Diners save money by staying off cell phones

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We’ve all been there. You sit down to a nice meal in a restaurant, smile at your date across the table, and then it happens. The sound of an incoming phone call or text breaks the golden bubble of intimacy.

We all know these sounds and could probably respond to them in our sleep. Phone calls, texts, emails…it’s never ending.

Most people probably think they need a cell phone in order to have a social life. They send emails…and receive them. They get texts that detail plans to hang out.

At a Los Angeles restaurant called Eva, disruptive cell phones aren’t a problem anymore. Because Chef Mark Gold has put his foot – and your phone – down.

“This is like an extension of my family, so like this is my home,” Gold said.

And because Eva prides itself in being like home, that means no phones at the table.

Gold has taken this idea even further by offering customers a five percent discount for turning their phones in at the door.

“So many times I would come out into the dining room and there would be like a couple sitting there and they wouldn’t be talking. They’d be like sitting on their phones, texting, and stuff like that. You know when people are not distracted by their phones they really enjoy each other,” Gold said. “Some…some don’t,” Gold continued with a smile.

Eva has received a lot of positive feedback on this idea and one Yelp reviewer states: “I loved this restaurant and especially the idea of turning in your phone - so useful for those who feel the need to tape your date's smart phone to your forehead to get them to talk to you during dinner!”

And it’s not just adults; even college students are taking a stance. USC Sophomore Neel Ghosh and his friends have found a creative way to keep their hands off their phones.

“You put all your phones in the middle of table and whoever looks at their phone first has to pay for the meal, like for everybody. So with that motivation of not losing a lot of money – people really kind of enjoy it and you’re almost like forced, which is like horrible, now that it’s forced – to like actually socially engage with people,” Ghosh explained.

Ghosh and Gold both have the same intention. They want people to connect again, which is what Gold does with his wife and two young children over meals every day.

“Yeah I mean we sit down, we don’t turn on the television, we have no phones at the table. We sit down and have a dinner,” Gold said.

The “no-phones” discount has gotten national publicity. That’s because Gold was the first to offer an incentive like this. He says that more diners are turning in their phones than ever.

“We want to bring you back in the moment with your significant other, your family or whoever you’re with. Your wife, girlfriend, whatever,” Gold said.

Like Gold, Ghosh was inspired to act upon his idea when he finally realized just how big of a distraction cell phones have become.

“I was with my friends and we were talking about something and then I looked up and everyone was either on a phone or like watching a TV. They thought it was a little weird that it had to come to that but when you realize it’s actually kind of like an issue – people not talking to each other actually in person – then I think everyone was for it. It’s kind of fun, it’s like a game,” Ghosh said.

Does it work? I asked Neel whether or not anyone has actually gotten stuck with the bill before. He said just once did someone reach for their phone.

“[Just once a friend of mine] had to grab her phone. It was like an “Oh I have to” – but she didn’t really have to. So we didn’t make her pay for the meal because it was like her mom calling or something. Bu no one’s actually ever paid for the meal,” Ghosh said.

Sounds like their game is working. But ultimately it’s about whether or not the idea of putting your phone down to live in the moment catches on. Mark and Neel both shared their final thoughts with me on the issue.

“Everyday the phone doesn’t stop. You know it’s like take ten minutes and enjoy the company, you know,” Gold said exasperatedly.

Neel is convinced that things can change.

“There’s still hope for humanity in terms of not being so plugged into stuff,” Neel said optimistically.

Well, hope until the next text or phone call comes through and you just have to check it.