An underground restaurant, also known as a supper club, is an eating establishment operated out of someone's home, generally (though not invariably) bypassing local zoning and health-code regulations. They are, in effect, paying dinner parties. They are usually advertised by word of mouth or guerilla advertising, often on Facebook,[1] and may require references to make a reservation.
Underground restaurants are popular in Latin America, where they're known as either a paladar or a restaurante de puertas cerradas (locked door restaurant). While technically illegal, they're built into the culture, and often have higher standards than many licensed establishments.[2] They are becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. and UK.[3]
The attraction of the underground restaurant for the customer is to sample new food at low cost outside the traditional restaurant experience, which can be expensive and disappointing—underground restaurants have been described as "anti-restaurants." For the host, the benefit is to make some money and experiment with cooking without being required to invest in a restaurant proper. "It's literally like playing restaurant," one host told the San Francisco Chronicle, "You can create the event, and then it's over."[4]
See also
Notes
- ^ The Secret Ingredient
- ^ Perlman, Dan. Mi casa, su cuenta, The Guardian, April 17, 2008.
- ^ Smillie, Susan. Going underground, The Guardian, May 29, 2009.
- ^ DeFao, Janine. Guerrilla Gourmet, San Francisco Chronicle, Jan 22, 2006.
External links
- Mount, Ian. Buenos Aires: Psst! Want a Discreet Dinner?, The New York Times, December 17, 2006.
- Williams, Zoe. The secret feast, The Guardian, February 10, 2009.
- Zingara Cucina Famous Australian Underground Restaurant
- Casa SaltShaker
- Sydney Morning Herald article on Zingara Cucina
- Fairfax The Age article on Underground Restaurants
- Executive Style article on Zingara Cucina
- Black Book Magazine Article on Zingara Cucina
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