Customers encouraged to hand over their phones at restaurant and people are surprised at the result
Topics: Food and Drink
Gerrard Kaonga
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/al_condominio
Topics: Food and Drink
When you're out to eat, there can be nothing more annoying than someone constantly checking their phone at the table.
Let’s say you have gone out for a meal at a nice restaurant, its a first date, or a celebration, whatever the occasion, you want to enjoy your food and have a good time, right?
But the person sat opposite you can’t help but pull out their phone to take a pic of their food, to check Instagram or just look busy while they wait for their next course. It's just plain rude.
Well, one restaurant has introduced a scheme to put this table habit in the bin.
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Al Condominio in Verona, Italy, has called on diners to hand over their phone and place them in a safe box in exchange for a free bottle of wine.
On its website the restaurant calls it a 'Digital Detox' and explains: "In view of Digital Detox, we are pleased to offer 1 bottle of Maia Wine Pinot Noir to each couple who will choose to store their smartphones in our communal box and 1 bottle every 4 people for groups."
The restaurant has also said 90 percent of the customers have taken them up on the offer, which makes sense, why would you turn down a free bottle with your meal?
The owner of the restaurant, Angelo Lella, has explained the reasoning behind the idea.
Speaking to The Guardian, Lella said: “We wanted to open a restaurant that was different from the others.
“So we picked this format - customers can choose to renounce technology while enjoying a convivial moment together.
“Technology is becoming a problem - there is no need to look at your phone every five seconds, but for many people it is like a drug … This way they have an opportunity to put it aside and drink some good wine."
Lella said the response has been very positive from customers.
He added: “It really is a beautiful thing to see people embracing it - they are talking to each other rather than looking at photos or responding to messages on their phone.”
But the free stuff doesn’t stop there. Customers are encouraged to leave a review in the phone lock box when they collect them again. Those that leave the most glowing review will be offered a free meal on their next visit.