Do-It-Yourself Restaurants

For me, when it comes to eating out, the less work I have to put into the meal, the better. There is, however, a growing population of people who prefer to get more involved in the dining out process.

Dubbed "anti-restaurants" by the New York Times, amateur restaurateurs are opening up shop in homes and apartments across America and serving original dishes to small gatherings. Some dining clubs, like the first described in the Times article (link above), even go so far as to create an environment for guests to get involved in the food-making fun.

Despite the popularity, the future of the underground dining scene remains up in the air. As more people find out about these rogue eateries, they become more vulnerable to being found out by health departments and being forced to shut down.

Now, the Diaries doesn't condone illegal operations, but these underground restaurants do pose an interesting thought -- why not offer a way for customers to get more involved and be creative in a store? These anti-establishments as well as the rise in popularity of meal prep kitchens and other hands-on concepts show that people are not only up to, but welcome a challenge. Childrens stores like Build-A-Bear Workshop and Club Libby Lu have figured it out. Isn't it time the adults get a place to play?