--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Today, 18 out of 45 customers entering a…" description: "\"“Today, 18 out of 45 customers entering a restaurant ask whether they can sit somewhere else. From that point on, their digital lives take over. Diners..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/martin-lindstrom-4111_food_today-18-out-of-45-customers-entering-a_2579653.jpg" --- # Today, 18 out of 45 customers entering a restaurant ask… ![“Today, 18 out of 45 customers entering a restaurant ask whether they can sit somewhere else. From that point on, their digital lives take over. Diners take out their phones and try to connect to the nearest Wi-Fi. They hunt down information or check if anyone “liked” their Facebook post, often…” quote by Martin Lindstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/martin-lindstrom-4111_food_today-18-out-of-45-customers-entering-a_2579653.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/martin-lindstrom-4111_food_today-18-out-of-45-customers-entering-a_2579653.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/martin-lindstrom-4111_food_today-18-out-of-45-customers-entering-a_2579653.jpg) > ““Today, 18 out of 45 customers entering a restaurant ask whether they can sit somewhere else. From that point on, their digital lives take over. Diners take out their phones and try to connect to the nearest Wi-Fi. They hunt down information or check if anyone “liked” their Facebook post, often forgetting that their menus are waiting there on the table, which is why when the waiter asks them if they’re ready to order, most respond that they need more time. Twenty-one minutes later, they’re ready to order. Twenty-six of them spend up to three minutes taking photos of their food. Fourteen snap photos of each other eating, and if the photos are blurry or unflattering, they retake them. Approximately one-half of all diners ask if their server would take a group photo and while he’s at it, would he mind taking a few more? The second half sends their food back to the kitchen, claiming it’s cold (which it is, as they’ve spent the past ten minutes playing with their phones and not eating). Once they pay their check, they leave the restaurant twenty minutes later, versus five minutes in 2004. As they exit, eight diners are so distracted that they bump into another diner, or a waiter, or a table, or a chair. An”” [Martin Lindstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lindstrom/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People’s constant phone use in restaurants delays dining, disrupts service, and creates safety hazards. **In simple terms:** Phones distract diners, slowing meals and causing accidents. Key Takeaway Limit phone use during meals. Themes distraction technology social behavior hospitality safety Mood frustrated observational critical Type observational analytical cautionary When to use this quote - restaurant dining - customer service - social media sharing - food photography - group photos Key Concepts attention economy digital addiction social validation Questions to Reflect On - How does phone use affect your dining experience? - What policies could balance connectivity and safety? A Different Perspective Some diners may need connectivity for work or emergencies, making strict bans impractical. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Taking Photos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-photos/) ## Related quotes > [When I was in the Air Force, if I walked into a restaurant, in about eight or nine minutes the M.P.'s would show up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/when-i-was-in-the-air-force-if-i-walked-into-a-restaurant-in-about/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) > [I hate when I go to a restaurant and they ask Would you like a table? 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From that point on, their digital lives take over. Diners take out their phones and try to connect to the nearest Wi-Fi. They hunt down information or check if anyone “liked” their Facebook post, often forgetting that their menus are waiting there on the table, which is why when the waiter asks them if they’re ready to order, most respond that they need more time. Twenty-one minutes later, they’re ready to order. Twenty-six of them spend up to three minutes taking photos of their food. Fourteen snap photos of each other eating, and if the photos are blurry or unflattering, they retake them. Approximately one-half of all diners ask if their server would take a group photo and while he’s at it, would he mind taking a few more? The second half sends their food back to the kitchen, claiming it’s cold (which it is, as they’ve spent the past ten minutes playing with their phones and not eating). 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