The One Question I Can't Stand at Restaurants ("What's your phone number?")

Kaibeezy

https://archive.ph/NqgRy

cisc

> “We try to build a database on everybody and get as much information as possible,” Gross.

pluc

Fake name, fake number. The faker the better. I'm John Hancock and you can reach me at 911

nubinetwork

Phone number is fine, I only got one of those, it's an easy no... The one I hate is when places ask for my email address... even if I wanted to, I have like 6 email addresses, which one do you want? Don't ask me to repeat it 20 times because you can't spell. Fuck it, I give up, no email either. :(

wolvoleo

I've never ever been asked for my phone number at a restaurant. Or any contact details whatsoever. Weird.

TZubiri

> A man walks into… > The man was me… why would you write like this? maybe to make it seem like actual journalism instead of just writing about how you went out for dinner yesterday? just be straightforward, gonzo journalism is valid and you don’t need to be embarassed by your burgeouis lifestyle that you need to turn it into some civic privacy op ed, just confess that the lobster was pretty good but too buttery

timnetworks

MicroCenter does this. Why do I need to give my phone number for a $2 audio cable? The poor girl at the register started breaking down when I put a 555 number and made me change it to a fake number she couldn't recognize as fake. What is the management doing to them over there?

steelframe

I just use my area code followed by 867-5309. It's quick, non-confrontational, and completely lost on whatever generation is currently manning the register.

BrentOzar

So, counterpoint: I live in Vegas, and I know firsthand that giving my phone number (which isn’t a Vegas number) at the host stand for check-in has allowed me to bypass lines, every time. If you frequent restaurants owned by the same company (in this case, José Andrés), you can end up as a VIP, and they’ll treat you differently. I’ve waltzed right up with no reservation, given my phone number, get greeted by name, and get sat down instantly despite everybody in front of me getting quoted a long wait time for the same number of people. Complimentary glasses of champagne, etc. Even works in other cities. So I’m just saying, I’m kinda okay with losing my privacy in exchange for that convenience.

g8oz

I just say "can we skip that?" No one has thrown a fit yet.