Miss going out to dinner? Eating out is an opportunity to try new foods, support local businesses, and create an occasion to spend time with friends and family. Dining at a restaurant is a great way to take yourself out of your everyday life and enjoy the elevated experience of an amazing meal being catered to you.
However, between limited dining capacities at restaurants, surges in restaurant reservations, and an increase in delivery orders, many people are now opting to enjoy meals at home instead. Even though you may be dining at home more often, that doesn’t mean you should give up all the luxuries of a restaurant experience.
How To Enjoy A Restaurant Experience At Home
From the ambiance and service of an establishment, to getting all dressed up to meet with loved ones at your favorite restaurant, there are many appealing factors of a dining experience that can easily be recreated at home. Apart from cooking or ordering a great meal, take your dining experience a step further by bringing all the enjoyable elements of a restaurant together to your kitchen. Below is a helpful guide to creating an unforgettable restaurant dining experience in the comfort of your own home.
Choose A Theme
What’s your favorite restaurant? Or your favorite kind of meal? Is there a restaurant you’ve been looking to try but haven’t gotten around to? In order to make the most of your at-home restaurant experience, it’s important to plan ahead and select a theme for your evening. Think of your go-to establishments, or a local food spot that you have been really missing lately. You could either recreate your favorite restaurant right in your own dining room or come up with a completely new dining experience to try out at home. To really enjoy your night, get creative and transform your designated space as much as possible.
Plan A Menu
The best part of going to a restaurant is the meal and drinks you get to enjoy. To execute a proper dining experience at home, take some time to plan out your menu. Once you’ve settled on a theme for your evening, create your own menu in advance by revisiting the meals you enjoy at your favorite restaurant. And be sure to pair your meal with the right drinks! If you’re trying out an entirely new food concept, do some research on the kinds of meals and beverages you want to serve.
To make your evening as stress-free as possible, you can always order from the restaurant you are trying to emulate at home. Call ahead of time to place your order and schedule a delivery for an appropriate time, so your meal is ready to be served and enjoyed when it arrives at your home. Be sure to opt for foods that travel well during delivery, so there aren’t any issues with your order. However, if you enjoy cooking you can challenge yourself to recreate a dish from your favorite restaurant or an entirely new recipe that matches the theme of your evening.
Set The Scene
Ambiance is everything. To make it feel and look like you are seated at a table in your restaurant of choice, feel free to get creative and decorate your space to recreate the establishment’s atmosphere. Think about all the elements found in your favorite restaurant that makes your time there enjoyable. If your dining experience there was memorable because of the lighting, music, or tablescape it’s essential to incorporate those elements in your home. You can even print out a menu of what you’ll be serving that night for yourself or your guests. If you’re still unsure of what to decorate your dining room with, here are some suggestions to create a typical restaurant experience.
- Placemats: Adorn your table with unique placemats to elevate your dining experience.
- Dinnerware: Bring out your best cutlery, glassware, and plates for the evening.
- Lighting: Recreate restaurant lighting by using candles, string lights, or low-level lighting.
- Music: Set the mood by creating a playlist that matches your theme.
- Decorations: Include flowers and table arrangements or hang wall decor to upgrade the look of your experience.
Invite Your Guests
A meal is best enjoyed with some great company. Although you can always take the time to bring a restaurant experience at home as a night for yourself, you can also use this occasion as a way to bring friends and family together. Create a list of people you would like to invite and plan for a date where everyone is available to come over for an unforgettable dining experience. If you haven’t seen some of your loved ones a while, this is a great excuse to bring everyone together to enjoy a good meal.
Be sure to order or cook enough food for the number of guests that will be attending that evening, and decorate your space ahead of time. To make the most of your at-home dining experience, prepare as much as possible in advance so you can enjoy your evening to the fullest. Decorate your space a day ahead if possible, schedule a delivery, and set the table before your guests arrive.
Plate Your Meal
Not only should your home look the part, but so should your meal. Once you are done cooking or your order for the night has arrived, take some time to properly plate your meal before serving. You could either do some research on how to plate a restaurant-quality meal or try to recreate the way your favorite restaurant plates their own dishes. Although it’s an extra step, it can make a huge difference in the overall presentation of your meal. If you are ordering delivery, choose an establishment that dresses up their orders so that the work of plating a meal properly is already halfway done. Because you are already dedicating time to creating an unforgettable dining experience at home, have some fun and plate your meals in unique ways.
Dress The Part
Make the most out of your occasion! Most people tend to enjoy any excuse to get all dressed up and go somewhere special, especially when they are going out for a good meal. To recreate a restaurant experience fully, it’s important you look the part as well. Choose a fun outfit to wear while enjoying your meal, and encourage your guests to dress up as well. If you have chosen a certain theme for the night, you can choose to wear an outfit that matches your theme. However, if you’re looking to enjoy a meal as comfortably as possible, you can always show up to your dining room dressed in your best pjs and sweatsuits.
Enjoy Your At-Home Restaurant Experience
The most important thing to keep in mind as you create your at-home dining experience is that you should be enjoying yourself along the way. Spending a night out at a restaurant is a form of relaxation and fun for many people, and it should feel the same for you. Taking the time to plan out a nice meal and decorate your space is a great way to break out the monotony of your weekly routine. Whether you’re looking to treat yourself to a restaurant experience at home or want to bring some friends and family together in your home to share an amazing meal, be sure to plan ahead to make the most out of your night.
