What we’re about
Welcome to a hidden gem restaurant. A chef’s pop-up. A fermentation workshop. A Sunday brunch!
Amuse-Bouche is for curious, food-loving adults in their 30s to 50s who crave connection, not just consumption. We gather around thoughtfully chosen tables—whether at a swanky lounge or the kitchen of a rising star chef—to savor not just what’s on the plate, but who’s around it (that’s you).
This isn’t a dating event, a bar crawl, or a therapy sesh. It’s a place where strangers can show up solo and leave lighter, fuller, and maybe even with new friends.
What to Expect
- 🌆 Intimate vibes: Designed for people in their 30s to 50s who want real connection, good conversation, and delighted taste buds. Our table often has only 6 people so that we’re few enough to share a single conversation.
- 🍷 Family-style feasting: To delight as many of our taste buds as possible, our dinners often favor family-style ordering. Shared dishes, passed plates, and bites of everything from apps to dessert. Come hungry and ready to explore. We always balance the order so there’s something for everyone. Hesitations? Review the menu ahead of time to ensure it fits your budget and tastes.
Our Shared Agreements
To protect the magic, ease anxiety, and support connection so you can just show up and enjoy—here are a few shared principles we ask everyone to follow:
- ✅ Use your real name & a photo of your face: Trust and safety start before the first bite. Profiles without these won’t be approved.
- 🫶 Be generous: Caring for each other is the house style. Serve someone else first. Notice who hasn’t had a last bite, yet. Engage the person who hasn’t spoken. Be patient. Compliment the dish, the earrings, the soundtrack. Offer joy. Tip well.
- ⏰ Arrive on time: That first 15 minutes—laughs, intros, menu discussion—is where the vibe begins. Late arrivals miss the moment, disrupt the flow, and may even prevent everyone from being seated.
- 💬 Keep it light, curious, and kind: A delicious meal with new people isn’t the space for hot-button debates or trauma dumping. Emotional safety for everyone comes first. Ask before going deep on something heavy. Stay playful and present. Share the mic.
- 💳 Split the bill with grace: Your host will help keep things fair (e.g. cocktails = higher share), but she's hosting out of love, not as her job. Please be generous and flexible around exact per-seat splits. Restaurants often can’t accommodate multiple cards, and we value our time together more than we value $3 of math.
- 🚫 No-shows break trust: Life happens—but wherever possible please cancel no less than 48–24 hours in advance so an eager waitlister can fill your spot. An empty seat is a sad thing when our events are curated to be so intimate. Always take care of yourself first and just let the host know if you can't make it. Two no-shows or a pattern of flaking last-minute may result in removal from the group.
Finally, support keeps us going: Amuse-Bouche is a labor of love—Meetup organizers pay out of pocket to host. If you’re able, we suggest a $5 donation per event or $20/year to help keep the events coming. 💖
