Underground restaurant
Encyclopedia
An underground restaurant, sometimes known as a supper club
or closed door restaurant, 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
, and may require references to make a reservation. An underground restaurant is also known as a guestaurant, which is a hybrid between being a guest in a dinner party and a restaurant.
Underground restaurants are popular in Latin America
, where they're known as either a paladar
or a restaurante de puertas cerradas (closed door restaurant). Depending on local licensing laws, they may or may not be illegal; either way, they've been built into the culture for decades, and often have higher standards than many licensed establishments. They are becoming increasingly popular in the U.S.
The attraction of the underground restaurant for the customer is to sample new food, often at low cost outside the traditional restaurant experience, which can be expensive and disappointing—underground restaurants have been described as "anti-restaurants." They also generally provide a more intimate, dinner party style experience. 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."
In the UK Underground Restaurants and Supper Clubs have started to blossom, with reviews in leading newspapers such as The Times and The Guardian. They range across the UK but are mainly concentrated in London. These are advertised by word of mouth and on social media networks such as Facebook and MySpace and often have their own blog. They have grown so much in popularity that you can now find social networks dedicated solely to underground dining, as well as listings of events around the world. There are also some etiquette guidelines worth observing. The first UK charity supperclub, Parkholme Supper Club, was set up in September 2010, with all profits going to charity, and has proved to be a new fundraising source for charities, in this case Medecins Sans Frontieres
.
", or a "speakeasy", underground restaurants in Hong Kong seek to circumvent the perceived practice of landlords charging restauranteurs at rates linked to profits.
Supper club
A supper club, in general, refers to a dining establishment that also functions as a social club. The term may describe different establishments depending on the region, but in general, supper clubs tend to present themselves as having a high-class image, even if the price is affordable to...
or closed door restaurant, 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
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
, and may require references to make a reservation. An underground restaurant is also known as a guestaurant, which is a hybrid between being a guest in a dinner party and a restaurant.
Underground restaurants are popular in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, where they're known as either a paladar
Paladar
Paladar is a term used in Cuba to refer to restaurants run by self-employers. , a category endorsed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of the Republic of Cuba in its Resolution 32/2010, which refers to people who operate small private businesses in Cuba...
or a restaurante de puertas cerradas (closed door restaurant). Depending on local licensing laws, they may or may not be illegal; either way, they've been built into the culture for decades, and often have higher standards than many licensed establishments. They are becoming increasingly popular in the U.S.
The attraction of the underground restaurant for the customer is to sample new food, often at low cost outside the traditional restaurant experience, which can be expensive and disappointing—underground restaurants have been described as "anti-restaurants." They also generally provide a more intimate, dinner party style experience. 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."
In the UK Underground Restaurants and Supper Clubs have started to blossom, with reviews in leading newspapers such as The Times and The Guardian. They range across the UK but are mainly concentrated in London. These are advertised by word of mouth and on social media networks such as Facebook and MySpace and often have their own blog. They have grown so much in popularity that you can now find social networks dedicated solely to underground dining, as well as listings of events around the world. There are also some etiquette guidelines worth observing. The first UK charity supperclub, Parkholme Supper Club, was set up in September 2010, with all profits going to charity, and has proved to be a new fundraising source for charities, in this case Medecins Sans Frontieres
Médecins Sans Frontières
' , or Doctors Without Borders, is a secular humanitarian-aid non-governmental organization best known for its projects in war-torn regions and developing countries facing endemic diseases. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland...
.
UK supper clubs
- Guestaurant.com ( lists supper clubs, underground restaurants, pop-up restaurants through UK and Ireland)
- Parkholme Supper Club the first UK charity supperclub, raising money for Medecins Sans FrontieresMédecins Sans Frontières' , or Doctors Without Borders, is a secular humanitarian-aid non-governmental organization best known for its projects in war-torn regions and developing countries facing endemic diseases. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland...
- MsMarmitelover
- Leluu
- Hidden Tea Room
- The Secret Supper Society (Oxfordshire)
- the Basement Galley
- The Bournemouth Supper Club
Supper clubs in Hong Kong
Locally known as a "private kitchenPrivate kitchen
Private kitchen , also known as a speakeasy, is a term in referring to an unlicensed, restaurant-like establishment, most common in Hong Kong...
", or a "speakeasy", underground restaurants in Hong Kong seek to circumvent the perceived practice of landlords charging restauranteurs at rates linked to profits.
External links
- Guestaurant- Where Social Meets Food
- Independent reviews of Parkholme Supper Club from Guestaurant and others
- The Secret Supper Society, Oxfordshire
- The Secret Ingredient
- MsMarmitelover
- Supper Club : A book on underground restaurants with recipes, by Kerstin Rodgers
- Leluu
- supperclub fan group
- Saltshaker
- Diners Guide
- Hidden Tea Room closed down
- the Basement Galley, Brixton
- Huiskamerrestaurant Prins' Bovenkamer Dutch Underground Restaurant
- Independent Reviews of Fernandez and Leluu.
- "Rise in underground supper clubs" BBC News, 3 October 2009
- 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
- Heso magazineHeso magazineHESO Magazine is a quarterly, culture magazine based in Tōkyō . Every issue has a theme, and features the work of famous photographers, interviews, music, art, poetry and articles of social and cultural interest.- History :...
Article on Guerilla Dining Scandinavian Style. - Bournemouth Supper Club - Dorset's Underground Restaurant