Business Dinner? A Restaurant Star Serves Up Advice

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Whether you're taking out a client, an employee or a potential investor, entertaining can be fraught with potential for disaster. Alan Nathan, the president and CEO of Choice Hospitality Group, a Los Angeles-based restaurant and hospitality management group, knows how to mind your P's and Q's when it comes to business entertainment.

His company launches and manages some of the best restaurants in California, including the Lexington Social House, Ninethirty and The Backyard at the W Hotel in Westwood, Calif. Nathan offers BusinessNewsDaily readers a few tips on how to make your next business meal a memorable (and rewarding) experience.

• Always make a reservation.
• Choose a place where you have been before and the manager knows you so you are guaranteed great service, a nice table and a lot of love. That's always impressive to any guest.
• Be mindful of any dietary restrictions for your guest, any food allergies or food preferences (vegan , kosher, vegetarian, etc.). Your guest's comfort should be your primary consideration.
• If it's a business meeting, be sure that the noise level is not too overwhelming. You can always ask for a more private table in a hot spot.
• Whatever you do, make sure you treat your server and all restaurant employees with the utmost respect. Nothing will make you look like a bigger jerk in the eyes of almost everyone than treating your server disrespectfully or in a condescending manner.

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