CYPRESS, Texas – Two local restaurants had an enticing offer for customers willing to give up their cellphones during their meal Monday night – a 20 percent discount off their bill.
"We see quite a few families who come in and they don't talk to each other. The kids are texting, everyone is checking Facebook," Gerry Sarmiento, owner of Mezzanotte and Piqueo restaurants in Cypress, said.
Approaching the holidays, he and his wife wanted to change that.
"We figure this Christmas time, why don't we give some kind of incentive to see if people can have some family time, some real quality time," he said.
The offer for a fifth off the bill was for any customers willing to part with what's become part of American society.
Cellphones, or other electronic devices, we secured in drawer at the restaurant.
"The whole family has to participate," Sarmiento's wife, Adriana Gutierrez-Sarmiento, told customers.
Nearly every customer decided to take the owners up on their offer.
"I think it's a great idea. We've been having a little more fun I think," Debbie Meehan, of Cypress said. She was eating at the upscale Italian restaurant with her husband and two granddaughters.
Casey McGuirk, of Tomball, who got together with her friend, Jennifer Gros, to exchange gifts, said she liked the idea.
"We're seeing more face-to-face and having more conversation than we would have, McGuirk said.
Both Mezzanotte and the Sarmiento's Latin-fusion themed restaurant a few doors down, Piqueo, offered the special.
By the time the restaurants closed at 9 p.m. Monday, the Sarmientos had decided to offer the special again Tuesday night.
Though customers might have left with fewer selfies and one less Facebook check-in, he says hopefully it was worth it.