When Life Gives You a Lousy Restaurant Experience … Make Something Good (at Home)

I won't name names, but I will tell you about it ... and my antidote to this particular bad turn at the table.

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The hardest thing about writing this column is finding restaurants that are truly and honestly worth recommending. There’s a lot of “just fine” out there, and “just fine” is never good enough for what I do here. Reader, you deserve better.

Last week, I had lunch at a higher-end restaurant, and it wasn’t even “just fine,” but worse. As I’ve made clear from the outset, I have no desire to write negative reviews. My policy has been to only write about restaurants that are at least 80% top-notch.

And yet, I feel the need to share just why last week’s lunch was so subpar. And to share what I’m making at home as an antidote to the lousy experience.

My Sad Lunch

I should start off by saying that our server was exemplary—welcoming, accommodating, there when you needed her, not overly present when you didn’t. No complaints whatsoever in this regard.

But the food. Oh my. Does this look like panzanella to you? And does it look like an $16 salad ($20 after tax and ti…