I beg when I say this – please don’t make me choose. I love a lot of restaurants and cafes and mostly, I get along with the wait staff. I am going to deviate and relate a story – way back in 2008 – gosh, sounds like a million years ago.

It was final year and our batch went for dinner during graduation day. And we wore our best. All girls in saree – and I chose a black one. And we chose a fancy restaurant. Come on! Three years of hard work had paid off. And we were all going separate ways. In the middle of the meal, the head chef came out and stared at all the people seated in the restaurant. A clean guy, long face, long nose and specs respectfully perched on his nose with the huge chef’s cap. He ran a quick glance around the restaurant and his eyes rested on me.

He tipped his head and touched his cap and smiled. I broke into a broad smile and tipped my head back to him in respect. The guy sitting next to me asked if I knew him. I said no to which he argued why would he do that to me in the the huge crowd. I looked at my friend and grinned evilly, “Manners, maybe?”

That’s it. I have compared all restaurants to that place for a long time since then. And yes, the wait staff, the decor and the comfort makes a huge difference to the overall dining experience. And whenever I pick a restaurant, I ensure there are ample of bushes and trees around. I need the green cover to feel better.

I am okay to let go in case of taste and flavor. To be honest, I am no great judge of great food and I am no one to judge Michelin’s first cousins either. Throw me a great ambient place for dinner or lunch and I am in.

There was a time when restaurants and hotels were glimmering and flashing white interior lights. To my mind, that is similar to dining a block close to a mortuary. I am not a big fan of flashy lights and eye-piercing decors.

On that note I should share another story. There was this famous restaurant people had told we “must” try since I was going to Kerala. That was one such horrendous experience. There was no place to stand and wait and people were already at your elbow placing their presence as they would be the next to eat. I begged my father – whose face was already contorted in disbelief – that we were never going there. When next day also we were helpless with the ongoing onslaught of customers, I firmly told dad we are stepping out.

And there it was another fine restaurant. Great ambience, lesser people, amazing wait staff, the owner came and chatted with us – run by this Tamil family. All family members were staff on the restaurant. I have some fine memories of that place, I have still saved the receipts though I am sure they have gotten wiped out.

We dined there every, single day and even on the day we were returning. That restaurant really solved our culinary dilemma. I loved the food, the ambience made it thrice an experience to go to. I am choosing ambience over taste any day. As long as they have bottled water, and an experience to share – I am going just for that.