Bill Brady said he lost 20 percent of his restaurant sales four years ago after Massachusetts put in place stringent new rules preventing drug companies from taking doctors out for meals.
“It definitely had a major impact on our business,” said Brady, who owns Sonoma Restaurant in Princeton. “And the servers — it took a substantial amount of money out of their pockets.”
Comments
This is a premature story not based on facts. As is stated, according to the restaurant industry spokesman, it is based on anecdotes. All one can tell is that Sonoma Restaurant, in Princeton--the middle of nowhere--relies too heavily on business lunches and dinners from one industry. And Sonoma is not a lunch shop or modestly-priced bistro. It is expensive, even for Worcester County, with entrees averaging $30+. Sonoma must be the only game in town or there are other special arrangements in play.
It isn't the only game in town, btw. Just the nicest.
You can't get a dinner for two at Sonoma for under a hundred bucks. It's a lovely restaurant in a beautiful setting with excellent food, but if it's the best example of a "modest meal" Ms. Shemkus could find, I might be in the wrong job.
Outrage. It is "business as usual" in Massachusetts. What a surprise!