Wine bar, pub or restaurant: which should you choose?

Choose a restaurant for a proper meal, a pub for a relaxed evening with food as part of it and a wine bar for small plates and conversation. The place you pick shapes the evening, so it helps to decide what you want before you decide where. Here is how each suits.

A restaurant: for the meal itself

A restaurant is built around eating. You get a menu with starters, mains and desserts, a table of your own and service that paces the courses. Choose it when the food is the point: a celebration, a date, a catch-up where you want to sit for a couple of hours.

Book for weekends and groups. Look at the menu in advance and tell the place about dietary needs.

A pub: for company and a flexible meal

A pub is about the room and the people. Many serve good food, from a simple sandwich to a full menu, but the atmosphere is the draw. Choose it when you want a relaxed evening, a mix of eating and drinking and an easy way to join and leave.

Pubs vary a lot. Some are food-led, with a kitchen that matters. Others are drink-led, with a short menu. Check photographs and ratings for food. Not every pub takes bookings; ask.

A wine bar: for small plates and conversation

A wine bar suits a smaller group and a slower pace. The list is shorter, the plates are small and the focus is on drinking well. Choose it for a first meeting, an after-work drink with a bite or a pre-dinner stop.

Check that the food is enough for what you want. Some wine bars serve only snacks. If you want a full meal, confirm.

Think about the group

A large group does better in a restaurant or a big pub, where tables are easier to find. A pair can choose a wine bar. A mixed group with different tastes may prefer a pub with a broad menu.

Think about noise

Pubs are often louder. Restaurants vary. Wine bars are often quieter. If you want to hear each other, check recent ratings for comments on noise.

Think about the time

Lunch and early evening suit restaurants and cafes. Late evenings suit pubs and wine bars. Check hours, because kitchens often close earlier than the bar.

Think about the budget

Check menus rather than guessing. A pub meal can be as considered as a restaurant, and a wine bar can add up if you order many glasses. Look at the menu in advance.

Think about dietary needs

A pub or a wine bar may have a short menu with few options for special diets. A restaurant is more likely to adapt. Ask in advance.

A worked example for a Friday night

Suppose you are meeting two friends after work and want something relaxed. A wine bar suits a first hour, with a few small plates and a glass. If the conversation is going well, move on to a restaurant for dinner, or stay for more plates. If one of you wants a pint and a burger, a pub is easier. The easiest answer is to start where you can talk, and move if you want to.

Combining the three

An evening does not have to be one place. A drink in a wine bar, dinner in a restaurant and a last pint in a pub is a classic shape. If you plan to move, book the restaurant and let the other two be walk-ins, and keep the distances short so that no one gets cold or tired.

Booking

Book restaurants for weekends. Ask pubs and wine bars about tables. Where a place takes bookings on Mosey, you can see free times on its page.