Customers encouraged to hand over their phones at restaurant and people are surprised at the result

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.

Al Condominio restaurant is located in Verona, Italy. (TikTok/@leca.ursachi)

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?

You can get a free bottle of wine if you hand over your phone. (TikTok/@leca.ursachi)

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.

The restaurant said 90 percent of customers have taken them up on the offer. (Instagram/@al_condominio)

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.

Topics: Food and Drink

Gerrard Kaonga

Gerrard is a Journalist at UNILAD and has dived headfirst into covering everything from breaking global stories to trending entertainment news. He has a bachelors in English Literature from Brunel University and has written across a number of different national and international publications. Most notably the Financial Times, Daily Express, Evening Standard and Newsweek.