Whither Constraints?

Watching this video about The Eighty Six, steakhouse in NYC.

What struck me was how constrained the space is. They have 10 tables. Can seat 35 at a time. The tour of the kitchens was kind of mind blowing: tiny spaces tucked in wherever possible.

I wonder how those constraints show up in the decisions that are made each day in how The Eighty Six operates. What do they prioritize, what do they say No to? A few are mentioned in the video, but I imagine it permeates their work.

In software, especially these days, it feels like we’re trying to remove constraints wherever possible. Every last one must go, it feels like (let alone the idea of leaning into those constraints).

I wonder what we’re giving up along the way?

I think maybe Abundance isn’t so abundant, in the end.