Has the restaurant become the new hotel bedroom? ponders the Observer

In their long and very entertaining piece Has the restaurant become the new hotel bedroom? published August 20th in The Observer Food Monthly, John Sutherland and Stephanie Merritt offer both the Man and the Woman point of view. Their attention is not on louche eateries but on upscale ones. I will highlight some points made from the man’s point of view. John Sutherland offers Le Caprice in London and Citrus on Melrose in Los Angeles. Besides being upscale they are hard to get into so there is little chance you will be discovered. In his opinion the place has to have a gallic flair since the french have a reputation as the experts in the art of the affair. Forget about Indian (the music) or Italian (a big plop of sauce on your shirt) restaurants. Do not pick a loud place, conversation is important and leave a big fat tip in full view so as to impress the lady and be remembered by the staff if you return. John Sutherland considers the usual presence of Valet parking at most American restaurants as adding to the sense of luxury. Jan Moir of The Telegraph suggests flying off to Il Clandestino, a restaurant located in a remote location in Ancona on the Adriatic sea. I first thought they invented the name but the place really exists.