SevenTwoTwoTwoThreeTwo – the swanky new Midtown eatery featuring Missouri River cuisine – has become the first Detroit restaurant to prosecute patrons who help themselves to the salad bar when they’re not entitled to it.
“For years restaurants have looked the other say,” says owner Paulie Patterson. “Somebody needed to take a stand.”
Like at most places, some dinners at SevenTwoTwoTwoThreeTwo come with the salad bar and some don’t. Patrons ordering meals that don’t include salad can add it for $85.00. “This is made very clear on the menu,” says Patterson. “So when they just go ahead and help themselves it’s like taking $85.00 out of my pocket.”
Last week three patrons were arrested without incident. Patterson praises the Detroit Police Department for responding quickly each time, and parading offenders out the front entrance for all to see.
“We hate to embarrass people,” says Patterson. “But they need to respect the rules if they want to eat here.”
All three of those arrested quickly posted bond and are awaiting trial. They face up to three years in prison, with an additional year for each extra helping.
The good news is that the arrests appear not to have impacted business at SevenTwoTwoTwoThreeTwo. On Friday, lines circled the block and the wait for a table was seven hours. In fact, halfway through the line was one of those arrested just days before – gladly willing to pay in advance, as is required of salad bar scofflaws.
