https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:29:39 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining/page/2#post-1641498 Sat, 17 May 2014 09:00:50 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1641498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Probably never based on the description in the comments!</p> <p>I would have said Tao in NYC though, I was 19 and my friend was turning 21 and her family was taking her out for a very nice dinner - and since I was staying with them, they invited me to come with. It was the most amazing dining experience of my life! There was a dress code expected, but not required. I would say it's the swankiest dining experience I've ever had and probably will ever have! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1641461 Sat, 17 May 2014 08:33:59 +0000 BKCaribBaby 1641461@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We never went out to eat when I was a young child or teen. I think my first taste was in college. Then I was hooked. Actually I remember my first blowout meal (for free!! woo hoo!!) was at Nobu in NYC when it first opened years ago. It was amazing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1641425 Sat, 17 May 2014 08:04:08 +0000 charmed 1641425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In my mid 20s? DH took me to a really nice restaurant, I was totally intimidated by all the silverware!</p> <p>We have always loved to go out to dinner, but have found that we're not as comfortable at really, really nice restaurants. Now we try to find places that have amazing food and service, without being too stuffy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1641412 Sat, 17 May 2014 07:55:24 +0000 Arden 1641412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Never. Womp womp. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1641401 Sat, 17 May 2014 07:46:53 +0000 yoursilverlining 1641401@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rainbow Sprinkles: It’s kind of hard to define fine dining (for me) with hard and fast rules. Like the Supreme Court said about porn “I know it when I see it”! :silly: Generally though, here’s what I think makes a restaurant fine dining:</p> <p>Restaurants that are dedicated to high quality food served by professional staff. Staff that are invested in the food and wine choices, discreet service. </p> <p>A sommelier on staff, and an actual chef. Multiple, actual, real chefs including a dedicated pastry chef.</p> <p>Cloth napkins, multiple forks/knives/spoons and courses. Appropriate stemware (correct wine glass type for the wine served).</p> <p>Premium ingredients (local, too). Not reheating frozen stuff sent from a corporate owner, no Sysco big cans of ___. </p> <p>If they serve pasta, it will be made in-house.</p> <p>Small, reasonable sized servings and the expectation to have several courses.</p> <p>The expectation isn’t to just eat/have dinner, it’s to totally enjoy yourself for an evening out. So, there is no “turnover in an hour” expectation or rush from ANYONE there. Meals can easily take 2 hours, or more. When you leave, you feel like you’ve had a great evening!</p> <p>No ketchup.</p> <p>It won't be a cheap meal, but I don't think price alone makes something fine dining. You can be expensive, without having the quality and service that take a place into "fine dining" territory and above just "dining out". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1641350 Sat, 17 May 2014 06:57:29 +0000 GrapeCrush 1641350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellocupcake: @Rainbow Sprinkles: based on the no to go box...I'm now never...wha wha lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1641223 Sat, 17 May 2014 01:38:53 +0000 Boogs 1641223@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think I've ever been out for a fine dining experience! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1641173 Fri, 16 May 2014 23:41:03 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 1641173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't want to dine anywhere that's not going to give me a doggy bag!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1641171 Fri, 16 May 2014 23:37:19 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 1641171@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know how to define it, but I know it was!<br /> It was in a restaurant on the top level of a hotel and large casino in Vegas.<br /> There weren't any prices on the menu and only 4 options (lamb chops, filet mignon and some other 2), and they took our coats and the door and gave us warmed napkins and a hot steam pot?<br /> We had like a jillion cups and cutlery.<br /> Super large plates and just a little food ;) and absolutely no to-go boxes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1641169 Fri, 16 May 2014 23:33:23 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 1641169@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can someone answer what constitutes "fine dining?" Price per plate? How many forks? Multiple courses? Dress code? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1641143 Fri, 16 May 2014 22:40:19 +0000 nana87 1641143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know, but young </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1641136 Fri, 16 May 2014 22:35:56 +0000 cyndistar3 1641136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsTiz: bahahaha yep, that's about as fancy as I would care to be! I'm a BBQ in the back yard kinda lady, paper plates are my friend ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1641095 Fri, 16 May 2014 21:52:04 +0000 regberadaisy 1641095@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: lol!!!!! </p> <p>I would say 19 or 20. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1641092 Fri, 16 May 2014 21:49:05 +0000 yoursilverlining 1641092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't remember...my mom still tells me all the time how well behaved I was in restaurants as a toddler so I went all sorts of places with them. Then my brother came along, and after he was caught sawing into the shoe of the waiter with a serrated bread knife while we were ordering dinner (at a white linen restaurant); thee was a hiatus of a few years lol :silly: </p> <p>Dining etiquette was a required course in college, and I passed, woot woot never divorce the salt and pepper yo'! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1641068 Fri, 16 May 2014 21:32:52 +0000 MrsSCB 1641068@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not sure, but pretty young... My mom is into restaurants, a love I've inherited ;-) For my 13th birthday I chose to bring a couple of friends to a super fancy restaurant followed by a sleepover instead of having a party, haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1641051 Fri, 16 May 2014 21:21:25 +0000 hellocupcake 1641051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@GrapeCrush: that doesn't count? :/</p> <p>I'm with @Rainbow Sprinkles: , I don't think I know what counts as fine dining and that probably means I've never been :( I'll pass this along to DH...hint hint :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1640968 Fri, 16 May 2014 19:56:52 +0000 apis 1640968@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Very young. My parents liked going out to nice meals and figured that the earlier they taught me how to behave, the better it would be for all of us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1640897 Fri, 16 May 2014 19:11:33 +0000 IRunForFun 1640897@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It depends on the definition of "fine dining" I guess. I've been to nice restaurants but nothing over-the-top-fancy...so I'm not sure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1640890 Fri, 16 May 2014 19:08:16 +0000 MrsTiz 1640890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cyndistar3: add me to the classy list. Olive Garden is as fancy as it gets! I ate dinner in the restaurant on a cruise once..they only had one set of silverware but you weren't allowed to wear shorts/flip flops in there lol! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1640885 Fri, 16 May 2014 19:04:41 +0000 Pepper 1640885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not until I was in high school, probably before a dance! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1640879 Fri, 16 May 2014 19:02:40 +0000 JerricaBenton 1640879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pretty young. My parents were always into fancy restaurants. We always went to nice places with my grandparents and we'd go out to special places or go into NYC for dinner and a show around the holidays. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1640817 Fri, 16 May 2014 18:21:41 +0000 cyndistar3 1640817@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@stargal: haha around here Olive Garden is fine dining! Super classy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1640788 Fri, 16 May 2014 18:04:17 +0000 stargal 1640788@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cyndistar3: me either. Lol we classy ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1640752 Fri, 16 May 2014 17:39:35 +0000 sunny 1640752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I remember having to dress up and going for a fancy Easter brunch at a hotel. I was probably 8 or 9? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1640735 Fri, 16 May 2014 17:32:40 +0000 JennyLayneAZ 1640735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Um, last September. So, 30. LOL I prefer something a little more relaxed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1640733 Fri, 16 May 2014 17:29:44 +0000 fairy 1640733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Money was very tight growing up, so the fanciest place I went as a kid was probably Phillips or something like that other than a few weddings. Also curious what would constitute fine dining. :P There were etiquette dinners in college that I didn't go to but they were just at a local Italian place </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1640720 Fri, 16 May 2014 17:22:45 +0000 lemondrop 1640720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>8ish? My grandparents loved food, so they would take all of us to interesting places. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1640712 Fri, 16 May 2014 17:19:42 +0000 cyndistar3 1640712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Still havent! Lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1640667 Fri, 16 May 2014 16:56:27 +0000 sandy 1640667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can't remember for sure, but I think when I was 18. I went to prom with a guy from another school and dinner was with a smaller group (there were only 4 couples). It was at the Four Seasons in downtown Seattle and it was sooo fancy and nice...loved it! They treated us to sparkling cider in flutes and a fancy cheese and fruit plate before dinner like we were grownups. And the dining room was so gorgeous. I loved it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-were-you-when-you-first-experienced-fine-dining#post-1640661 Fri, 16 May 2014 16:52:23 +0000 MrsKRB 1640661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think like 22, I might have when I was younger and don't remember it though </p>