ENLIGHTENMENT: What Do Restaurants and Their Customers Owe Each Other?

Hi, this is Vanessa, your salon host.

It seems like every week I’m reading about at least one restaurant in town closing its doors. But, maybe I’m one of the reasons why that’s happening . . .

Whenever I open a menu now, I shudder at the prices. My idea of going out now is for a $8 latte instead of a $18 cocktail.

But I have to remember that there are reasons why lattes are now $8 and even mocktails are double-digit prices. Restaurants are also dealing with inflation as well as things like labor shortages, landlords raising the rent, unhoused people using the front patio as a house., people who complain there’s no parking, the newest release on Netflix and, every so often, the owner’s wish to give it up for less stress and a normal life.

Still, what is life — and a city — without a wide range of restaurants? What is our responsibility as foodies and customers to keep them in business so we both benefit from that range? What do we need to know about how restaurants operate, and what do restaurants need to learn about us?

I’ve invited a couple of veteran local restauranteurs to join me and give their honest opinions and feedback about what it’s like to own a restaurant now, what they want more of and less of from customers and the City of Sacramento, and what keeps them passionate about the restaurant business when it’s one of the toughest businesses to run.

Join us at New Helvetia Brewing and bring along your burning questions — nothing is too dumb or too small to ask.

OUR GUESTS* N’Gina Guyton, former owner of South and current owner of Jim Denny’s

* Deneb Williams, current owner of Allora who’s opening Aiona, a Greek restaurant in the former Esquire Grill in Downtown Sacramento

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