Four-Star Restaurant

A Four-Star restaurant provides professional service, distinctive presentations and wonderful food. Guests at a Four-Star Restaurant can expect to find all of the characteristics for a Three-Star Restaurant, plus:

Restaurant Products

  • Valet parking available and easily located
  • An amuse bouche is offered 
  • All foods are extremely fresh; never appearing tinned or frozen unless specifically advised on the menu 
  • Food presentations are colorful, interesting and include contrasts of texture or temperature
  • For dishes that have been ordered with a specific doneness, the preference is matched exactly 
  • Fresh orange and grapefruit juices are available and used in mixed drinks
  • A variety of cognacs, liqueurs, and eau de vie are available 

Restaurant Facilities

  • Common areas feature elegant live plants and/or fresh floral displays
  • Staffed, secure coat check available (climate-dependent)
  • All staff uniforms are of excellent quality, appropriately pressed and free from any sign of wear or dirt
  • Superior all-cotton or linen napkins used, crisply pressed and presented
  • Table is padded with silencer, pad or moulton
  • Flatware is of high quality and heavy weight; entirely free of tarnish or wear
  • China patterns are varied for selected dishes and courses; not all dishes are served on identical china
  • Restaurant lighting is comfortable, enabling menu reading, but privacy and ambiance maintained
  • Background music is pleasant, yet unobtrusive to conversation
  • The dining room temperature is comfortable and unnoticed by guests
  • The restrooms are immaculately clean and stocked; materials and design of equal elegance to dining room
  • Dining room exhibits a well-organized and professional appearance; tables are uniformly set; all candles always kept lit, even when unoccupied

Restaurant Service

  • Reservations are accepted and politely closed with thanks and an anticipatory remark
  • Staff proactively approaches guest when arriving
  • Arrival is anticipated and guests are greeted warmly 
  • If reserved, tables are ready within five minutes of appointed time and reservation details are accurate
  • If guests must wait for table, inconvenience is acknowledged
  • Bar service is warm, polite and gracious; staff does not partake in personal discussion in guest earshot or view
  • Bar checks will be transferred to the restaurant bill when requested
  • Ladies are offered special attentive service; chair assistance, coat assistance, always first to be presented and first to be addressed
  • Bottled still and sparkling waters are offered to all guests before pouring
  • Throughout all ordering and recommendations, staff remains patient, helpful and enthusiastic; never impatient or condescending
  • All guests are served simultaneously, course by course, and cleared simultaneously, course by course when all guests have finished eating
  • Wine service is helpful and understanding, not pretentious or condescending in any way
  • Staff is present at departure and warmly thanks guests

Examples of Four-Star restaurants include:

L'Espalier, Boston MA
Lumiere, Vancouver BC
Aureole, New York NY
Montagna, Aspen CO
Rover's, Seattle WA

For information on the Five-Star Restaurant criteria see the next section.