please ignore the man behind the curtain --- not

giardina’s. an upscale steak & seafood restaurant inside the alluvian hotel in greenwood, mississippi. this restaurant offers 14 private dining booths. “booth” may be confusing, they are actual rooms with a table & chairs, the rooms are encased with 1 wall and 2, 8ft tall, bead board, cubicle-style walls and a heavy curtain (see photo). this could give one the idea of hanky-panky privacy, but is it? let me dispel this for you now. if you get seated in one of the 14 “booths”, you won’t see other patrons unless you happen to walk in or walk out when other diners are entering or exiting. at times, you mey hear voices from a cubicle over, but, only your imagination can put a face to that voice. each dining “room” is equipped with a light switch that includes a dimmer and a “button” that resembles a door bell. the button is to summon waitstaff. each flinging of the curtain, waitstaff entrance is concluded with this phrase: “if you need something, don’t hesitate to hit the button.” waitstaffers were in & out of our private den of sin. the need to hit the button never arose. the seclusion puts the kibosh on people watching and judging the eating habits or fashions of others. private rooms do offer a unique dining experience, one that invites you to focus on well prepared food and your dining partner. Giardina's (pronounced Gar-deena) has a regular restaurant dining room where you can dine amongst the masses, but why? experience the booth before you die.

Giardina’s Restaurant
314 Howard Street
Greenwood, Mississippi 38930

662-455-4227

read more about Giardina's at the Southern Foodways Alliance.