Do you want to eat out on a Monday?
Or are Fridays and Saturdays your only fun days?
It used to be nigh on impossible to book a table on a Monday but I’ve sensed recently that it’s getting easier - and not just in chain restaurants.
While many restaurants still don’t open until Wednesday a growing number are extending rather than limiting their hours.
In my home town of Bristol, for instance, you can still get a Monday reservation at some of the city’s most popular restaurants, Bianchi’s, littlefrench and Root, to name three.
There’s a recent round-up on Bristol 24/7 if you want some other options
And over in Aberystwyth a new wine and pizza joint, Pronto on the seafront, is opening from Thursday to Monday
Why would that be given the well documented staffing problems in the restaurant industry? Well if you don’t want to go out on a Monday chances are people who work in restaurants don’t either. They’d no doubt rather have a midweek break too.
However there is something to be said for going out on a Monday in much the same way as you don’t want to give up drinking during January. It’s a miserable day of the week, you may not have anything in the fridge if you’ve been away for the weekend or you may simply feel like treating yourself.
On the other hand if it’s been a weekend of indulgence you might feel like taking a break and have a night off the booze ….
Then what about Sundays? My new local, The Clifton, is now offering snacks at the bar on a Sunday evening (along with cut price drinks for colleagues in hospitality.
 In fact isn’t any day preferable to a Friday or Saturday night when restaurants are rammed and menus full price? I recently saw an exchange on Twitter* which suggested the worst times to book a table were 1pm and 7.30pm when restaurant kitchens are under greatest pressure. Double that on a Saturday night, for sure.
You have to fight against that teenage feeling that you’re a bit of a loser if you’re not out and having fun on a Saturday night but aren’t we grown-up enough to deal with that?
For what it’s worth I love to eat out on days and at times when restaurants are at their least busy and pleased to see me - or, at least I hope they are!.
I’d love to know what you think, especially if you’re in the restaurant trade …
*not that I’m sure I want to hang out on Twitter much longer now we have that silly X. You?
For years, Monday was the night I ALWAYS ate out because it was my night off, like all my wine retail and hospitality friends. I really enjoyed it. Where I live now in Porto, one of the best wine bars here - Prova - actually opens an hour later on Monday to accommodate all the wine trade that want to drink on Mondays. The owner tells me it's often the busiest day of his week.
I love going out for food in the week - it feels like a really sneaky treat!
though eating out last monday on the way to the ferry in Caen was nigh on impossible! and then lucked out with a really funky tiny Vietnamese restaurant so a double win , a monday and a great dinner!