When you find a dish that you really like at a restaurant, is it appropriate to ask for a recipe?

Question

I frequent several local restaurants and have some favorite dishes that I would love to make at home myself , but I am afraid they would laugh at me if I asked for the recipes.

Answer 1

Yes, it would probably be a compliment, and if they really don't want to give you the recipe they won't.

Answer 2

Yes, they may feel flattered, but may not give it to you...what is the worst they can say....no?

Answer 3

I am like you. I used to taste and sometimes asked the recipe. In some restaurants they answer with reluctance. But really speaking its not a good thing to do so.

Answer 4

Certainly, ask if they are willing to share the recipe.  It is a complement  to the chef that you like his dish well enough to ask for the recipe.  Be aware however, that it is difficult to duplicate the taste of anyone else cooking.  Also, if this is a chain type restaurant you will have difficulty getting accurate recipes since many of their items come from a central source and there for they are using mixes to prepare the food.  Case in point, Friday's had a salad dressing that included peach as part of the vinegarette.  When asked for the recipe it was learned that it came as a mix much like Good Season's that then was mixed with water, vinegar etc.

Answer 5

be wary, if you ask at a time when the BOH is busy you may ask for a recipie for roasted beat and crab salad and get a recipie for horse radish and scotch bonnet salad. lol

some of us like to share, some of us don't...personaly i share whatever makes on happy, providing i don't have 20 tickets hanging. If you are a drinking person...find the local dives..thats where the cooks go after work and a shot of tequilla goes a ways to that info. we love to beat our chests about our tallent, be carefull though, we are a motley crue.lol

be prepared to hear some really nasty jokes and **** like that.

Answer 6

well highly unlikely you could dupilicate it anway

Answer 7

nothing wrong with asking but I wouldn't expect them to tell you...

Answer 8

No, in fact at the restaurant in which I work the owner is pleased and honored if a customer likes the dish enough to ask for a recepie.

Answer 9

No I would never ask for a receipe. I would try to look up on line or recreate myself

Answer 10

it's worth a shot.

Answer 11

It is not appropriate to ask but some chefs dont mind and are complimented by your curiosity. I've tried a few times and 2 out of 6 times, they let me have the recipe. My uncle is a chef for a fancy restaurant and when I asked him if it was okay to ask for recipes, he said it is "an insult to a chef's creative genius". It really depends where you dine at and if the chef is a total snob or not.