The Stëmm vun der Strooss social restaurant in Ettelbruck is facing a space crisis. With only 19 seats available, but more than 150 people arriving each day for a hot meal, demand is far outpacing what the small premises near the train station can offer.
According to Franco Settanni, who manages the organisation's operations in the north, meeting current demand would require at least 50 to 60 seats.
Unlike a typical canteen, customers are served at their tables, but the limited space means not everyone can collect their meal themselves. At peak times, those waiting must stand outside until a spot becomes available.
When the restaurant is full, people have to wait outside, then they get around 10 minutes to eat, Settanni explains. "Because the space is so limited, we have to keep things moving".
To meet demand, the kitchen prepares up to 180 meals each day, since guests often ask for seconds or want to take food with them for later.
Settanni knows most regulars by name and enjoys talking with them, but the constant rotation leaves little room for social interaction.
If they had more space, Settanni says, they could hire a social worker to provide more comprehensive support beyond a midday meal, helping patrons tackle deeper issues.
For many visitors, the meal is only part of the appeal – the social aspect is just as important.
One young man explains having lost contact with other people out on the street. "Suddenly, no one talks to you. I think that’s sad", he confesses.
Others echo how much the chance to connect matters to them. The restaurant also helps patrons save money. Even those with jobs sometimes struggle to make ends meet, according to another guest.
Keeping the operation running requires around 20 staff each day from 8am, including 15 "TUC" workers: people employed via the National Employment Agency’s (ADEM) "Travaux d’Utilité Collective" programme.
Children with their parents are now a more regular sight at the Ettelbruck social restaurant, especially during school holidays. On the day of our visit, a Venezuelan family, newly arrived in Luxembourg and awaiting asylum, was among the guests.
For the mother, it was her first visit with her baby. "The food was great. We’ve been to Hollerich before, but there we weren’t allowed in with the baby. We were only offered takeaway and ate in a park. Here, we’re allowed inside with our child. It’s much smaller, but it’s cosy", she shares.
According to Settanni, families and children facing poverty are not uncommon in the north. Children are welcome as long as they are accompanied by a parent, and the clientele in Ettelbruck is generally calm.
If staff notice someone who has had too much to drink and might cause trouble, they are asked to wait outside and eat last. The restaurant remains open for lunch until 2.45pm.
Settanni stresses that, with the resources available, the team does their best so that everyone who asks for help can receive it.
