Restaurants - what is it? History and types of restaurants

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

When the word "restaurant" is mentioned, many people's imagination draws an exquisitely decorated room with a stylish menu book, neat serving, comfortable furniture and delicious but expensive dishes. Others answer simply - this is a place where you can eat. What does this term mean anyway?

Meaning and origin of the word

The dictionary says that restaurants are public catering establishments, which, as a rule, have a stage (live music) and other entertainment. They work mainly in the evening and at night. In such an institution, you can try exclusive dishes and drinks - expensive, but high quality. It is also indicated that the restaurant is sure to offer consumers a wide range of custom and branded culinary creations.

Derived from the French restaurant, which translates as "restoring", "strengthening". It was first used in the 18th century, when one of the taverns in Paris was named like that. Moreover, the name was given by the visitors of the institution, as if in gratitude to the owner of Boulanger, who introduced a nutritious meat broth into the menu. The entrepreneur not only supplemented the assortment with a delicious soup, heI also hung a sign on the door, on which something like “come to me and I will restore you” was written.

History of origin: where did the first restaurant appear and how did this business develop?

Since ancient times, taverns and taverns have been especially popular, but only among tourists: the locals considered it an unacceptable and unnecessary waste of money.

The oldest European restaurant is located in Madrid - Sobrino de Botín. It was opened in 1725, but was slightly different from modern ones. Restaurants are now establishments that cook and serve custom-made meals and operate on a set schedule. For the first time, a similar institution appeared only at the end of the 18th century. Such a breakthrough in the restaurant business was made by Mr. Bovillier. The institution was opened in 1782 under the name "Grand Tavern de Londre".

But it cannot be said that Sobrino de Botín, opened in 1725, is the oldest restaurant. The old, or rather, the first, representative of this industry was opened back in 1153 under the name "Bakit Chicken House". It is located in the Chinese city of Kaifeng. Need another interesting fact? The restaurant is still open today, over 860 years old!

The restaurant business came to Russia relatively recently, at the beginning of the 19th century. Initially, this type of institution was opened only at hotels. Then the first restaurant "Slavyansky Bazar" was opened in Moscow, which differs from other public catering establishments in everything: for the first time, waiters began to work, who were decently and cleanly dressed, a menu was formedfrom a variety of hearty dishes, an entertainment program is organized. So, gradually the "new" restaurants forced out the "old" taverns from St. Petersburg and the capital. But here is such an interesting note: catering establishments of the highest class belonged to anyone, but not Russians. The most common owners were Germans and French.

Then the revolution began, and when it ended, many restaurants were closed with the label "not up to standard". But after the 1950s there was a revival in Russia. Even the perestroika and the collapse of the Union did not have a depressing effect on the restaurant business, on the contrary, more and more private establishments began to appear.

This is how restaurants gradually developed. Today, these are establishments that can differ significantly from each other both in the proposed menu and in the way the room is decorated.

Does the restaurateur have anything to do with this topic?

The word comes from the French restaurateur and translates as "owner, owner of a restaurant." Moreover, this is the name of a person who does not necessarily have a network of establishments, at least one. Simply put, this is an entrepreneur who develops the concept of a restaurant and implements the project at his own expense.

It's not uncommon for a restaurateur to be the chef or even take on all the responsibilities: accounting, customer service, and everything else. And it happens the other way around when he hires a manager who oversees the activities of one or more restaurants, a chef and his team, waiters, accountants, dishwashers and cleaners.

It is worth noting that the most important achievement of the chef and the restaurant as a whole is getting a Michelin Red Guide star. This is considered a very prestigious title. In Europe, unlike Russia, they teach such a profession.

Types of restaurants: what are they?

Now there are a lot of catering establishments: beer restaurants, pubs, ordinary and art cafes, restaurant-bars, grill bars and so on. But there is a generally accepted international classification that divides establishments depending on how well thought out the menu, interior design, staff clothing and additional services.

GOST classification:

1. Deluxe class. These are the most expensive and fashionable restaurants, which always have a cocktail lounge with a bar counter and a banquet hall. The style of the interior must fully correspond to the name of the institution. As a rule, architects and designers are engaged in the creation of such a room. Only high-class specialists work in the restaurant, they wear a uniform of a single sample. Also in the state there are employees responsible for conducting recreational activities. There are outlets where you can buy flowers or souvenirs. The menu contains at least half of the entire range of signature dishes.
2. Top class. Original interior, a choice of services, a wide range of dishes and an evening show program.
3. First class - harmonious interior without frills, at least a few services for customers and a choice of different types of dishes.

Star rating of the restaurant:

• 1 star (Grade 4) –there should be bathrooms, tablecloths on tables, air conditioning and heating, a kitchen with a refrigerator and water separate from the hall, 1 employee for 24 clients.
• 2 stars (3rd class) - all requirements as for 4th class, only 20 visitors per 1 employee. Particular attention is paid to cutlery and crockery.
• 3 stars (grade 2) - all the above requirements + for 1 client at least 1.5 m². One employee serves 15 people.
• 4 stars (Grade 1) - Menu translated into 2 or more languages, space freer than Grade 2, waiter and administrator for every 5 patrons.
• 5 stars (highest class) - all the previously described requirements, as well as high-quality, comfortable furniture made of precious wood. For 5 guests of the restaurant, a waiter and his assistant.

Price:

• Economy - 500-600 rubles.
• Business - 1500-2000 rubles, there should be live music, the menu includes several cuisines from different countries.
• First class, or club - from 1000 euros, top-level service, dishes from high-quality products, wine list.

Technology:

• Gastronomic - sophisticated dishes and good wines.
• Casual (casual) - no frills menu, wine list, pre-cooked meals.
• Bar (pub, tavern) - a small selection of easy-to-cook dishes, self-service.
• Fast service - previously frozen dishes are served, no waiters.
• Fast food - fast service, small selection.
• Street food - a minimum of dishes, quick preparation, cheapness. workoutside.
• Dining room - the menu changes depending on what products are in the refrigerator today.
• Catering - offsite service. Payment in advance, and dishes are cooked in kilograms.

Restaurant-kitchen - the opportunity to watch the chefs

Recently, this design of catering places is becoming more and more popular. The restaurant-kitchen is good because the chefs prepare dishes right in front of the visitors' eyes, due to which customers can evaluate the quality of not only the already prepared dish, but also observe how conscientiously the employees of the establishment treat their work.

Restaurant-bar is the perfect place for lovers of fine drinks

As a rule, this is an institution with several additional (VIP, banquet) and one main hall equipped with a bar counter, which includes a wide range of different drinks, including an extensive wine list. The bar-restaurant can also be small in size. These establishments usually serve at the counter, but there are waiters.

Restaurants specializing in cuisines from around the world

It is rare to find establishments that would only serve dishes from a specific country. Usually, even if a catering place is presented as a Russian restaurant or, for example, Italian, you can still find goodies on the menu that belong to another country. However, there are those, they are also called national.

DifferentThere are many cuisines, every nation for centuries of existence has managed to acquire recipes that cannot be found anywhere else. For example, pasta for Italy is like borscht for Russia, and rolls for Japan are like fried sausages for Germans. And in every country you can find establishments that specialize not only in the preparation of "native" dishes, but also offer to enjoy the taste of various delights from other peoples of the world.

Theme Restaurants

There are both ordinary in design and terrifying. For example, a jungle-style restaurant or a French cafe. In such establishments, when developing the menu, the emphasis is on style, so that there is some kind of correspondence between the theme and dishes. Also, attention is paid to the way food is served. And the more matches, the more interesting it is for visitors to stay and eat in such an institution. For example, a hospital-restaurant, a photo of which can be seen below. Everything is so clearly thought out that it seems as if you are actually in a hospital.

But these are all “flowers”. The creepy Japanese restaurant Alcatraz is decorated in the style of a prison hospital, where similar accessories prevail, and people eat at tables behind bars. Sausage is served there in the head of a mannequin. And in Taiwan, there is a restaurant where chairs and dishes are made in the shape of toilet bowls. Here is such a creative.

Restaurants are also cafes?

There are some differences between these types of establishments. And, in principle, many people understand that a restaurant is more respectable and better thanCafe. The first option offers visitors a wide range of dishes, including branded ones, and drinks, in particular, an extensive wine list. In the cafe, the menu is much smaller, and the quality of the products is lower, as are the prices. Hence, they are used to understanding that one institution is intended for the “higher” society, and the other for people with average incomes.