Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

I went out to dinner tonight. At an upscale restuarant (Scaramouche for those who live in Toronto). I opened up the menu and it said inside
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Out of courtesy to other guests please turn off your cell phone

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I decided to I turned my phone on vibrate because I could see if I received a call and my phone plays music when turned on or off so that would kind of defeat the purpose of not interrupting other people.
I have been to enough restaurants with similar price ranges, atmosphere and food quality and have never seen a message like this before. Has anyone encountered something like this before? What do others think of this policy?

BTW for those interested who have been to Scaramouche before this wasn't in the main dining room. I was also pretty underwhelmed, but I think that was a combination of having too high expectations and ordering poorly. Also I think they had the B team out as it was the Friday before a long weekend.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

people who scream into their Nextel phones and leave the BEEP BEEP on in restuarants should be killed.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

To turn it off without making the turn off sound

1. Remove back
2. Remove Battery
3. Put Battery back in
4. Put Back back on

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

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Has anyone encountered something like this before?

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I have, mostly at churches.

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What do others think of this policy?

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I don't think it's necessary for maybe 90% of the population, but the other 10% spoil it sufficiently for it to be justified. I can't honestly say that I would miss it.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

That policy wouldn't hurt hurt my feelings at all. Everyone uses their cell phone but a lot of people need to hang the hell up every once in a while. Nahmean?

Edit: Especially the douchebags talking two-way all the god damn time.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

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I have been to enough restaurants with similar price ranges, atmosphere and food quality and have never seen a message like this before. Has anyone encountered something like this before? What do others think of this policy?


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I've been to many where reception was simply not available. Before it closed down, Robert Donna's Galileo in DC was one that I recall I always had difficulty. Not sure if it was active blocking or an architectural coincidence but it seems to be more effective than a little menu note that the abusers would ignore. Let's face it, if someone is enough of a [censored] to be obnoxiously loud on a cell phone at a high end restaurant, they sure as hell aren't going to read the note and turn off their phone.

J

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

I don't see the problem here. Proper protocol is to leave the table and go outside or maybe to the bar area (if the weather sucks) to speak on the phone anyway. They're only putting it on there to catch the small number of douchebags for whom this isn't obvious.

By the way, I only know of one restaurant in Phoenix where this policy is in place (Durant's, the legendary chop house on Central), but know of quite a few private golf country clubs that don't allow cell phone usage on the course.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

I have no problem with a request like this at an upscale place going for a particular atmosphere. Their atmosphere is basically what makes them thrive.

However, in fast food or casual places a policy like this is dumb. In Seattle, Red Mill burgers has this policy, despite the fact that they cater to and thrive on families with loud muddy kids, etc. The cell phone policy is just borne out of a hate of phones and them trying to foist their ideas on other people, and for that I dislike it.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

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people who scream into their Nextel phones and leave the BEEP BEEP on in restuarants should be killed.

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this video gave me seizures, no joke
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruzQxvZstJY

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

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To turn it off without making the turn off sound

1. Remove back
2. Remove Battery
3. Put Battery back in
4. Put Back back on

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You could also try to put your phone on Silent before you shut it off. When I turn my phone on or off, it makes a noise if it's set to Loud, vibrates if it's on Vibrate, and makes no noise when it's set to Silent.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

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However, in fast food or casual places a policy like this is dumb. In Seattle, Red Mill burgers has this policy, despite the fact that they cater to and thrive on families with loud muddy kids, etc. The cell phone policy is just borne out of a hate of phones and them trying to foist their ideas on other people, and for that I dislike it.

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They are not trying to foist their ideas on other people, they are trying to run a business and cater to their customers. There are quite a few places like this in LA and they are great. If you don 't have the courtesy to get off the phone when the waitress is there to take your order or when you are at the counter then you don't get service. And I would rather listen to some 3 year cry during my meal(because he doesn't know any better) than listen to someone have an inane conversation at ridiculous decibels.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

A lot of places have that policy. Usually there's a small sign up front in addition to the menu.

I'm perfectly happy with that policy.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

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The cell phone policy is just borne out of a hate of phones and them trying to foist their ideas on other people

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I kinda want to write them a check.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

Mistral in Seattle has this policy, tho it's not written anywhere. In high end restaurants, this isn't that uncommon in my experience. Perfectly acceptable.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

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However, in fast food or casual places a policy like this is dumb. In Seattle, Red Mill burgers has this policy, despite the fact that they cater to and thrive on families with loud muddy kids, etc. The cell phone policy is just borne out of a hate of phones and them trying to foist their ideas on other people, and for that I dislike it.

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They are not trying to foist their ideas on other people, they are trying to run a business and cater to their customers. There are quite a few places like this in LA and they are great. If you don 't have the courtesy to get off the phone when the waitress is there to take your order or when you are at the counter then you don't get service. And I would rather listen to some 3 year cry during my meal(because he doesn't know any better) than listen to someone have an inane conversation at ridiculous decibels.

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There is a big difference between the minute spent at the counter and the 40 spent in the place if you eat there. And believe me, it's usually pretty loud in there - a cell phone won't bother you unless you are a hypersensitive whiner.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

I have read about scrambling technology that will not allow calls to be received within the restaurant.

I guess asking is better.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

Why does your phone make noise when turned off?

There are scramblers out there, plus you could build a faraday cage into the walls. As far as i can tell just saying "turn off your phones" will suffice 99% of the time.

I do wish they put these scramblers into cinemas as standard though.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

I worked in a groovy bar/restaurant back in the early ninties when having a mobile was a sign of wealth and prestigue. This one guy came into the bar and had lunch every day of the week. He would sit by himself and spend the whole time talking on his phone and doing deals. This went on for quite a while. We didn't say anything as he had a mobile phone and he had the money to actually use it.

That is until the day he's sitting there yakking away on his phone when suddenly his phone rings.

He never came back. It was worth all that time listening to his, "conversations".

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

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I do wish they put these scramblers into cinemas as standard though.

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Sporting events to please so the fans aren't doing silly [censored] when they know they are in camera range

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

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I worked in a groovy bar/restaurant back in the early ninties when having a mobile was a sign of wealth and prestigue. This one guy came into the bar and had lunch every day of the week. He would sit by himself and spend the whole time talking on his phone and doing deals. This went on for quite a while. We didn't say anything as he had a mobile phone and he had the money to actually use it.

That is until the day he's sitting there yakking away on his phone when suddenly his phone rings.

He never came back. It was worth all that time listening to his, "conversations".

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Gold. Also, as much as I'd like to see cell phones jammed in movie theaters and higher end restaurants, it's completely illegal in the US. Up to $11K in fines and 1 year in jail for a first offense [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] If only the thoughtless douches who use their phones in these places could have a similar penalty...

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

Ook,

This might be true for electronic jamming but i doubt it would be so for a faraday cage since it is passive jamming - the equivalent legally would be suing an elevator manufacturer because your phone wont work between the 3rd and 4th floor.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

What does the restaurant do if you have a steak sitting in front of you and your phone guys off? Is there any teeth to this policy?

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

Been pondering this over the last hour and a half.

I can easily see restaurents developing into having mobile phone/no mobile phone sections like they had smoking/no smoking sections when smoking in public was legal.

This will probably be led by random pseudo scientific health scare #12 which 'proves' they cause cancer or a general social shift as evidenced in that recent thread about using a mobile in a train.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

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However, in fast food or casual places a policy like this is dumb. In Seattle, Red Mill burgers has this policy, despite the fact that they cater to and thrive on families with loud muddy kids, etc. The cell phone policy is just borne out of a hate of phones and them trying to foist their ideas on other people, and for that I dislike it.

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They are not trying to foist their ideas on other people, they are trying to run a business and cater to their customers. There are quite a few places like this in LA and they are great. If you don 't have the courtesy to get off the phone when the waitress is there to take your order or when you are at the counter then you don't get service. And I would rather listen to some 3 year cry during my meal(because he doesn't know any better) than listen to someone have an inane conversation at ridiculous decibels.

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Fair enough, but I would still like to see a no-cell-phone policy at the ordering counter. If the threads here are any indication you don't need to give any more excuse for cashiers to hate you.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

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Ook,

This might be true for electronic jamming but i doubt it would be so for a faraday cage since it is passive jamming - the equivalent legally would be suing an elevator manufacturer because your phone wont work between the 3rd and 4th floor.

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The problem here is the rare situation when a cell phone or pager is appropriate or necessary - you're a doctor or fireman on call out to dinner. A no phone policy should suffice to keep the a-holes from using their phones for unnecessary calls.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

You're not that important that you need to leave it on while you are having dinner. What possible inconvenience would it cause you?

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

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And believe me, it's usually pretty loud in there - a cell phone won't bother you unless you are a hypersensitive whiner.

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This is precisely the problem. People have a hard enough time regulating their volume on a cell phone in a quiet setting. In a busy dining establishment, this leads to some jackass literally screaming into his phone. Either step outside or turn it off.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

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You're not that important that you need to leave it on while you are having dinner. What possible inconvenience would it cause you?

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This can go both ways - you're not that important that you can tell me that my preferences are less important than yours.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

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You're not that important that you need to leave it on while you are having dinner. What possible inconvenience would it cause you?

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This can go both ways - you're not that important that you can tell me that my preferences are less important than yours.

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Really? You are certainly not more important than EVERYONE ELSE in the restaraunt are you?

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

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You're not that important that you need to leave it on while you are having dinner. What possible inconvenience would it cause you?

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This can go both ways - you're not that important that you can tell me that my preferences are less important than yours.

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Really? You are certainly not more important than EVERYONE ELSE in the restaraunt are you?

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There is no difference between a person talking on the phone and a person talking to someone at their table. Cell phone snobbery is the only reason the former bothers anyone.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

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There is no difference between a person talking on the phone and a person talking to someone at their table. Cell phone snobbery is the only reason the former bothers anyone.

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Sure there is a difference. The person talking to someone at their table is using a normal voice level.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

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There is no difference between a person talking on the phone and a person talking to someone at their table. Cell phone snobbery is the only reason the former bothers anyone.

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Sure there is a difference. The person talking to someone at their table is using a normal voice level.

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So are 90% of cell phone users. Loud retards are going to be loud retards with or without phones.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

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There is no difference between a person talking on the phone and a person talking to someone at their table. Cell phone snobbery is the only reason the former bothers anyone.

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Sure there is a difference. The person talking to someone at their table is using a normal voice level.

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So are 90% of cell phone users. Loud retards are going to be loud retards with or without phones.

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Not really. A large percentage of the population can't hear their phones well / are talking to others that have background noise / don't have a good signal and talk much louder on their cells than they do in person.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

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There is no difference between a person talking on the phone and a person talking to someone at their table. Cell phone snobbery is the only reason the former bothers anyone.

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Sure there is a difference. The person talking to someone at their table is using a normal voice level.

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So are 90% of cell phone users. Loud retards are going to be loud retards with or without phones.

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Not really. A large percentage of the population can't hear their phones well / are talking to others that have background noise / don't have a good signal and talk much louder on their cells than they do in person.

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I almost never see anyone do that. Maybe you live in a town full of asshats?

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

I keep my phone on vibrate all the time, mainly becuase it is in my pants pocket. Id never turn the phone off even if requested, but I also dont yell into my cell phone whne speaking, and I dont talk on the cell during dinner anyway because its rude. The problem I have with this policy is that the only people that are going to heed the request are the people who arent morons with a cell phone in the first place.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

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I keep my phone on vibrate all the time, mainly becuase it is in my pants pocket.

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I honestly don't think there is ever a need for a man to have his phone ring out loud.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

I always read this policy as "turn phone on vibrate and only take emergency calls" because frankly, I'm not missing some important call because of somebody's sensibilities about their dinner atmosphere. This is similar to how I act in a Denny's though.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

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I always read this policy as "turn phone on vibrate and only take emergency calls" because frankly, I'm not missing some important call because of somebody's sensibilities about their dinner atmosphere.

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Agreed. I rarely use my phone but they can shut off my phone when they can pry it from my cold, dead fingers.

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There is no difference between a person talking on the phone and a person talking to someone at their table. Cell phone snobbery is the only reason the former bothers anyone.

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Sure there is a difference. The person talking to someone at their table is using a normal voice level.

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So are 90% of cell phone users. Loud retards are going to be loud retards with or without phones.

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Not really. A large percentage of the population can't hear their phones well / are talking to others that have background noise / don't have a good signal and talk much louder on their cells than they do in person.

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I almost never see anyone do that. Maybe you live in a town full of asshats?

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I basically agree with everything that Leaky Eye said.

And in the case I was talking about - cell phone users are NOT the loudest most obnoxious people in the Red Mill. That goes to the kids and their parents.

Re: Restuarants Requesting People Turn Off Their Cell Phones.
 

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I keep my phone on vibrate all the time, mainly becuase it is in my pants pocket.

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I honestly don't think there is ever a need for a man to have his phone ring out loud.

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I wear/have baggy pants and can't always feel the vibrate. (razrs have a [censored] vibetrate) I keep my phone on vibe at nice eatin' places, work, on the bus and movies. Otherwise it's God's Bathroom Floor time.