Picture this: It’s a Saturday evening, and you’re itching to venture out to that new, trendy restaurant. But of course, reservations must be made weeks in advance. You could always try the usual spot… you know, the one you frequent every other weekend. Boring.
Thankfully, someone has encountered this situation before and created a unique solution. You just need to know the chef! No, not personally (although that would be helpful); you need the latest app that’s changing the dining experience. “I Know The Chef,” launched in early 2013 by Joshua Stern, provides an exclusive and special experience for diners. Originally partnering with restaurants in New York City alone, I Know The Chef now operates in Chicago and Miami as well, with plans to expand into L.A. and Las Vegas. As Joshua tells the Miami New Times:
The initial concept began at a sushi restaurant in New York. [I] was dining with a friend and knew the general manager. “He came over, chit-chatted with us, introduced himself to my friend and sent over shishito peppers and edamame on the house. My friend looked at me and said, ‘That was awesome! I feel like a million bucks right now.’ Really, that was his line. Even though these are small gestures, they go a really long way.”
It’s hardly a secret that people enjoy being treated as top priority, especially in a room full of observers. I Know The Chef provides its members with special opportunities, including the following:
- Hassle-free booking of prime time reservations at the hottest restaurants
- Meet & greet with the owner or chef of the restaurant
- Seating preference
- Selection of a favorite dessert/alcohol as part of user profile
- Access to private member events and dinners held every six weeks
Stern aimed to provide diners with the opportunity to cut out the unnecessary time spent waiting for tables or booking reservations weeks in advance. He plans to include the option to receive and pay the bill from your phone (every introvert’s dream!), cutting out the awkward waiting game that comes at the end of the dining experience.
I Know The Chef has taken concierge services to the next level by hedging into the restaurant business. Their service is convenient, worthwhile, and gratifying – three traits that any diner will welcome, especially as they avoid the wait on a busy Saturday evening and take their seat at a favorite eatery.
“Chardonnay? It’s the perfect pairing for your dinner… and on the house.”
Sign me up!