One of the top restaurants in the world wants you to put your cellphone in a box while dining.
Eleven Madison Park, located in NYC and rated number 4 on the World’s 50 Best list would like you to “appreciate the present moment“, according to Eater.
The restaurant is placing a box on tables and (highly) suggesting that diners lock away their mobile devices for the duration of the meal to focus more on the company they’re with rather than their phones.
The idea came from Chef & Co-Owner Daniel Humm. He posted on Instagram that he was inspired to do this thanks to an art installation in Madison Square Park by Arlene Shechet. The installation is titled “Full Steam Ahead” and asks people to look up as opposed to down at their phones to enjoy the moment.
Humm mentions that “its been amazing to see how guests have embraced this in the dining room.”
Considering what it costs to dine at Eleven Madison Park, guests should be paying more attention to the food and their company.
The Dining Room serves an 8-10 course tasting menu which costs $315 per person. A 5 course bar tasting menu goes for $175 per person. (Both options must be pre-paid.)
What do you think about the idea of locking up your phone over the course of dinner? I have mixed feelings about this considering I’m guilty of taking photos of my food.
Find out more from Eater here.
as a gen-x non-cell phone owner, it amazes me how addicted people are to their phones.
things and experiences happen. you don’t need photos of it. or to post about it. or to text about it. or to call about it.
Matt- I never heard about that Chick-fil-A promo. Interesting… For the price to dine at EMP, I’d definitely want to snap a few photos of the food but also really be sure to enjoy and not be distracted while dining.
Chick-fil-A had a similar promotion related to ditching your phone and getting a free ice cream. Pretty good idea. Plus, with the costs to dine at this restaurant, I would want to enjoy my food too. The art of conversation has been lost IMO.