This novel concept seems to have paid off:
nspired by a similar promotion at a London restaurant, Sobocinski wanted to let Table 301 customers name their own price for their meals on the slow night before Thanksgiving.
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An e-mail blast sent to the restaurant group's customer database cost him nothing, and it ultimately netted a pre-event story about the deal in a local newspaper. No other money was spent marketing the event.
"We did not go with a skeleton crew; it was all hands on deck because we wanted the experience to be like it always is," Sobocinski said. "The managers and owners were all there, touching all the tables and talking to guests. We made a concerted effort to do everything we should be doing."
At the end of their meals, customers received handwritten tickets with price totals only for drinks. Of the 50 checks presented that night -- 130 total covers were served -- 14 paid 100 percent or more of the menu price, 12 paid 50 percent or less, and the remainder paid somewhere in between.
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The good will generated by the event was priceless, he added. Customers who came were clearly in a good mood and joked with the staff about being there for "the five dollar steak" deal. Sobocinski said only about 20 percent were regulars, while the rest were newcomers, who perhaps had wanted to come to Table 301 before but thought it was out of their league budget-wise.
"Most were looking at the menu and saying, 'Wow, this is not as expensive as I'd been told,' " said Sobocinski, adding that servers also made good tips for the event. "Everybody had a good time with it, and it created a lot of positive energy in the restaurant."
Good for him, thinking outside the box! The article goes on to mention that he's going to do it again.