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'No Tech Tuesday' At South Jersey Diner

By Todd Quinones

SOMERS POINT, N.J. (CBS) -- Do you remember the days when you could sit down and eat with another person without looking at your phone? It's still possible at a restaurant in South Jersey, at least one day a week.

'No Tech Tuesday' at Sandi Pointe Coastal Bistro in Somers Point, Atlantic County means no cell phones, no video games and no TV allowed for the night. The idea is the brain child of owner Dan Anderson.

"I've been introduced to people and people haven't looked up from their cell phone when they shake their hand to meet me," Anderson said. "I'm not the President, but you would like to have a little eye contact, a 'hello' or something."

Anderson spent much of his life in the restaurant business, and he like others is growing a bit tired of all the constant texting, and tweeting during dinner.

"This never happened before in my life," said eight-year-old Liam Sabatini of Northfield.

He didn't know what to do with himself during dinner, and at first even his parents were caught off guard.

When asked when was the last time they had dinner as a family and not have cell phones or TV's, Kathryn Sabatini had this response:

"It's never happened," she said. Never. There's always been a phone, or a TV."

Referring to No Tech Tuesday's she said, "I think it is something we keep doing whether it's here or at home."

To help kick start face to face conversations, Anderson had a bunch of conversation starters available, questions like, "If you were invisible for a day, what would you do?" or "Name three foods you can't live without."

Anderson says not everyone is thrilled with the idea, but most have rolled with it so far.

"It's just for today," he said. "One little statement and say let's just talk and have a good time and let's learn something about each other."

A second 'No Tech Tuesday' is planned for next week, as well.

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