Service par excellence
Wonderful service may elevate mediocre cuisine, while great food will never compensate for poor service. The greatest floor workers are enthusiastic about what they do and strive to ensure that every single client is satisfied. Great floor employees notice everything, from the smallest table wobble to a dropped napkin to a diner's momentary expression of dissatisfaction.
They'll always wait for an acceptable pause in discussion to alert customers about specials, and they'll keep away if we appear to be in the middle of a dispute or having a passionate moment. Top-tier wait staff understands the menu and can explain it without using crib notes. And, contrary to popular belief, wait staff in a truly superb restaurant would never raise an eyebrow when requested to bring ice cubes for wine or return a steak to be cooked too well-done.
A decor that wows
We all enjoy a little glitter, and a great restaurant recognizes the value of a beautiful, well-designed, and properly kept facility. The greatest have a distinct and one-of-a-kind aesthetic, with characteristics that convey what the food and overall ethos of the restaurant are all about. Their décor is intended to be timeless and suited for the setting.
An appealing menu
The greatest restaurant menus have been carefully proofread. They will be deliberately equitable and balanced, rather than simply a list of everything currently popular. A superb menu contains enticing dish descriptions that are brief yet provide enough information to determine whether the meal is something we could enjoy rather than taking 20 minutes and a culinary dictionary to decipher. A superb restaurant employs seasonal ingredients, seeks to provide a feeling of place, and varies often enough to entice return visits.
Consistency
It isn't enough to be decent most of the time; a great restaurant gets it right every time. We all need a destination we can return to again and again, or one we can confidently suggest to others for important occasions. It does not indicate that the venue cannot adapt to changing times, but rather that it has a standard that it strives for and always meets. With new locations appearing and closing on a weekly basis, consistency and dependability are quickly becoming valuable differentiators.
Perfect timing
At a quality restaurant, the coordination between the kitchen and the floor is a well-orchestrated dance, and you'll never witness your food slowly congealing under a heat lamp at the pass, nor will your plates be rushed away and replaced by the next dish while you're still chewing. Rather, meals are delivered in a steady and well-paced manner, with enough time for enjoyable conversation and hunger whetting but not enough time to reach the dangerously "hangry" stage. Even if there is a second sitting, a reputable restaurant will never rush you out the door and will never, ever bring the bill without prior consent. Enjoy great dining at the best restaurant in Walnut Creek.