You have a special occasion coming up, perhaps a reunion with old friends, a wedding anniversary or even a proposal! How can you make your fine dining experience one to remember?

Plan your date

An essential part of making an event go as smoothly as possible is to plan ahead as much as you can. Firstly consider the food preferences of your guests and yourself, and what sort of atmosphere you would like to find yourself in. If any of your guests are vegetarian, a barbecue restaurant is not the best choice. Check ahead to ensure the restaurant caters for dietary or cultural restrictions. If you want a quiet conversation, a pub will probably not be a suitable venue. Even a fine dining restaurant on a busy night may not offer the right ambience for the occasion. If you have small children, book a babysitter or relative to look after them so you can concentrate on enjoying your night.

Create the mood

Fine dining restaurants can offer cuisines ranging from Modern Australian to Japanese or French, with a décor and ambience to match. For a romantic date, ask if they can provide a quiet setting or candles on the table.

Dress up

The wait staff at fine dining restaurants are highly trained and wear formal attire. Contact your restaurant ahead of time to check what their dress code is so you are as comfortable as possible in your surroundings. If you are planning on indulging in alcohol with your meal, you should organise a taxi or check the bus routes so that when it comes time to head home you can do so easily and safely.

To avoid disappointment, try to make reservations well ahead of time as some restaurants and cafes become booked up quickly, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. For a really special occasion, let the restaurant manager know so the staff will co-operate with you in making it a night to remember.