When You Can’t See Your Food: Why Lighting Matters
After years of enthusiastic eating and working in the food biz, there is an important lesson I have learned: lighting matters. This lesson is one that successful restaurants have long understood. One may take it for granted, but the difference between the corner diner with the buzzing, yellowing strips of light and the trendy, upscale casual restaurant two doors down with sconces and a soft, ambient glow is more than just the quality of the food.
If you apply this theory to your favorite Kingston restaurants, it’s overwhelmingly clear that lighting plays a part in your gastro experiences. Lighting, like fresh ingredients, courteous service, and a
n enticing drink menu, works covertly to enhance your dining experience. It’s the kind of thing you probably don’t even notice, and only when you do notice is something wrong.
Once my parents were throwing a dinner party and I had turned the fluorescent pot-lights on and my mother came and said, “Carlyn, no, no, no, turn off the overhead lights and turn on the lamps; this is a party, not a doctor’s office.” Too bright of lights can be just as distracting as the complete lack of.
Taste is only one half the an eating experience; the visuals matter too. However the newest trend in fine dining called ‘noir dining’ or ‘dining in the dark’ has guests experiencing their food, drink and conversation in a room devoid of all light. This dining trend works under the pretense that when you eat food in the dark, your remaining senses are heightened to savor the smell and taste of the food.
For those of us who love to eat food, watch food, poke food, play with food, and stare intently at their food, this may not seem like the ideal dining experience. I, for one, greatly appreciate candles and muted lighting - however am equally appreciative of the chance to take a picture of my usually highly anticipated meal without using the flash.
Walking down the streets of downtown Kingston you will bear witness to an eclectic mix of restaurants that you can apply this theory to. One place may be darkish, but you can still see the pizza - another brightish, but everyone looks attractive enough - the other so unfortunately fluorescent you feel as though you are eating your meal from inside a tanning bed.
As far as ambiance goes, it’s overwhelmingly clear that Megalos has plenty; one only has to wander by our paned glass storefront to agree. With a candle at every table and soft lighting, our upscale casual, yet family friendly dining atmosphere is a welcoming beacon to the passerby.
Located next to the Grand, dining at Megalos can be considered a theater experience within itself; where one comes to see and be seen (albeit in a very flattering light). Any food lover can agree that it’s the trifecta of service, atmosphere and (of course!) the food that makes a restaurant return-worthy. At Megalos, we are proud of our repeat and loyal customers and our comfortable yet sophisticated dining environment that we can share with you.
Carlyn
