Put Down That Cellphone: Eva Restaurant Pays Customers to Leave Phones at Door

Customers should have the common sense to turn them off...and to be honest, who the hell wants to be disturbed by a cell phone when they're out enjoying a nice meal?

@gzchef I think it is a good idea. 5% is less then tipping, but I thought the idea of the dinner table is to converse about what our lives.

@gzchef ugh no. No one touches my phone!

@zedimage http://t.co/2d6VXBHa

@gzchef EMF paint sounds less intrusive. $25 charge if cell rings or you place call? Checking ill-mannered custs at door would be simpler...

@gzchef love it

@gzchef it has legs. I'd take the offer.

@gzchef I'd do it. Makes you focus on your companions rather than social media. People forget these things come with an off button

@gzchef I think it's a great idea. Yes, I would certainly do it!

@gzchef Love it! I know a rest. that has said no cell phone use at the table on the menu for years!

@gzchef it's sad we have to bribe people to have any social grace or manners!

@gzchef brilliant.

@gzchef Sounds like a great trend!!!

@gzchef Definitely seems way too intrusive!

@gzchef I love this! They should have lil' locked cubbies someplace so you can hold your own key. I HATE phones at the table. Unacceptable!

@gzchef Since I don't eat out much, it wouldn't bug me

@gzchef absolutely. But I would pay more at yours to photograph my food.

@gzchef I think they are on to something. Why the phone has become the chosen, prefered way to communicate is a puzzle to me. Rude in ways.

@gzchef yup. I agree. Maybe someone will come up with a law where you get zapped if u touch a phone while you're driving!

@gzchef they are on to something chef !! Cell phones ruin the dinning atmosphere.

@gzchef Yes. Had first meal at Les Halles ruined by Yapping Russian Track Suit guy (I'd have paid 5% of bill to take his phone!).

@gzchef depends; only use phone 4 personal use so i wouldn't mind. dunno how the 24/7 connected business types would feel tho.

@gzchef Only if I wasn't on a blind date! Need that phone for the "escape call!"

@gzchef Heck yes!

@gzchef For 5% I definitely would leave my phone at the maitre D stand! But, if dining with my wife, I'd turn it off anyway.

@hellodyee I don't like phones at the table but 5% off isn't incentive for handing my phone full of personal information to a stranger.

@hellodyee same here! I always turn my phone off when I am out to dinner

@LAWeekly Liked your article, just did a story on how not having your phone could be bad for @buzz60 http://t.co/uDqpzn3d

@LAWeekly thank god.

@ariasays we need to eat there so we can get a discount with our phone free meal :) @meghanic @truly_mary

@ariasays Haha yes! It's like they know me.

and how much do they pay you if someone else walks off with it?

I'd do it, but first I'd check in on FB & Yelp ;D

I like it, but its hard for us parents that want to have a date but are leaving our kids with a sitter....

An interesting development! Will we see more of this type of proactive behavior..

An interesting development! Will we see more of this type of proactive behavior..

Fab-u-lous idea. Though you take your life in your hands trying to separate a young LA woman from her cell phone.