A display of smartphone technology device and laptop on a wooden table. Original public domain image from Wikimedia Commons

Restaurant No Phone Zones: Are They a Good Idea?

In our increasingly technology-focused world, it’s hard to find time for us to be completely unattached from our devices. When spending time with friends and family, it can often feel like we’re distracted by text messages, emails, and other notifications. Your restaurant’s goal is to create an environment for your customers to catch up with family and friends. One option for this is to create restaurant no phone zones. In this blog post, we’ll analyze this restaurant trend to help you decide if they’ll work for your restaurant.

What are Restaurant No Phone Zones?

Restaurant no phone zones are pretty self-explanatory. Basically, they’re an area of your restaurant, or a specific choice that a customer can make when being seated, where phone and other technology use is not permitted. This is a great option for families looking to share a meal together without distractions. Plus, it’s also great for lunch meetings between coworkers or friends looking to catch up.

Furthermore, no-phone zones can also be a great option for when your restaurant is hosting events like bar trivia programs. Bar trivia doesn’t work when there’s any sort of cheating involved. The same guidelines you place on regular phone-free tables can apply to restaurant trivia nights, too. Remember, if you’re looking for the best trivia programs for bars, Deliver Me Trivia offers a fantastic service at an affordable price. We can help you boost attendance and revenue, even on slow nights of the week!

What are the Benefits of this Trend?

There are many benefits of creating a no-phone zone in your restaurant. For your customers, it can help create a great bonding experience and a memorable meal free of distractions. For you, as a business owner, it can help create a more genuine connection with your customers. Plus, it can also lead to increased revenue. Customers won’t be distracted from the food they’ve ordered and may even order more appetizers and desserts to share.

Are there any Drawbacks?

There are a few potential drawbacks to creating a No Phone Zone in your restaurant. If your restaurant uses an app or website for deals, menus, or your loyalty or reward system, a no phone zone can prevent guests from using these. But you can get around these issues. Try providing no-phone tables with physical menus and allow them to retrieve their electronics before payment. Alternatively, if your guests’ rewards are tracked through an alternate ID like a phone number or email, providing this to the server to check if they have any redeemable rewards is another option.

No Phone Zones are a creative and unique idea that doesn’t require a lot of planning or investment. They can provide a great dining environment for your customers, too! Plus, your restaurant will likely see benefits, too. Creating a no phone zone isn’t the right option for every restaurant. But they can be a fantastic option when the time and environment are right. Best of luck!

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