Dining Discount: Shut Your Mouth

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NBC News has the story of Eva, a restaurant in Los Angeles that knocks 5 percent off your bill if you leave your cell phone at the door. Is it working?

At Eva, owner Mark Gold is betting that dangling a carrot instead of a stick will be a better way to keep meals phone-free. Gold told NBC4 that nearly half of his patrons take the discount in exchange for a device-free meal. “We want people to be in the moment, not only with the food, but with each other,” he said.

There are plenty of reasons the other half might not be biting, and other restaurants might not adopt the idea. The article names a few. For instance: fear of missing an emergency call, or wanting to share photos or updates about the meal on social media.

Not mentioned, although it should be: the risk of identity theft, especially for those who don’t password-protect their phones. (Read why you might not want a password.)

Would you give up your phone for five percent off? On a $50 check, that’s $2.50.

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