When it comes to finding, ordering, and eating at ethnic restaurants there’s only one place to look for advice: economist Tyler Cowen’s Ethnic Dining Guide. I’ve mentioned Cowen’s guide before (if only in passing), but it’s time I dedicated a post to this treasure trove of dining advice and, especially, the tips from Cowen’s General Remarks.
From an article in The Washington Post, four strategies for finding good restaurants and ordering well (click through for details):
- For good value, avoid high-rent areas (those will be expensive or chains).
- Look for competition (possibly a sign of a large immigrant population, providing expertise).
- Know how to order ‘strategically’ from waiters.
- Be aware of the restaurant cycle (from opening, to accolades, to mass production).
Four rules-of-thumb for choosing from the menu (be aware of the exceptions):
- Avoid “ingredients-intensive” dishes, opt for “composition-intensive” instead (i.e. contains sauces or complex ingredient mixes).
- Appetizers are superior to main courses in some cuisines; be willing to have a ‘side-dishes-only’ meal.
- Avoid desserts, especially Asian ones.
- Order for variety, not quantity (order more than you think necessary).
And finally, from a recent article by Cowen in The Atlantic, six rules for dining out:
- In the fanciest restaurants, order what sounds least appetising.
- Beware the beautiful, laughing women (you’re there for food, not the scene/drinks).
- Get out of the city.
- Admit what you don’t know, and search/ask intelligently.
- Exploit restaurant workers (if you see expensive labour, think about what your return is… family-run restaurants may offer the best return).
- Prefer Vietnamese to Thai, Pakistani to Indian.
Cowen can be a bit outspoken on the topic of food, so bear in mind this comment:
It all makes perfect sense if you like what Cowen likes, which is interesting food for a reasonable price without much ambiance. Which is not what everyone likes.
Whether that’s what you like or not, you’ll still definitely like Cowen’s book on the subject, An Economist Gets Lunch.