No comment?
I’m sorry, what ?
IMO, this cell-phone thing distracts people from living and joying their and others’ lives. It can also send a devaluing message to a friend or acquaintance. I do what I can to avoid a repetition of sitting in a restaurant or social setting with someone whose head is buried in their cellphone.
/snark
There is a sandwich shop in Chicago where you turn your cell phone off. If it rings while you are there - the first time it is a warning. If it happens again, you get tossed out along with your sandwich.
I’ve been there a few times but can’t remember the name of it - but the sandwiches were huge! and reasonably priced.
Because the guys in the back suck on the job?
Going on all across the country...not just NYC.
Very interesting, at least to me.
It not only speaks to the time wasting nature of social media; How that same social media fuels a kind of puerile narcissism—It also speaks to the nonsense spewed by the consulting firm that offered the false diagnosis of the issue(s).
I stopped.
I stared.
I said, "We haven't taken our coats off yet."
I stared some more.
He was slow, but eventually, said, "I'll come back."
He came back, handed us menus and asked, "Would you like an appetizer?"
I stopped.
I stared.
I said, "We haven't looked at the menus yet."
I stared some more.
He was slow, but eventually, said, "I'll come back."
He came back about a minute later.
He started to talk, but I stopped him right away. "How do you think this is going so far?" I asked.
"Ummmmmm, fine?"
"No. No it isn't. You're rushing us. You're trying to turn over your tables too quickly. You want drinks, appetizer, order food, eat food, hand over money. That's what you want. But it's not what my wife and I want. I want a nice meal, and a pleasant dining experience. That means we don't want to be rushed. We also don't want to be ignored -- so don't start hiding from us. We just want attentive service and reasonable amount of time to settle and make decisions. Can you do that?"
"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir."
"Fine. You'll get a good tip, if you do a good job. So far, you haven't been doing so well. So work on doing better."
He got better.
Clicked on the link. Saw a headline, no story. Clicked to let the site run scripts. Still no story. Not willing to let all other 11 sites there who want to run scripts into my computer. Or maybe they don’t like that I’m blocking 9 of their 10 trackers.
So I guess I’m not willing to pay the price to read this blogger.
I found the article very interesting and since I can’t use a cell phone I find myself noticing what others do all the time. It’s amazing that people can’t sit and talk anymore without seeing them constantly checking their phones and I ask myself ‘why’. What is so important that they can’t visit and enjoy the people they are with?
It’s like a non-drinker watching everyone else get drunk!
My sister went to New York back in the late ‘70s and the group decided they wanted to eat Mexican food. So after a long drive they arrived at “La Toro” which translates to female bull or maybe poofter bull.
The food matched the name.
New York City sucks.
Actually restauranteurs should be grateful for smart phones as they actually drive business up and make them more efficient.
I’ve seen this article before and I think it’s bs.
Their best bet is counterintuitive, which is to give better service by eliminating the problem. This is done with some redesign and by displaying a large sign at the entrance.
The redesign blocks broadcast electronic signals.
The sign says that “Due to building redesign, we no longer have WiFi available in the restaurant. Likewise, cell phones will not function within the restaurant. If you need to be contacted on an emergency basis, please give your contact the restaurant phone number. And if you need to call out, please help yourself to our free land line courtesy phones in the vestibule. Local calls only, please.”
There is also some hidden psychology here, because while the public enjoys their cellphones, they dislike other people using theirs. And by blocking electronic signals, the restaurant sets itself apart as more exclusive, and thus more desirable.
They still serve the same number of customers, but the average visit time is almost double and a much higher rate of customers ask for a seating change. I bet in the last 10 years they shrank the table size so they could squeeze more customers into the same place. But they have the nerve to call the customer inconsiderate.
“Why Do New York Restaurants Suck?”
Because they are New York Restaurants.
All the self-absorbed wantabe actors and artists working until their hoped-for big break as waiters and waitresses, not really into the job and truth-be-told, thinking they’re way above such menial work anyhow.....