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Chew on This: Should Restaurants Allow Food Photos?

By Kate Nerenberg

In restaurant critic Todd Kliman's chat today, a reader said that he or she had recently splurged on a meal at Komi. "The food was amazing, the ambiance was great, and the service was impeccable," the reader wrote. "My only complaint? I was told the chef doesn't allow photos of the food to be taken."

What do you think? Should diners always be allowed to take photographs of their food? Or does a chef have the right to ban cameras? Let us know in the comments!

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won’t be eating at Komi, ever. If I pay for it I own it.

Posted by: c.deleon, Aug 04, 2010 08:53:26 AM

That’s just ridiculous. I do not plan on eating at any restaurant that takes a stance opposing photographing food. I don’t take pictures of my food but I should be allowed to and I don’t care for that kind of snobby attitude. It’s one thing to have a policy against flash photography but another to say photos aren’t allowed. Next, they will have policies telling you how to enjoy it or maybe how many times you need to chew. Someone mentioned that cellphone photos or unprofessional shots could misrepresent the food. Well, that’s a risk any place takes. Someone could just as easily give a bad review over a place when the food may have been fine but they didn’t like some other aspect of the restaurant. Anyway, I won’t be eating at Komi as long as they have policies like that.

Posted by: Joe, Jul 28, 2010 04:37:17 AM

As both a restaurant owner and "gastro tourist" I appreciate this dilemma. It’s flattering to have customers photograph our food, but the use of a flash in a small, intimate wine bar is inappropriate. I put it in the same category as cell phone use--we let it go unless it disturbs other guests.

Posted by: Julia Battaglini, Jul 27, 2010 07:35:22 PM

I think the issue is less about the restaurant imposing rules and more about diners/photographers respecting other people. As long as the diner/photogrpher doesn’t disturb the other guests, I don’t see it has a problem. As other commenters have noted, diner’s photos can be free publicity. That being said, Foodie Photogs, please turn off your flash in fine dining establishments. (One recommendation I’ve read, which may be awkward, is to have a fellow diner shield the flash with a napkin). Please keep in mind that owners, managers and staff work hard to create an ambiance. Be respectful of all the work that goes into a good restaurant. Looks may be appealing, but it all comes down to taste and personal experience.

Posted by: Mer, Jul 27, 2010 06:19:39 PM

I guess I’m old fashioned, because when a server sets down a meal in front of me, my first reaction is to eat it. I understand how critical it is that your Facebook friends know what your dinner looks like, but isn’t this kind of like spending your whole vacation telling people back home how much fun you’re having? Are you really going to hang a photo of veal saltimbocca on your living room wall? To answer the question, I guess I don’t really think it should be prohibited because I don’t understand why anyone would care to do it. Just enjoy your food, you food dorks.

Posted by: Jack, Jul 27, 2010 03:32:27 PM

Yes. Once you buy the food, it belongs to you, you do with it what you will.

Posted by: Eve, Jul 27, 2010 03:29:48 PM

Just seems like it’d be more of a waste of time to police than anything else. Also, having frequented those chats, I can just imagine some snot complaining how they’d never go to a restaurant that ALLOWS the policy because the flash disturbs their meal, and shame on a manager for not kicking them out, etc. You really can’t win in this industry -- spoken as someone who has never worked in it. But, practically, in the age of camera phones -- why bother?

Posted by: cbr, Jul 27, 2010 02:04:18 PM

Great, now we have the food industry acting like the RIAA. Are they going to say we are only "leasing" the food??!?! This is crazy. I love photography and I love food. Many people do.

Posted by: Jon, Jul 27, 2010 01:37:57 PM

I wouldn’t go to a restaurant that had that policy. That’s simply ridiculous.

Posted by: Andrew P, Jul 27, 2010 01:26:58 PM

Generally, a photo shared would be a compliment. But just as a glossy/photoshopped picture could make food look better than it is, a grainy cellphone photo or just unprofessional shot could, unintentionally, make food look unappetizing and thus color another possible patron’s opinion before s/he visits. So while I’d, as a diner, take a photo for the former ("Look what I got to eat today!"), I can understand the chef’s perspective because of the latter scenario.

Posted by: CLHurlburt, Jul 27, 2010 01:24:49 PM

Interesting question. In the age of blogging where EVERYONE is a reviewer, it seems eventually most restaurants will have to bend to the will of the people. I think flashes can ruin a really nice meal (like at Komi) although what’s to stop restaurants from from gaining service points by taking the photo for the guest while it’s still in the kitchen? I mean they will still take a photo of table if it’s your birthday or special occasion right?

Posted by: Teresa, Jul 27, 2010 01:18:17 PM

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