Dining Out in the COVID Era

[dioxide45]

So we have been out to eat twice since they started easing restrictions here in Florida. We are currently at Oceana Palms on Singer Island/Riviera Beach Florida. For our first time out, we went to Carrabba's. Dine in, it was raining. The second meal was Two Drunken Goats where we dined outside.

Carrabbas;

• They had arrows on the floor, but they only led into the restaurant. We couldn't find arrows that led out. I think they went down in front of the kitchen line where staff was all lingering. Odd.
• All staff had masks, though some were not wearing ones that fit well. Kept falling down. Kept touching face to reposition mask.
• Same employee touching forehead all the time while talking with the manager. Manager should have told her not to touch her face so much. This employee was a food runner.
• No salt, pepper or olive oil on the table. They brought salt packets to the table for use.
• They had a special area setup just to handle to go orders. Several tables pushed together to manage the orders. Seems to go has gotten busy.
• The restaurant only had about 10 tables dining while we were there.
• Single use menus printed on paper.

Two Drunken Goats

• We dinned outside because it was a great evening to be outdoors.
• This place was busy. Much busier than I expected. They had tables set up pretty far apart.
• Most staff was wearing masks. Not all.
• I guess they allow outside smoking at restaurants in Florida. This I would think is a bigger risk than anything. Smoking requires deep inhalation of air and an equal exhale. You smell smoke, you could be smelling virus (if the person is infected). There seemed to be plenty of people smoking.
• Also no sale or pepper on the tables, but they brought it upon request. It was a salt grinder. I suspect it was cleaned, but no way of knowing.
• Also single use menus printed on paper.

Two Drunken Goats was much more like the normal dining experience we remember. Carrabba's almost felt like we were dining in a hospital cafeteria.

 

[Lydlady]

Good to know. I was actually planning on going to Carrabas this weekend (in Vegas). Went out to eat for the first time since the SIP/SAH order. There was no one sitting within at least ten feet of us. No sugar packets, salt or pepper shakers, ketchup. They used regular menus which hopefully were wiped down.

 

[Timeshare Von]

We've been out to eat three times in the past 17 days since our "Safer At Home" was struck down in Wisconsin.

Local Bowling Center (2 days after the reopening in Wisconsin)
Good social distancing, not much in the way of PPE use or other best practices for restaurants; most were still doing take-out (fish fry Friday!)

Bone Fish Grill (1 week after reopening)
Very good protocols throughout . . . very impressive. Several couples/families dining (we had a 6pm reservation)

Red Robin Burgers (last night, 16 days after reopening)
Again, very good protocols throughout . . . server was exceptional at making us feel comfortable. Only two other groups dining at 5pm

 

[Tia]

We have been out several times. We are choosing to leave a larger tip then before as they are limited by current guidelines to # of tables. Have heard 2 instances where waitstaff were choosing to not come back as not enough patrons so not enough income. One story was from a waitress we are familiar with getting more hours then she wanted, coworkers were choosing to not come back to work yet. I missed going out.

 

[Luanne]

Restaurants in New Mexico opened for outside dining this past Wednesday. They will open for inside dining on June 1. With restrictions of course.

Dh and I are both of the same mind. We won't be going to any dine in places for awhile. We will continue to do takeout (and we are now doing takeout far more times per week than we were eating out). I don't really know when we will feel comfortable going back into a restaurant. Part of it is we're not sure what the whole experience will be like.

 

[Monykalyn]

Part of it is we're not sure what the whole experience will be like.

I’m not really germaphobic or worried about the virus (take whatever precautions the establishment requires of course) but the first time we went out when lockdown ended was end of April at the lake- outside dining only and basically takeout. Next time was patio again at favorite local pub and grill. It felt good to be out, but weird, even though there was only one other party on the patio). By then reduced capacity inside dining was allowed. After 2 1/2 months of not being really allowed anywhere it felt a bit strange to out? We haven’t been out since either, although today we are heading back to lake and Mother in law to stay a night and take boat out. She wants to go out to a local place, will be gorgeous day to sit outside. I think it’s going to take (even me) a bit more time to actually feel comfortable dining inside, which is somewhat surprising to me. But for the ,ost part places around here are back to real plates and silverware (thank goodness).