On Sunday afternoon my cell phone rang in my pocket (actually it vibrated).

It was Yale H., an old friend from dental school who lives in Worcester, MA. He, like me, is retired. The call came from Manhattan. He was going to see a Broadway show and he and his charming wife, Bobbie, are in town with three other couples. They have parked the SUV and now comes the question, "Where should we eat? Give us a recommendation for a good, reasonably priced restaurant."

My palms started to sweat. I know many restaurants in the "Big Apple" but how can I tailor one to please my friend and his group?

I am the all-knowing "resident New Yorker" and my out-of-town friends are tapping my knowledge of the big city.

Restaurants, like jelly beans, are a personal matter. Restaurants are also like baseball players. They have good days and they strike out a lot. When you select or suggest a place to eat, you are definitely tempting the fates.

What you would like to hear - "Thanks so much for the recommendation. We went to the ..... and everyone was pleased. It is hard to please eight people. It worked out perfectly. - the food and the service. We knew we could count on you." (actual e-mail)

What I was afraid I would hear - "That restaurant was terrible. The food was inedible and the service was as slow as molasses. I thought we could depend on you. I guess not."

Advising people on a choice of a dining place is somewhat akin to counseling them on what stock or mutual fund to invest in. You have to have a very clear crystal ball that reads the future.

Will the No. 1 chef be present?

Will they get the best waiter who affords perfect service?

Will the fund manager break a leg playing tennis?

Will the stock market collapse, along with your recommendations?

Individuality is the key. I am always happy when eating out. It means that we do not have to cook and someone will bring us our meal and we can converse easily without worrying about the dishes.

Eating out is not an exact science.

Recommending restaurants is also not an exact science.