Why We Dine Out (or Don’t)

In this episode of Critics at Large, Alex Schwartz, Naomi Fry, and Vinson Cunningham discuss the current frenzy surrounding restaurant reservations and dining culture, exploring how it has transformed post-pandemic. They examine the influence of social media platforms like TikTok and reservation systems like Resy on the dining experience. Hannah Goldfield, a food critic from The New Yorker, joins the conversation to share insider information about how restaurants manipulate reservation systems and the impact of social media on restaurant popularity. The hosts further analyze the art of dining by discussing Frederick Wiseman's film "Menus Plaisirs, Les Trois Gros," contrasting the pursuit of hype with the desire for conviviality and genuine connection in a restaurant setting, and reflecting on the ethical considerations of restaurant culture.