Have You Been Hugged By a Restaurant Lately?

This made me think of some of the behaviors/deals I'm starting to see and hear about around these parts.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/04/dining/04note.html?em

I'm all for hugs.
As a business strategy; I'm not really cool with that.

Maybe it's because Louisville hasn't been as hard hit by the economic downturn as New York has but I certainly haven't seen the degree of restaurant and server customer orientation changes discussed in the article. Yes, some restaurants have changed their menus and style to make their menus more affordable but I really haven't seen a change in the attitude or work ethics of servers nor the other changes discussed in the article here in the Louisville market. Maybe like many things it will happen here in Louisville later than in New York. Actually sounds like something positive for the customers.

I think that most places in Louisville have always hugged their customers. I was trained in Louisville at Vincenzo's, went on to work in LA and NYC restaurants and it always shocked customers and owners alike in those larger cities, when I went that extra mile with the customer. The customers would look at me funny when I would come around to inquire if everything was alright several times during the meal. Louisville is friendly place. I make sure that my staff treats every customer like family.

I agree with Will. Whenever I've traveled we always seem to comment on the differences between the service that we've received in places like New York, Chicago and Miami and the places at home. Over all a much better service experience here locally. I wish more people appreciated the local food scene because, for the size of our city, it really is amazing.