Comparing the authors' top ten rules of dining Avoid buffets where strangers lean into your food and nothing is really served at the proper temperature. Don't automatically dismiss a buffet. Some buffets offer good sneeze guards and excellent food--if you go early. Avoid big chains. They usually offer average fare in an effort to please everyone, but rarely offer anything exceptional. Know the good chains. Some communities don't have many choices, so why not fall back on a reliable teriyaki chain? Give it the sniff test. A good restaurant should smell like good food, not Pine-sol or dishwashing detergent. Don't be overly sensitive to scents. The smell of Pine-sol may simply indicate consciencious cleaning. Eating well does not mean spending a lot. Be creative and consider whether the extra dollar or two is all that significant. Don't want to spend a lot of money? Avoid restaurants that end in that "e" with an accent. Ask the wait staff for recommendations. Anyone who cheerily announces that 'everything is really good' is clueless. If you need to ask your wait person for recommendations, chances are the menu is too pretentious in the first place. Tell your wait person you're 'dining on deadline' and to bring the bill with the meal. It'll save you at least ten minutes. If you're really in a hurry, pick a place where you pay before you eat. Why waste valuable time waiting for the check? If you want a really important person to call you back, leave the newsroom and go to lunch. It works nearly every time. If you want a really important person to call you back, don't pick a restaurant where everyone whispers. You'll be embarassed when your cell phone rings. Order food with sauces. If you're at a good restuarant, you'll be richly rewarded. Anyone who can't whip up a tasty sauce shouldn't be in the restaurant business. When ordering food, put priority on substance, not sauces. When you're starving at 5:00, is it much comfort that you had an exotic sauce over your slice of seared salmon? Good coffee is just as important as good food. You'll know good coffee from the aroma and the quality of the foam on your cappucino. Drink adequate fluids. Look for restaurants that offer free refills or better yet, self-serve beverage dispensers. Avoid Robert's recommendations unless they're backed up by a colleague. Avoid Linda's recommendations, unless your tax refund just arrived and you already have a large dinner planned. Best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer. Hyperlinks do not constitute an endorsement of a company, organization, product or opinion, nor a guarantee the content contains accurate information.