Do you religiously follow the restaurant recommendations in your travel guide? Or do you risk going somewhere that’s not in the book?
I’ve just returned from three days in Athens where my son and I had this very debate, and tested the results. On two out of the three nights we ended up in restaurants that were listed in our guidebooks. (We compared The Rough Guide to Greece, Eyewitness Top 10 Guide to Athens, Rough Guide Directions: Athens and Lonely Planet 'Best of' Athens.) Both of these worked out well, particularly the last night when we sat on a roof terrace with a lovely view of the Acropolis at a local taverna that we would never have found without the book.
The one night where we didn’t go by the book we headed for a street full of restaurants, including a couple that were in the books, but deliberately chose one that wasn’t. It was a good location, and it was busy enough to be lively. But it turned out to be a mistake. A very average meal over-priced.
It seems an obvious lesson – stick to the book. But I can’t help but feel that surely we need to leave room for some spontaneity in our lives. And when you think about it, I do have doubts that the guidebook writers actually eat in every restaurant that they list or don’t list – how could they? So when they have chosen to recommend one out of a row of cafes or restaurants, is it really better than all of the others?
Answers on a postcard please.
Author: Douglas Schatz
Date: 31 July 2008
1 comment
Comments
23 September 2008 20:49 : teresa casabella
My husband and I sometimes go to restaurants that are not in guides but then we usually try to find places out of tourist areas.One rule we follow is never to eat in places where the menu is translated in several languages or where waiters tell you to go in. Also, a good sign is locals eating there. Of course, this is getting more diffficult now as people spend weekends in other countries.we also have several favorite practical guides,these change with the years. I'm afraid mass tourism is completely different from travelling, it has spoiled lots of places.I'd imagine the situation in Athens can be compared to Rome, nothing at all like 10 years ago...
Stanfords' reply:
Yes it is dispiriting the number of very mediocre restaurants that flourish on the back of tourist volumes. And they are often busy, so it can be difficult to tell that they're not good. With a constant stream of new tourists they don't need to count on our repeat business, so it doesn't matter that they don't deliver quality. I had a similar experience in Rome, where on one night we left the guidebook at home and went for a busy restaurant with a lovely location sitting out on the square - it was not a success. On the other hand, following the locals is sound advice; on that same trip I ambled into a small local wine bar that was busy with beautifully dressed Italians meeting after work, and had a marvellous time sampling Chiantis and salamis. ( I looked later - it was in the book!).