Anonymous
Post 05/02/2025 19:41     Subject: Restaurants that give away matchbooks
Anonymous wrote:Yeah this was a feature of life in my in-laws house (they kept them to burn after using the bathroom until that caught their house on fire) and they are definitely not working class. I think it's just an old school thing that sticks around in some places.


Dang! Where did they eat to cause that much gas?
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2025 19:40     Subject: Restaurants that give away matchbooks
Anonymous wrote:I was in Philadelphia recently and was surprised by how many restaurants had matchbooks at the hostess desk (yes, I took one every time). I feel like I almost never see this in DC. Do more people smoke in Philly? Different restaurant culture norms? Something else?


As many places are non-smoking now, the cheaper restaurants will not spend money having them made up.

More posh expensive restaurants and hotels still have custom matchbooks, etc.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2025 12:32     Subject: Restaurants that give away matchbooks
Restaurants that have sort of a romantic throwback/vintage vibe will do this--it's part of the package. Philly actually has a lot of nice spots that are throwback-y.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2025 12:30     Subject: Restaurants that give away matchbooks
Russian Tea Room in NYC had the first I'd seen in years (2023).
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2025 12:12     Subject: Re:Restaurants that give away matchbooks
Matches aren’t just for lighting cigarettes.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2025 12:10     Subject: Restaurants that give away matchbooks
Le Diplomate too.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2025 12:03     Subject: Restaurants that give away matchbooks
Bartaco has them
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2025 11:55     Subject: Restaurants that give away matchbooks
Just used some today from Pineapple & Pearls
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2025 11:35     Subject: Restaurants that give away matchbooks
L’auberge Chez Francois had them last time I was there.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2025 11:23     Subject: Restaurants that give away matchbooks
Anonymous wrote:it’s in NYC at very high end places too so I don’t think the “working class” argument particularly works.


This. It’s just become a trend and Philly is following (or maybe they just never stopped!). Lots of people collect matchbooks and boxes. They’re nostalgic but also useful to have around a home.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2025 10:45     Subject: Restaurants that give away matchbooks
Yeah this was a feature of life in my in-laws house (they kept them to burn after using the bathroom until that caught their house on fire) and they are definitely not working class. I think it's just an old school thing that sticks around in some places.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2025 10:43     Subject: Restaurants that give away matchbooks
it’s in NYC at very high end places too so I don’t think the “working class” argument particularly works.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2025 23:14     Subject: Restaurants that give away matchbooks
Anonymous wrote:Philly is a working class town. More smokers. We don’t have working class. It’s rich/poor in DC.


I wouldn't be surprised if this was true, but the matches were also at high end places.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2025 22:30     Subject: Restaurants that give away matchbooks
Philly is a working class town. More smokers. We don’t have working class. It’s rich/poor in DC.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2025 22:26     Subject: Restaurants that give away matchbooks
I was in Philadelphia recently and was surprised by how many restaurants had matchbooks at the hostess desk (yes, I took one every time). I feel like I almost never see this in DC. Do more people smoke in Philly? Different restaurant culture norms? Something else?