Pizza Today - November 2015 - 18

with SCOTT WIENER

man on the street

The Waiting Game
Create ways to ease the delay
As enjoyable as a wait may be, I do
appreciate it when pizzerias put forth
the effort to increase seating efficiency.

C

all me crazy, but I actually
enjoy waiting at pizzerias. If
I'm queued for a table, it's
likely I'm in line with people whose
visits were inspired by the same
article or television segment that
influenced my visit. Before long, we're
comparing notes and suggesting
additional destinations to one
another. Unfortunately for the bulk
of pizza fans, such is not always the
case. I've logged thousands of hours
at pizzerias and some of the most
interesting moments have been those
spent in anticipation.
One of my favorite experiences
waiting for a table at a pizzeria happened in Phoenix, Arizona. I'd read
enough about the wait at Pizzeria
Bianco that I planned my day around
their hours. At the time, the restaurant opened only for dinner at

1 8 / P I Z Z AT O D AY. C O M / N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5

I was shocked the first time I received a
confirmation text message from Arturo's in
New York's Greenwich Village. Not only
did it remind me of my 8 p.m. reservation, it
also gave me the opportunity to confirm or
cancel the booking with a simple numerical reply. Arturo's has been a single location
family business since 1957 and this text message system may be the only thing that has
changed since it opened.
Technology saved me on a short layover in
Atlanta earlier this year. I had about
25 minutes between flights and simply had
to get a pie at Varasano's in Terminal A. The
restaurant has a sit-down lounge for travelers
with more downtime but also a quick service
counter for zippy travelers such as myself. My
flight was already boarding but I decided to
put my life on the line and place an order. I
5 p.m. Fully aware of how long the
had two options: I could wait for my pizza
line would get, I arrived by 2:15 p.m. and risk missing my flight, or I could stand
to hunker down on a bench out front. closer to the gate and risk missing my pizza.
There was no organization at first, but My worries disappeared when the server
as customers materialized everyone
handed me one of those buzzers to alert me
automatically noted who arrived
when my pizza was ready. This meant I could
before them. The staff brought out a
stand by the gate to make sure the plane
few chairs, and that seemed to be the didn't take off without me without risking
signal to organize into a more formal pizza loss. I almost gave up on the pizza
line for the final hour or so before the and took the buzzer back to New York, but
doors opened. The real gem of the
it started blinking just as my section began
experience was something I learned
boarding. That was one tasty flight!
from line veterans, who advised me
With each of these experiences, moments
that it was completely acceptable to
of uncertainty were transformed into relief.
slip away to the bar next door (also
Organized lines and hi tech communication
owned by Bianco) to grab a drink
may not have made my food taste any better,
without losing my place. This was
but they certainly set the mood to enjoy the
such a smart way for Pizzeria Bianco whole experience. ■
to make the waiting experience more
pleasant while capitalizing on a
SCOTT WIENER owns and operates Scott's Pizza
thirsty -- and captive -- audience.
Tours in New York City.
By RICK DAUGHERTY
http://www.PIZZATODAY.COM
Pizza Today - November 2015

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