The welcoming spirit
In purchasing The Sweet Life Café last spring, my husband, Pierre, and I wanted to bring our passion for fine dining and wines as well as our joy of entertaining to the restaurant scene. Prior to owning the restaurant, we took great pleasure in hosting dinner parties at our home where friends gathered to enjoy good food, wine, and company. It is that same spirit of warmth and camaraderie we have tried to extend to our restaurant. While the food on the menu is certainly a priority, we regard hospitality as an essential ingredient to our success.
A great influence of ours is Danny Meyer, the St. Louis-born restaurateur who owns award-winning restaurants in New York City, such as The Union Square Cafe, Grammercy Tavern, Tabla, and other top spots. I read his book over the winter and attended a New England Food Show in Boston where he was a featured speaker. In his book he writes, "Hospitality starts with the genuine enjoyment of doing something well for the purpose of bringing pleasure to other people.... We strive to treat our guests the way we would want to be treated - in business, as in life, you get what you give."
Photo courtesy of The Sweet Life Café
At the Sweet Life Café, we welcome every customer as a valued guest and do what we can to provide the most comfortable and pleasant dining experience possible. We pay attention to details, such as seating arrangement and background music, to create this relaxing environment. The wait staff is conscientious about the particular preferences and desires of each customer, including whether that involves conversation and interaction or privacy.
Just as Danny Meyer believes in the importance of humanitarian efforts (as seen by his work in restoring distressed neighborhoods in New York City and weekly meals delivered to Beth Israel Hospital to feed nurses, doctors, and patients), we at The Sweet Life Café have hosted fundraisers for The Yard, participated in "Boston Bakes for Breast Cancer," and other events that benefit the community, which supports and encourages us.
Ultimately, our desire is to be a vital part of the community by making our guests feel welcome. To succeed, you have to be passionate about wanting people to have an enjoyable time.
The Sweet Life Café, Oak Bluffs, 508-696-0200
