Ruffino’s shuttle service helps diners get home safely

You can dispense with driving considerations in limiting the number of glasses of wine or other alcoholic beverages you drink the next time you dine at Ruffino’s: The restaurant is now providing groups of customers with shuttle service to and from their party location with a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter passenger van that seats 10. Chef and co-owner Peter Sclafani says he and co-owner Ruffin Rodrigue got the idea while traveling, and were inspired by similar transportation service that many hotels provide. Also, he says, many customers want to imbibe when they dine, but live 10 or more miles away from the restaurant. “We don’t want you to drink wine and get on the street,” Sclafani says. “We were trying to overcome that problem.” Sclafani says he and Rodrigue have not finalized a price for the service but have already provided some customers with roundtrip rides. The two estimate they can serve up to four groups of people on a busy night, and even give some customers a ride home if they’re too tipsy to drive. The Sprinter is equipped with a full bar and two flat-screen TVs, Sclafani says. —Adam Pearson