There was once a time before technology ruled the world. Much simpler times existed without cellphones, Ipads, and laptops. These days people can often be attached to their devices. According to UC Health, cell phones can actually add more stress to people’s lives. However, without your cell phone, you can experience anxiety as well. It seems like a catch-22, doesn’t it?
One chef and restaurant owner in Texas decided to take matters into his own hands by implementing smart-phone free dining in his new Italian restaurant, Caterina’s. The owner and chef, Tim Love, is having diners and customers pack their phones into small bags while they eat and dine in his new restaurant. This isn’t the only requirement that the establishment has. Love has created a unique aesthetic that requires a specific dress attire. The lack of cell phone and dress attire aren’t the only things chef Love is cooking up at Caterina’s. The restaurant also prides itself on a slow dining experience, where guests enjoy multi-course meals.
The inspiration for all of the unique dining rules is to allow guests to slow down and enjoy the world of dining, friends, and family without outside distractions. Caterina’s aims to bring back an old-fashioned world where everyone can disconnect. With the restaurant open and underway, Love has said that all of the guests have done nothing but comply and be happy with the breath of fresh air the establishment has brought. Love has also said that if guests need to be reached, they can give out Caterina’s phone number where an old-fashioned phone will be delivered to guests’ tables to receive their important phone call.
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In an interview with Paper City, Love described the establishment as “a super-intimate, white table cloth dining space, with seating for 40 in the dining room, and a bar with seating for six.”
He shared that Caterina’s aims to bring a dining experience that guests will appreciate. “At Caterina’s guests will be treated to a multi-course meal,” Love said. “It’s slow dining, or what I like to call analog dining where the entire experience encourages you to slow down. There will be lots of little surprises throughout the meal,” the owner shared.
That’s why the establishment kindly asks guests to put their phones away for Caterina’s experience. In an interview with a local Texas news station, Love said, “We’re going to kindly ask them to put their phone in the bag,” Love said. The owner went on to say, “We’ve already had that happen. Some people forget. They just have their phone in their pocket. We give them the bag. They put their phone in the bag. It’s not a big deal.”
Love said that if you can’t live without your phone, maybe you should find another place to dine. “If you can’t possibly deal without your phone for two hours, this is not the place for you,” the owner said. “I mean, people go to movies, they don’t get on their phone,” he said.
With the outside world being so chaotic, the multiple restaurant owner shared that this new way of dining is something not every establishment offers. “We wanted to make something that was special,” the chef and owner shared.
Would you like to dine at Caterina’s without your phone?! We think this restaurant concept is outstanding! If you love this idea, send this article to other dining fanatics!
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