|
Welcome to PALADAR
A Brand New Pop Up Restaurant in North Wiltshire
Delicious food in a gregarious atmosphere
Frequently
Asked
Questions?
Is it like a conventional restaurant?
Yes in that you get high quality food and a great night out. But unlike a conventional you have the table for the whole evening and will not have staff trying to move you on to make room for the next sitting. You share the same table with the other guests and its a great opportunity for meeting new people and some interesting conversations. Take your time, relax, enjoy yourself, we find our guest are very happy to sit and talk after the meal and we are happy to let them - we may even join you for a quiet relaxing drink after a hard day in the kitchen!
What about drinks?
We don't have an alcohol license and have a restrictive covenant on The Old Vicarage that precludes us from selling spiritous or fermentous liquor. We will provide glasses, unlimited filtered water and ice but you should bring your own (pre-chilled) beer, wine, spirits, soft drinks etc. Be generous in the quantities you bring as often drink seems to evaporate away in the warmth of great conversation. If you have a particularly interesting wine and are feeling generous then one chef at least would always appreciate a taste! There are no shops in the village but we are opposite a pub (you would need to negotiate with them about carry out).
What about special dietary requirements?
We will always make sure that we include a lacto vegetarian option as well as a meat option, and sometimes we will include a fish option. Sadly because of our size we cannot cater for strict vegans, or any other specific requirements or allergies.
I love your themes but I just wish you would do an evening of xyz...
If you have a great idea for a theme for an evening (and its legal!), or a menu you would love to see then PLEASE let us know. We are open to most things and we really like ideas and an oppertunity to be creative. So just email us with your ideas and if we like them then and do an evening based on your idea we will make sure you get a special meal deal. Conversley if there is something you think we could do better then let us know we welcome constructive feedback. Email us at hosts@paladar.co.uk
What about tips?
Unlike a normal restaurant there is no need or expectation to leave a tip - we think our all inclusive price is a fair one and covers food and service. However if you feel your service or the food has been exceptional then you are always welcome to recognise that with a tip - it would be as much apreciated as a sign that we have excelled ourselves!
What should I wear?
Whatever you like - but why not dress up and make it a real occaasion? If we have a specific theme then we may encourage you to embrace it by adding that them to what you wear - think of it as facy dress lite!
Can I book for just one?
Certainly, as you all sit around the same table and share food and conversation then this should make you feel one of the party and be able to join in. From personal experience of many sad restaurant dinners on my own I know that even great food on its own (without great company) always falls short of a great evening. Camilla and I will make you feel welcome and at home, and there should be no need to bring your reading book to hide behind!
Can I bring my baby?
We are happy if you bring small babies who are likely to sleep most of the evening. We can provide a quiet place where your baby can sleep and you can feed your baby. However we are not a babysitting agency and you need to take full responsibility and make sure your baby doesn't disturb other diners. Our rule is that non-crawling, non todling babies should be OK but if they crawl or toddle they are best left at home with a baby sitter.
I need a babysitter can you help?
We may be able to - please contact us and we will see what we can do - no guarantees as one of our best babysitters will be in the kitchen!
Can I specify where I sit or who I sit with?
All our guests sit around a single table and unless you want to book the entire event (see below) you will always be sharing with others. We think this is part of the fun and we will encourage you to interact with all the other guests and meet new people. If this doesn't seem to be working out then we may even 'stir the seating pot' between courses.
OK so can I book you for my next Dinner Party or a private event?
Yes - we would love to do as much or as little as you want - and be as public or covert as you want! If you want to have a Dinner Party, private event for a company do, a reunion or whatever then we will be happy to lay on an event to suit your exact requirements. We will work with you to make sure the menu, theme, seating etc works for you. Please email and we will be happy to discuss this further.
How does the booking work - is it secure?
Firstly we ask you to book at least two days in advance because we need to buy the right quantity of food for a specific meal. We use TicketSource who are a professional event booking agency who can take credit card payments via their secure website, it relieves us of all that complexity and allows us to concentrate in the kitchen. They hold the money in a secure account and only, after the event, do they release it to us. This ensures you get what you pay for and we dont moonlight with your money! Also in the unlikely occurance that we have to cancel an event they will automatically refund your payment to your credit card. The process should be as smooth and secure as we can make it but if you have any problems or we can make it better then please let us know.
What about cancellations?
In the unlikely occurance that we have to cancel an event we will let you know at least 48hrs beforehand and TicketSource will automatically refund your full payment direct to your credit card. If for any reason you have to cancel then if you let us know more than 48hrs in advance we will refund your payments (less the TicketSource booking fees we have had to pay). Sadly because we are a very small operation if you cancel within 48hrs, we will still have to charge you the full amount. However we will be happy if you substitute friends or family at the last minute (please can you let us know who) to fill our seats and eat our food, so perhaps rather than cancel get on the phone and see if you can cook a deal!
Can you recommend accommodation locally?
Our neighbors Diane and Nigel have a delightful self contained B&B that is literaly at the end of our drive (it was originally the coach house for the vicarage). If you don't want to drink and drive then this is very much in staggering distance (downhill) and would give you a lovely night away treat. Please see http://www.corstoncoachhousebandb.co.uk/index.php for details.
Are there any local taxis?
You will probably need to book in advance and there are a number of firms locally, for example:-
Webbs Taxis 01249 660022 (7 seater available)
Abbey Taxis 01666 823366
We would encourage you to have a drink and enjoy your evening, but not encourage you to drink and drive! So if you want to use a taxi at the end of the evening then we are happy for you leave your car at The Old Vicarage overnight and collect it the following morning. Please make sure that you are not over the limit in the morning! Please also note that we cannot take responsibility for your car overnight, but there is ample off road parking.
| 