Bread is the first thing you eat at a restaurant. What's on the table tells you what's in the kitchen. A basket of great bread on the table says that chef takes you seriously and that you are in good hands, and that the substantial investment you are about to make will be well spent.

It's disheartening to encounter mediocre (or worse) bread in an otherwise good restaurant, but since you, the customer, do not order and pay for bread directly, you can't vote with your dollars the way you can in a market.

What many people don't realize is that chefs and restaurateurs welcome constructive comments. They like to know what customers like and care about, so speak up, don't be shy. Tell the chef or manager what you think, and if the bread is good, let him know you appreciate it. Or if it isn't, let him know that Buona Forchetta has a full line of delicious restaurant breads.