[Phalanx]

I generally dress pretty casually...about as formal as it gets for me would be wearing an ironed shirt, over a black T, long pants, and polished boots.
Don't like suits, don't think I'll ever wear one.
There are some places that I'd not go to that seem kind of "upperclass", simply on account of having attended places like this before, and not enjoyed the experience. It doesn't matter how much I "care" about either what other people think of me, or that the peeps that seem to wear designer and/or business gear 24/7 DO seem to look down upon all those unlike them, and tend to stare, assuming you're stupid enough to miss the obviousness of it...
But, that DOES take something away from your dining experience, even if I'm happy to sit there, soaking up the reactions.
When it comes from both the patrons, and the staff, it's all a little underwhelming. I've seen others take priority in being served in places like this, even after I've arrived prior to them. I've seen friendly smiles thrown around those with certain images, and received cold indifference and minimal eye contact myself at times.
It's called the hospitality industry for a reason...and IMO, if you're prepared to spend what they're charging, you damn well ought to be treated equally.
Do I feel uncomfortable about all this?
Not really...sure, makes me consider that there's a bunch of dicks out there, but I suppose if I wanted to dine in one of these kinds of places, I would.
However, I'd choose one that I'd been to prior and actually received good service...unfortunately, they make up the minority.
Fine dining, upperclass restaurants...I just don't think they're really for me, in general. Of course, the need to actually GO to them in my case is a little less significant, since I can pretty much cook up there with the best of them...but all the same, having received poor service at some of these places in the past, been obviously shoved in the least noticeable corners, and the reactions of those that define themselves by dollar value...I have seldom come out feeling I've had my moneys worth. For these reasons, I do not regularly dine at, nor would I work at, places like this. I'd consider it a huge sell-out.
Not saying that ALL places like this are the same...I've had the good fortune to experience a few that aren't like that at all...but, that few, is few and far between.
I much prefer going to say smaller restaurants, indian, thai, italian pizzerias, steakhouses, lebanese restaurants, the kind of places that don't have flocks of these sheep heading in to boost their social status on a daily basis, the kind of places that actually value you as a customer, not as a walking dollar sign. If I want to spend up a little more, I'll hit the Lauenbrau, a great rustic German restaurant/pub that's set up in one of sydneys oldest buildings...great atmosphere, good food, friendly people...slightly more expensive than most places I'd go to, but you get your moneys worth, without the attitude.
You can tell the difference between these kinds of places in terms of the service a mile off. Maybe it's just because they need the business one way or another, I don't know...but 9 times out of 10, I'm myself garaunteed a much warmer reception, and a more enjoyable night.

But for me, the one place I love eating most...is a dodgy looking downstairs arcade in the middle of our "chinatown", called the dixon centre. It's full of tables and chairs, with about 50 different places to eat. Like a mixed asian food court...You order your food, it's done in 5 minutes, fresh, excellent, friendly service, anybody is welcome, and the serving sizes...whoah...all I can say is I'm not sure why there arent a LOT more chubby asian people.
It's an experience, and I feel most at home there. Why? Because who ou are, and what you do doesn't get taken into account by every second person...that, and well, it's all about good food.