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Balance between customer relations and restaurant employee support shifts in wake of pandemic-related burnoutBalance between customer relations and restaurant employee support shifts in wake of pandemic-related burnout

No, the customer is not always right

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

November 15, 2021

8 Min Read
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Over the summer, a small rural restaurant in Brewster, Mass. called Apt Cape Cod made headlines for temporarily shutting down for a “day of kindness” after its staff was subjected to verbal abuse from customers over time. The pattern of mistreatment culminated in an employee being berated for not taking a customer’s order before the restaurant had opened. During the day of kindness, Apt Cape Cod shuttered but still paid its employees to relax and recoup. 

“The cliché ‘the customer is always right’ is not true because they can’t be all the time,” Apt Cape Cod owner Brandi Felt said. “If the customer wants to bring in outside food and they get sick from that outside food, then I’m responsible, or they think they should have 14- or 20-person...

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About the Author

Joanna Fantozzi

Senior Editor

Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She has more than seven years of experience writing about the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her editorial coverage ranges from profiles of independent restaurants around the country to breaking news and insights into some of the biggest brands in food and beverage, including Starbucks, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.  

Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in arts and culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Prior to joining Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, she was a freelance food, culture, and lifestyle writer, and has previously held editorial positions at Insider (formerly known as Business Insider) and The Daily Meal. Joanna’s work can also be found in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, The New York Daily News, and Parents Magazine. 

Her areas of expertise include restaurant industry news, restaurant operator solutions and innovations, and political/cultural issues.

Joanna Fantozzi has been a moderator and event facilitator at both Informa’s MUFSO and Restaurants Rise industry events. 

Joanna Fantozzi’s experience:

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (August 2021-present)

Associate Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (July 2019-August 2021)

Assistant Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Oct. 2018-July 2019)

Freelance Food & Lifestyle Reporter (Feb. 2018-Oct. 2018)

Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018)

News Editor, The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017)

Staff Reporter, Straus News (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013)

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