A Table For Two Please! Tracing The Roots Of Dining Out

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A weekend, date, candle-light dinner or a family get-together there are reasons galore for each person to go out and dine. But as you relish your favourite dish and sip your drink, has this question ever popped into your mind "When was the first time people started dining out? When did this actually become a thing?" Yes, there is actually an interesting history behind it. As you raise a toast with your near and dear ones, let's trace the roots of dining out in restaurants.

China - According to the co-authors Elliot Shore and Katie Rawson of Dining Out: A Global History of Restaurants, the earliest forms of restaurant surfaced in China around 1100 A.D when cities like Kaifeng and Hangzhou were densely packed urban populations with more than 1 million inhabitants each. These early restaurants were situated in vibrant entertainment districts designed for business travellers; featuring hotels, bars, and brothels.

Japan - A unique restaurant culture emerged from the Japanese teahouse traditions of the 1500s, long before the seasonal and local movements of today. In the 16th century, chef Sen no Rikyu developed the multi-course kaiseki dining style, where entire tasting menus were designed to convey the essence of a specific place and season. His grandsons later enhanced this tradition by introducing specialised serving dishes and utensils that complemented the aesthetic of the food.

France - While the French focused on crafting full-sensory dining experiences, a different tradition emerged in the West known as the 'table d'hôte', which featured a fixed-price meal enjoyed at a communal table. This style of dining, shared with friends and strangers around a family-style spread, bears resemblance to today's trendy farm-to-table restaurants though it fell short of being a true restaurant in many ways.

The term "restaurant" derives from the French verb 'restaurer', meaning "to restore oneself." So the first genuine French restaurants, which opened decades before the 1789 Revolution, claimed to be health-food establishments that offered one main dish: bouillon. This slow-simmered bone broth or consommé was referred to in French as a bouillon restaurant, meaning "restorative broth."

America -The first restaurant in the United States opened its doors in the thriving city of New York in 1827. Delmonico's boasted of private dining rooms and a 1000 bottle wine cellar. This restaurant is credited with creating several dishes that are still today's favourites, such as Delmonico steak, eggs Benedict, and baked Alaska. Additionally, it claims to be the first restaurant in America to introduce tablecloths.

Now, as times have changed we don't need to go out to a restaurant to have food, food is just a swipe away, just order online and it is at our doorstep. But there is something about going out at a restaurant. It's not limited to the food, it transforms into a leisurely experience where you can soak in the ambience, enjoy conversations and share laughs with your group while relishing your meal.