Preparing for the Night: The Three Michelin Star Checklist

Preparing for the Night: Three Michelin Star Checklist

Did you forget anything?

So, you’ve made it this far. That means you’ve found your restaurant, saved up, gotten very excited, and tonight is the night you’ll dine and have one of your most profound and memorable meal experiences of your life… hopefully. Now what?

Here’s a checklist I’ve been working on for tonight that may help anyone in the same place as I am: It’s 5:00 in the afternoon the day of your reservation, you’re sitting around, excited as you’ve ever been, and you want to make sure things go smoothly. I’ll get it started:

• Have you received a confirmation from the restaurant or called to confirm? Some restaurants call a day or two ahead of time for confirmation, but can be very busy. Do yourself a favor, and call ahead of time. 
• What are you wearing tonight?

Tip

It’s safe to assume a three Michelin star rated restaurant is fancy. That means suit and tie for men, dresses for the women. When in doubt, dress conservatively. 

Me, Lucy, and Trek. Pre-Le Bernardin.

• Does your suit, pants, dress, jacket, etc. fit?
• Has it recently been dry-cleaned? 
• Check the neck of your collared shirt (if you’re a guy) to see if it’s comfortable with a tie… this one catches me every time. 
• Are your shoes polished? 
• Do you have a babysitter for your child?
• Do you have a pet sitter for your dog or cat? 
• How are you getting there?

Tip

Uber is a great substitute for a car service or private car if they run in your area. 

• Are you taking the subway or public transportation? Take a comfortable change of shoes… heels are tough, (I assume) especially on uneven concrete.
• Send out a tweet to the restaurant! They love to know you’re coming in and may offer you a warm, personalized welcome. 
• Check the menu ahead of time!

Tip

This isn’t so much to decide what you’ll eat, but familiarize yourself with the menu. (prix fixe, à la carte, wine list, etc.) Explore wines ahead of time and check the ratings with Corkz. 

• Do you have your wallet/purse?
• Enough money in your account to pay?
• An alternate card? We’ve all been there…
• Have you left yourself plenty of time to get there? Give yourself at least an extra 30 minutes.
• Reading glasses?

Tip

Most restaurants carry a few sets of reading glasses if you need them!

• Is your phone on silent? Actually… just turn it off.
• Keys? 
• Does your belt have an extra notch for all the food you’re about to eat?

Okay, okay, this is getting ridiculous, but you get my point. Preparing for a major meal is like going away on vacation—you always feel like you’ve left something behind. What’s great to know, however, is that once you’re at the restaurant you can just tune out all the noise, and whether or not your suit jacket is slightly tight in the chest or not, no longer matters. Barring a huge setback, like a torn inseam or a busted heel, chances are the restaurant will provide a solution to your problem or it’s not that big of a deal. 

Via NYTimes.com

Most importantly, know what you’re in for. When I ate at Per Se for my 21st birthday, I only had some clue of what I was getting myself into. 12 courses, with a wine for every course, plus extra tastings, extra desserts, and extra wine pairings later, I was almost full to bursting and pretty drunk at that… my friend and I were planning on going out afterwards, but the only place we could see ourselves settling that night was on our pillows. If you are up for a night out on the town after your meal, check a few local cocktail lounges in the area, or even another Michelin restaurant with a great lounge or bar—somewhere that fits your style for the night. A nightcap is a great way to close our your night, but most likely you’ll crawl into a cab, throw all your clothes into a crumpled heap in the corner of your room, and sleep like it’s ambrosia.

- Adam from Tipped Mixology

Restaurant Review: Primo

Restaurant Review: Primo

Coming Soon: Michelin Guide, Maine

I sat on this review for a couple of days to collect my thoughts after eating one of the best meals of my life. I keep flipping through the incognito pictures I snapped throughout the dinner, except the one where my flash went off as I panicked and pocketed my phone while glancing around the dining room to see how many diners I pissed off with my embarrassing mistake—I don’t think anyone cared. I’m not faced with the same dilemma I was faced with after eating my birthday dinner at Le Bernadin: how do I write a review of something that is as close to perfect as I have experienced thus far in my life? I scrapped my review of Le Bernadin because I didn’t think I could do it justice… I kept getting stuck on the first paragraph where I tried to justify why some restaurants should get a fourth Michelin star. I think I have more to say about Primo. Primo isn’t quite the dining juggernaut that Le Bernadin is; it’s unassuming, casual, hidden, and every bit as good as Le Bernadin, but for completely different reasons. More so, I feel like everything has been said about Le Bernadin; We all know they’re leaders in the world of sustainability, boast a menu of the best fish dishes you’ll experience in your life, and we all know the accolades of Eric Ripert, and even his fish prep chef à la an episode of No Reservations. Everyone knows Le Bernadin is amazing, and I insist you eat there if you appreciate food and haven’t yet, but not everyone knows about Primo. I may still be able to introduce a few to some amazing things happening in a cozy converted Victorian getaway.

For those of you who saw my recent Instagram, I was in Maine with my girlfriend this past weekend celebrating our one year anniversary. Primo is located in Rockland, Maine, about an hour and a half drive along the coast from Portland. It’s a hike; my first trip to Maine was totally formulated around a meal at Primo. Saying it’s worth it is a complete understatement. Primo deserves all the accolades they’ve received and more. Melissa Kelly is a genius, admirable for her approach to farm-to-table cooking, and I don’t hesitate to say that Primo is the best restaurant in Maine—possibly the best restaurant in the Northeastern United States excluding New York City. I don’t think I’m just taking a leap for the purpose of this review, I really mean it. Let me get into things and see if I can do that statement justice: