FRequently asked Questions
We hope you can find answers here. If not, feel free to email us at sar691@nyu.edu
EVENTS, MEMBERSHIP, FUNDING
Events
What's the difference between the three types of events? Family Meals, named after the industry term for staff dinner, are sit-down meals at restaurants. After the meal, the chef comes to the table for a Q&A session. Restaurant Tours are a tour through the kitchen, staff areas, and dining rooms of restaurants with notable history, usually with the General Manager. They often involve a tasting of the restaurant’s most famous, interesting, or creative dishes. Workshops are cooking classes wherein the hosting restaurant teaches us how to create their signature dish. Each attendee creates his or her own version, and then we sit down together to eat, enjoy, and discuss. All event types conclude with an educational seminar with staff about the NYC restaurant industry.
How do you fill spots for events? We send our members a simple application for each event, which includes several questions about the restaurant we plan to visit. We consider those applicants who research and correctly answer those questions, because they have demonstrated interest. We then prioritize the members who have applied and not been accepted before, and select from the remaining applicant pool by lottery.
When can I expect to hear back about my event application? We will send you notice of acceptance or denial less than 48 hours after the application deadline.
What is the cancellation policy? Cancellations must be made at least 48 hours before the event begins in order for the member to receive a refund. Within 48 hours, we may not be able to find a replacement, and cannot refund you because the club will have promised the restaurant a set amount of revenue for their time and effort. As a professional club, we must keep that promise regardless of cancellations.
When should I arrive for an event? What should I wear? You should plan to arrive 15 minutes early, in business casual attire. If you are running late please call the number provided in your confirmation email.
What kind of dietary restrictions can you work with? Most restaurants can handle dietary restrictions, so usually they are not a problem; however, we do ask that you indicate them on your application so that restaurants can be prepared. If you're concerned, feel free to research the menu before signing up or reach out to us at the email address above.
Where can I suggest a restaurant for the Restaurateur Club to visit? Right here!
Membership
What’s time time commitment required for club members? Essentially, signing up for the general membership means you're on our mailing list, and you’re not required to come to any events - although of course we encourage it! We send 3 emails per semester with applications to our events. We have thousands of members and only a few spots available at each event, so members must fill out these applications to get a spot. The more applications you fill out, the more we'll make you a priority.
How can I join the E-Board? Members who want even more active roles should keep an eye out for open positions (when we have openings, we list them on the Membership page).
Who can become a member? Any student, professor, or otherwise current member of the NYU community may join our general membership. We can only accept undergraduates for E-Board applications.
What are the benefits of being on the E-Board? Management team members are guaranteed attendance at at least one event per year, regardless of necessity for the role. These leadership roles are also great experience to add to your resume regardless of your projected career field. With the high rate of turnover when members graduate, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to progress up our hierarchy and gain valuable management experience.
Funding
Why is there a security deposit for the event I'm attending? Aren't events free? Yes, events are usually free. The security deposit will be refunded to you when you arrive. We find that members remember to come to our events much more reliably if they might lose money by skiving off, so the payments help us keep our attendance numbers in line with the headcount we give the restaurants ahead of time.
What happens to unused security deposits? If a member does not attend a event, their security deposit goes into the Administrative Fund, which covers the cost of attendance for people who can't afford co-pays (when there is one, for very high-end events).
I'd like to attend an event that has a co-pay, but I can't afford it. Am I out of luck? No, you can still come! We understand that sometimes our co-pays are expensive. If you can't afford them, we use the Administrative Fund (see above) to help you cover the cost. We discuss this on a case-by-case basis when members email us at the address above.