Every chance I have, I save time to listen to the Marketplace Morning Report.
I had a chance to find out thanks to Eleanor Beardsley report They still eat out in Paris (October 22) that in many dining spots empty tables are the norm. The piece also mentions many, except the well to do, now share dishes, skip the aperitif and the dessert and stick to one dish. Some go more downscale and order a sandwich.
As I turned off the radio, a friend asked for my take on Across the Country, Restaurants Feel the Pinch
(NY Times, October 21) by Nick Fox.
From what Nick Fox gathered, some wealthy enclaves are still doing OK.
One of the chefs interviewed, Michelle Bernstein of Michy's in Miami Beach says “It’s just the last couple of months, it’s been scary.”
Javier Gonzalez, of Costa Brava, a Spanish restaurant in
San Diego, feels that “what’s been the most affected by the economy is the festive atmosphere
in the restaurant, besides people ordering two glasses of
wine instead of a bottle, there just isn’t the same buzz.”
At the Marine Room Restaurant, also in San Diego, chef Bernard Guillas thinks that 'tired' restaurants will suffer most.
A gray Christmas for eateries?
Related: Beat the Dow Blues in Seattle with Chow Foods Instant Bailout (October 16)