Some of my best and most memorable travel experiences have been finding and dining at obscure local restaurants
Here’s a fun exercise. I was thinking about the type of restaurants and food I like when traveling, and then I broke it down into a list of preliminary categories and questions and answers. I thought I’d throw some of these questions to you.
What type of restaurants do you generally seek out and enjoy when you travel, and how do you learn of the restaurants?
This survey is limited to leisure travel, as I assume when traveling for business you’ll happily go to the most expensive restaurant your business or colleagues will take you to.
HOW DO YOU LEARN OF RESTAURANTS WHEN YOU TRAVEL?
Here are some possible answers:
- I do tons of research, including resources such as Yelp and TripAdvisor
- I ask friends and post requests in Facebook Groups or on blogs
- I ask the hotel concierge
- I walk down the street and go where ever catches my eye
- I ask locals that I meet at the location
- room service, room service, room service
(my answer: all of the above except room service)
WHAT TYPE OF RESTAURANTS OR EATING ESTABLISHMENTS DO YOU LIKE TO SEEK OUT WHEN YOU TRAVEL?
- Fine Dining, top-rated restaurants, including expensive and Michelin star restaurants (YOLO)
- Touristic restaurants located on or around the main drag of the city or location you’re visiting
- Better or upscale chain restaurants
- Fast food chains
- food courts
- Markets with food halls
- food trucks
- restaurants that are known to locals but somewhat obscure or unknown to tourists (off the beaten track restaurants).
- supermarkets
- food tours
(my answer: markets with food halls and off the beaten track restaurants. For lunch, I might be interested in checking out a salad or snack from a local market or supermarket).
A market in Helsinki
WHAT STYLE OR ETHNICITY OF FOOD DO YOU PREFER WHEN TRAVELING?
I think for most of us, we want at least one or more meals of food typical to the place we are visiting. After that, anything goes.
(my answer: I prefer authentic local cuisine. Also, if a location is known for one particular dish or item – such as cheesesteak in Philadelphia or gelato in Italy, I will want to try that item at least once.)
DIETARY PREFERENCES OR LIMITATIONS
Of course, one’s choice of where and what to eat is guided by one’s dietary preferences or limitations, such as Kosher, Halal, Vegetarian, Vegan, Keto, Low sodium, Low cholesterol, Gluten free, Lactose intolerant, Low carb, and a whole list of allergies and personal preferences.
A New York frequent flyer who elegantly combines her passions for worldwide travel, running a gazillion marathons all over the globe and staying fit ... without sacrificing her fancy for good wine and food.
Food has always been one of our passions so I devote a ton of time in deciding on every meal my wife and I eat, at home or on the road. I once worked in the restaurant business and my brother still does, so I have some good contacts for pretty much anywhere.
My wife is willing to go wherever I choose, though “why did you choose THIS place?” is often asked. She also has her favorites so we generally return to the scene of the crime in New York, Philly, Paris.
I use Eater as a source, read many articles and bookmark them for future trips. I disdain Yelp and Trip Advisor, which are not at all trustworthy as most people haven’t a clue and these ballot boxes are stuffed by establishments to promote themselves and denigrate the competition.
We will drive for hours to avoid chain restaurants but otherwise anything goes. On a recent trip to San Francisco, we waited in line for cheap Cantonese at Sam Wo and for pricey oysters at Swan Oyster Depot, but also dined at some pricey well known restaurants.
Food halls, like Eataly and Chelsea Market, are often great finds as there are so many good choices and we don’t even need to have the same cuisine.
I realize that we are obsessed with food, but anyone can modify my approach and wind up with good experiences. Last point: “Measure twice, cut once!” We always check before sitting down to make sure that we haven’t missed out on something that was just around the corner.