A community restaurant in Ettelbruck is facing a severe shortage of seats

The social canteen run by the non-profit organisation Stëmm vun der Strooss, located near the railway station in Ettelbruck, is facing a serious shortage of seating. At present, the restaurant has only 19 seats, whilst more than 150 people come every day for a free meal. According to Franco Settanni, the organisation’s operations director for the northern region, at least 50–60 seats are needed to meet current demand. Unlike standard canteens, meals are served at tables here. However, due to limited space, visitors are forced to wait their turn outside during peak hours.

At the same time, the strict spatial constraints dictate a specific way of working. As Franco Settanni points out, when the restaurant is fully booked, diners have only about 10 minutes to eat, to ensure a constant turnover of guests. The kitchen prepares up to 180 portions daily, as many ask for seconds or take food away. Such a high throughput virtually rules out the possibility of socialising, although social interaction is critically important for the establishment’s clients, who suffer from isolation. The management emphasises that expanding the premises would enable them to hire a specialist social worker to provide comprehensive support to those in need, including working people experiencing financial difficulties. Around 20 staff members are deployed to ensure the centre’s daily operations from 8 am. Fifteen of them are employed under the ‘TUC’ (Travaux d’Utilité Collective) public works programme through the National Employment Agency (ADEM).

The restaurant pays particular attention to families with children, the number of whom increases significantly during the school holidays. In particular, the restaurant in Ettelbruck allows families to dine indoors, in contrast to the rules at the branch in the Hollerich district. According to one of the diners – a recent asylum seeker from Venezuela – the capital’s branch only offers takeaway meals to guests with babies, which meant they had to eat in the park. Franco Settanni confirms that the issue of child and family poverty is a pressing concern in the north of the country. At the same time, strict rules are enforced at the centre: if staff notice people under the influence of alcohol who might cause a disturbance, they are asked to wait outside and are served last. The restaurant is open to the public until 14:45, and, despite limited resources, the staff strive to help everyone who comes to them.