of fast food or IHOP for pancakes, it's hard to know what unfamiliar places' cuisine will be like. Unless a hotel has kitchen facilities in the room, chances are that most meals will be eaten out, so it's important to find some good ones. Here are some things to look for and ways to discover the best eateries.
What to look for:
• Other patrons: If a local place has lots of cheery locals eating in it, this is a good sign of a popular place. If it's on the main thoroughfare and the only license plates in the parking lot are from out of state, this may be red flag. The locals always know the best places.
• Police or truck drivers: Another sign of tasty cuisine is workers such as police officers or truck drivers dining inside. These are workers who must eat out a lot while they work, so they're bound to know the most delectable spots.
• Internet access: This is more about convenience than taste, but if you're an out-of-towner who needs to catch up on email correspondence while on the road, bringing a laptop in to cafes with WIFI access will be a two-for-one proposition. This is especially true for businessmen or women who are traveling for work and are eating alone.
• Awards or praise posted publicly: When checking places out, many of them will have their awards posted in the lobby or in a glass case by the menu. Locales that are awarded accolades for best spot by local publications and groups will also post these for public viewing.
• Happy wait staff: If you go into a place that is bustling with happy waiters and waitresses, chances are that it's a good place to work. They're probably getting good tips and the cooks or chefs know what they're doing. When the wait staff looks miserable, it could be because they've gotten grief from customers for bad food or service. Red flag!
How to find these top-notch restaurants:
• Online: Simply typing a classification such as "vegetarian" into a search on eateries should bring up a list of possibilities. Read the associated reviews and go from there.
• Ask desk clerks and concierges: These hotel staff members are there to help you. Tell them what you're looking for in a dining experience and they should be able to guide you to some nice menus.
• Drive around the town: Cruise the streets to locate quaint looking places then stop to check the menu and prices of the ones that appeal to you. Bring your appetite and sense of adventure.
When traveling, one of the best parts of each trip is sampling the local cuisine. There are plenty of great menus and regional cooking out there so skip those chain places. Find restaurants that you'll want to tell everyone back home about when you return from your trip.
