Our culinary columnist explains why sitting at the bar is better.
Picture this: You just arrived at a restaurant without a reservation to dine and drink alone. The host extends immediate seating at the bar, but you decline for a proper table in the main dining room. Forty-five minutes pass and you give up and head elsewhere. How could this wait have been avoided or reduced besides making a reservation? By following the advice of the host and making yourself at home at the bar/lounge.
So why defend bartop dining? Here’s where I stand with the topic.
Service
With servers consistently approaching “the stick” to pick up drinks and bartenders ready to pour, the attention received is often more timely than at a standard table. Replacing a dropped napkin and requesting the check are as simple as making eye contact with staff; there’s little to no need to wave or raise one’s voice like at a concert. The distance between yourself and a server is also improved since you’re both closer to each other’s eye level, making the visual side of communication easier to understand. If my dining party expands to two, I may change seating arrangements. Three or more diners require a table.
Sitting at the bar also means a clear acknowledgment of your dining order after the request is placed with the kitchen, as nicer joints will have the bartender automatically lay out a napkin as an impromptu placemat and provide silverware ahead of time so you’re not signaling for a soup spoon when a bowl is served. These small details may seem insignificant, but with dining as a premium expense, everything matters to encourage repeat business.
And then there's the matter of the quality of your food. Bar patrons tend to get their food quicker than those sitting in the dining room. Your meal will probably be warmer (and/or fresher), compared to the plates that are sitting on the counter cooling off, waiting to get picked up while the servers are running around, helping other guests on a busy evening.
Hidden Amenities
I have a fondness for hooks under a bar for the purpose of hanging bags. The bottom of my handbag/shopping bag remains clean and close by for the remainder of my meal whenever I notice one; it’s a smart, hygienic detail that’s even more practical post-pandemic. I realize this feature isn’t new, but I’m always thankful when there is one.
Another built-in bonus is the metal foot bar to rest a foot on, although the bulk of bar stools also have a place to help adjust your posture. Then again, I doubt that’s why they were designed as such.
To Converse or Not to Converse
A customer’s experience at the bar is mostly based upon the purpose of their visit. Are you checking sports scores on the television screens? Do you want to be left alone? Or are you open to making a new acquaintance? These can all be accomplished at the bar, since a certain amount of socializing determined by you traditionally comes with the territory. Keeping to myself and doing a little people-watching happens to be my favorite activity.
Respecting the System
This final reason to settle in at the bar is easier to comprehend if you’ve ever worked in a full-service restaurant. A table for two being used by one person means a certain amount of revenue is basically lost since the open chair is accumulating zero dollars. Out of respect for the minimum wage-earning service staff, opting for the bar allows for the probability of a higher bill and gratuity when staff seats two individuals at the table. Everybody is happy and positive karma is inevitable thanks to being considerate.
Restaurant Bars to Visit
Habana at Irvine Spectrum is a restaurant bar I’ve frequented. It has an ambiance that checks all the boxes, but can get especially boisterous if seated during prime dining hours such as Sunday brunch. The good news: It has a more isolated patio bar by the entrance known as The Rum Bar.
The nautical-themed bar at The Mayor’s Table inside Newport Beach’s Lido House is also somewhere I’ve spent time when I wanted to decompress. The crowds may vary since it’s within a hotel, but the restaurant layout allows for 360-degree seating around the bar top to accommodate guests. Also, the dining room is far enough away from the bar that it doesn’t compete against the cocktail vibe.
Down the street from Mayor’s Table is Fable and Spirit, owned and operated by Jean and Darren Coyle; they also oversee Wineworks for Everyone and Dublin 4 Gastropub in Mission Viejo. Fable manages an upscale yet approachable beverage program. Despite having one’s back to the dining room, a patron can still imbibe and have a good time watching the game or chatting with the owners who make the rounds. The curated wine selections are also worth a visit.
Did You Know?
Bars and restaurants located at hotels are as welcoming to locals as they are to out-of-towners, particularly during the off-season. Exceptions to this guideline include some of the dining outlets at Pendry Newport Beach, as they are specifically available to special, membership-only individuals and their guests.
