Jackson Heights Life

You can do ALL of that stuff without a TV. If you need a TV in front of you to start a conversation with someone, I dunno, that just seems very limited to me. In my experience, it's a great conversation STOPPER, unless it's a sporting event. And, as others have pointed out, there are plenty of other places where that is an option. Is your only satisfaction in having a TV in EVERY eating or drinking establishment you patronize?

And speaking of patronizing, nice touch with the "cell phone in front of you"; if the "low quality" remark bugged you, you should say so, rather than indulging in your own nuanced insults.

Since Mike has worked in a number of restaurants that have NOT had TVs and still managed to stay busy, I don't think he's going to have to work too hard to get folks in the front door. Particularly since they really seem to be meeting an often voiced wish on this board for the last 10 or so years I've been visiting it.

Too each his own, maybe we'll get to raise a glass together if everything's reruns and you've seen it all already...

I suppose some people don't want a television in the place because they would rather sit across from each other and stare at their phones.

I think if you really think this you need to get better friends that don't tune you out when you go out to eat with them. It's really basic civility when you sit down to eat with your friends or family to put the darn phone away. Get it off the table. Put it on vibrate. If you can (and you really, really probably can), turn it off or put it in airplane mode. Chances are slim anyone's world or your own is going to fall apart if you don't respond to a text within the next 60 minutes.

I hate TVs in restaurants because moving images are distracting. They draw a human's eye even when you don't want to look at them. And it's especially whacky that 9/10 times, close captioning is turned off and the volume is muted. Why exactly is that TV on again?

Staring blankly at a TV screen does not encourage community. It does not encourage anyone to interact with anyone else, which is sort of necessary for community building. The exception is sports bars. And other specialties like the gay bars that do viewings of Drag Race.

But I think he is also suggesting that the place would want to appeal to the widest variety of customers, and lots of them--like 85er--would want a TV.

If that is what 85er is suggesting, 85er would probably be wrong. The number of potential customers that would not consider going to eat a nice, casual Bistro without a TV is probably quite negligible. I don't think an American Bistro - which is how they are describing themselves -- is targeting people who need a TV to stare at while they shove food in their face. If you want to eat some place with the widest appeal, there's always McDonald's. (which doesn't have TVs either.)

Would you guys please decide on tv vs no tv? Dudley et al are waiting for your decision before they open

In any case sometimes I think this board over estimates how much influence it will have over neighborhood  decisions.

LOL .  Very true.

No tv. I go to eat, not watch tv.

whats the obsession over TV;s? I couldn't care less either way, i've never been distracted by TV's and they are usually on mute anyway so whats the issue? does it make a place less "fancy" for some?

Some of us have given our reasons for not liking TVs in restaurants, so why do you ask what the issue is? Fanciness isn't an issue for me. I enjoy eating in less-fancy places. Just because you're lucky enough not to find them distracting doesn't mean it's not a problem for others. In my experience, even if the sound is on mute, or turned low, it's often been some sports event that was on and people watching it made noise in response to the action. (And no, I wasn't in sports bars!)

(By the way, I don't think I've ever thought any opinion I expressed on here would affect any business owner's decisions! )

Quote from: eddie on March 09, 2018, 09:02:51 AM

whats the obsession over TV;s? I couldn't care less either way, i've never been distracted by TV's and they are usually on mute anyway so whats the issue? does it make a place less "fancy" for some?

Some of us have given our reasons for not liking TVs in restaurants, so why do you ask what the issue is? Fanciness isn't an issue for me. I enjoy eating in less-fancy places. Just because you're lucky enough not to find them distracting doesn't mean it's not a problem for others. In my experience, even if the sound is on mute, or turned low, it's often been some sports event that was on and people watching it made noise in response to the action. (And no, I wasn't in sports bars!)

(By the way, I don't think I've ever thought any opinion I expressed on here would affect any business owner's decisions! )

Unless you go during a major sporting event I've never seen people making noise in a restaurant over the TV. i just dont get the NO TV fuss i always read about on JHL and if they make a place uninhabitable.

Dudley, you started this thread, so it was you who added the ! to your name.

I like it!

Keep it!