What are Underground Restaurants

An underground restaurant can be different things to different people but is essentially a restaurant in someone’s own home. In the US they are known as supper clubs, paladares is the Cuban equivalent, and in Italy cesarinas. An underground restaurant is unfortunately also quite often an illegal eating establishment if the organizers and participants for example fail to follow local food hygiene, and food establishment registration regulations.







An underground restaurant is certainly not necessarily an illegal public and commercial eating place, as can be evidenced by the United Kingdom Gateshead Festival incorporation of underground restaurants into its official schedule, very successfully giving residents and visitors the opportunity to eat ethnic foods from great family and professional cooks.



The buzz is that generally they are operated out of homes or apartments by people looking to offer simple cooking made from the very best ingredients, and to provide a communal atmosphere. This is truly something that isn’t available in the traditional commercial restaurants of the community.



We do not condone bypassing local zoning and health code regulations. Hygiene regulations are provided to ensure the protection of the diners. In most instances it should be possible for the restaurant owner to obtain inspections and licenses for infrequent suppers.



Most underground eating places are closely guarded secrets advertised by word of mouth or some form of guerilla advertising , and diners are quite often require references to make a reservation. Of course, all this adds to the anticipation of the event and the conviviality of the event.



Wine and beer may or may not be included so do check before hand. Some homes have a standing dinner party, say every other Saturday night. You might need to ask around the area in local shops and of bar staff and even then in most towns and cities you will be lucky if you can find an underground restaurant.



However, for many people this is all part of the unique anticipation of such events, the feeling that a meal is special to each and every diner, an evening never to be repeated. An experience to be snatched and savored later; and the common strand to all underground restaurants worthy of the name is the love of good food well cooked and eaten in simple surroundings in good company.



A far as the food experience is concerned you can expect each event you attend to be totally different. A few underground restaurants have a very, very good "up market" menu, while the majority concentrate on providing great every day, “cooked at home” style dinners. Service can actually be quite be amateurish, but if you enjoy taking these experiences as they come and don’t mind waiting for the food to arrive that can just add to the relaxed atmosphere.



The fact is that the cooking crews that work in these restaurants will wish to create and serve a meal based on the freshest, most exciting ingredients they can find; be aware that timekeeping may take second order of priority as a result.



On most occasions when you arrive you will only have a hazy idea of the menu, or event the extent of it. There might be nine courses, or more than a dozen, and every so often you will find that mid-meal the chef will decide to make up a recipe on the fly.



Participants love the thought of being fed the most delicious food by glamorous outlaw food-loving bandits.



The underground restaurant movement has been described as the punk reaction to highly organised and management controlled restaurants with menus which stay unchanged for 6 months or more most of the time. People love to eat at places where they can meet the chef, even have a drink with them afterwards, where they can mingle socially, where they can momentarily dispense with the hierarchy and isolation of a traditional restaurant.



For much more about how to find these restaraunts etc - click on the "bio" link below.



Carry on to part 2 of this article by clicking on he following link >> Secret Underground Restaurants web site.