4 ms·

Seems like the potential start of a dystopian nightmare to me. Wouldn't be better for all concerned if a 2 star restaurant worked at providing better food and

Seems like the potential start of a dystopian nightmare to me. Wouldn't be better for all concerned if a 2 star restaurant worked at providing better food and service instead of privacy invasion and exploitation of the vain?

AznHisoka 1y ago
There are exactly 2 restaurants I recommend to people, and invite family/friends to when they’re visiting. Absolutely none of these restaurants know who I am, do anything special for me, or even know my favorite dishes. The only thing they have in common is they consistently make delicious tasting food. And they probably focus a lot on doing that. Its that simple.
- CoastalCoder 1y ago
  I assume you're referring to Jacques Imo's in New Orleans, then :)
- peferron 1y ago
  Would you also recommend these 2 restaurants if they ignored you for 30 minutes before taking your order, then brought your drinks late after you've already finished your meal? There's a lot more to a good restaurant experience than consistently making delicious tasting food. It's definitely not that simple.
  - AznHisoka 1y ago
    I would not but those are table stakes for any restaurant, that 99% of all places I go already do.
zacharycohn 1y ago
For people who go to these restaurants, this is better service. You wouldn't find this happening at Red Robin. This is what they are paying for. If it's not for you, that's fine.
- sublinear 1y ago
  I think you totally could replicate these experiences without the restaurant involved. Fun surprises are nice, but the absurdity of having the restaurant provide these kinds of experiences seems tacky. I don't think I'm alone in wanting the restaurant's personality to be just as much a part of the experience as my own personality. Otherwise, what makes this place more special than any other wanting to pull the same gimmicks?
  - satvikpendem 1y ago
    > I think you totally could replicate these experiences without the restaurant involved How? Like another sort of establishment that's not a restaurant?
  - zacharycohn 1y ago
    Sure. A hotel could leave you a special gift if they knew it was your anniversary. And people would be thrilled by the customer experience their service created.
- briangriffinfan 1y ago
  If it's a person who wants to personally make my experience better, sure, yay. If it's a manager who wants to use AI to maximize my engagement, fuck that.
- jqpabc123 1y ago
  A baby penguin is not service --- it has no impact on their 2 star rating. Unless they are on the menu, penguins have no part in the restaurant's mission. It is simple pandering to those who psychologically crave attention. It is put forth as a substitute for the lack of better product and service.
sublinear 1y ago
Despite much hype, past a certain point even the highest end food really is... just food. The service is what people really pay for, and there I agree that there should be much more interesting ideas to elevate the experience than bringing in a baby penguin. I don't see anything in the article as particularly creative.
- JumpCrisscross 1y ago
  > past a certain point even the highest end food really is... just food That point is still well up there. The difference between hours-picked tomatoes and Aramark sludge is worth paying for.

AznHisoka 1y ago

There are exactly 2 restaurants I recommend to people, and invite family/friends to when they’re visiting. Absolutely none of these restaurants know who I am, do anything special for me, or even know my favorite dishes. The only thing they have in common is they consistently make delicious tasting food. And they probably focus a lot on doing that. Its that simple.

CoastalCoder 1y ago
I assume you're referring to Jacques Imo's in New Orleans, then :)
peferron 1y ago
Would you also recommend these 2 restaurants if they ignored you for 30 minutes before taking your order, then brought your drinks late after you've already finished your meal? There's a lot more to a good restaurant experience than consistently making delicious tasting food. It's definitely not that simple.
- AznHisoka 1y ago
  I would not but those are table stakes for any restaurant, that 99% of all places I go already do.

zacharycohn 1y ago

For people who go to these restaurants, this is better service. You wouldn't find this happening at Red Robin. This is what they are paying for. If it's not for you, that's fine.

sublinear 1y ago
I think you totally could replicate these experiences without the restaurant involved. Fun surprises are nice, but the absurdity of having the restaurant provide these kinds of experiences seems tacky. I don't think I'm alone in wanting the restaurant's personality to be just as much a part of the experience as my own personality. Otherwise, what makes this place more special than any other wanting to pull the same gimmicks?
- satvikpendem 1y ago
  > I think you totally could replicate these experiences without the restaurant involved How? Like another sort of establishment that's not a restaurant?
- zacharycohn 1y ago
  Sure. A hotel could leave you a special gift if they knew it was your anniversary. And people would be thrilled by the customer experience their service created.
briangriffinfan 1y ago
If it's a person who wants to personally make my experience better, sure, yay. If it's a manager who wants to use AI to maximize my engagement, fuck that.
jqpabc123 1y ago
A baby penguin is not service --- it has no impact on their 2 star rating. Unless they are on the menu, penguins have no part in the restaurant's mission. It is simple pandering to those who psychologically crave attention. It is put forth as a substitute for the lack of better product and service.

sublinear 1y ago

Despite much hype, past a certain point even the highest end food really is... just food. The service is what people really pay for, and there I agree that there should be much more interesting ideas to elevate the experience than bringing in a baby penguin. I don't see anything in the article as particularly creative.

JumpCrisscross 1y ago
> past a certain point even the highest end food really is... just food That point is still well up there. The difference between hours-picked tomatoes and Aramark sludge is worth paying for.