The Eliot Hotel

Hotel Restaurants Are Using Empty Rooms as Private Dining Suites | Eater

"An izakaya inside Boston’s boutique Eliot Hotel known for meticulous presentation and a staff that feels like family; longtime regulars rave about the Chiang Mai duck carnitas, with one diner preferring it to several Michelin-starred meals. During the pandemic the restaurant introduced a private-suite dining option in the hotel’s rooms: bedless suites converted into dining spaces for up to six guests with a 90-minute limit, QR-coded menus, masked-and-gloved servers who take orders once and deliver all dishes on a cart, and a throwback hip-hop soundtrack and sake displays that enhance the atmosphere. The program balances warmth and perceived safety (two parties per suite nightly) and has become a preferred, exclusive way to dine for some customers even beyond pandemic concerns." - Allie Volpe