When it comes to policing use of cellphones and similar devices at his restaurants, Joe Bartolotta applies what he calls the “screaming child” principle.
“If a guy’s on the phone screaming at somebody and it becomes disruptive, we normally enlist a manager and ask them to step outside and finish their call outside,” says the restaurateur, whose establishments include Lake Park Bistro and Bacchus. “It’s the same principle as the screaming child.”
And it’s a rare event. Beyond that, Bartolotta is reluctant to make rules governing the devices he calls “such an integral part of our society.”
It’s a precarious spot for a restaurant – balancing the dining atmosphere for all diners against the right of an individual.