How restaurants might reopen

[beejaybee]

Here are my thoughts, what are yours?
Fixed seatings, separated tables and limited menus. Prepaid reservations and menu choices required so that say a 5pm group would be out by 6:30 to allow time for cleaning. Wait staff would wear masks and gloves. Patrons could wear bandanas that cover nose but allow for drinking/eating.
This would be doable and there could be as many as 3 seatings nightly. Granted, the volume of business would be below pre-Covid-19 days, but it would be business!

 

[Luanne]

I can see that happening. I imagine that many restaurants are already planning how they can open back up with restrictions.

 

[geekette]

Restaurants run on very slim margins. I can't see operating half a house and making profit.

I was reading about Atlanta chefs that were saying no way, we'll stick to take out for now. Their concerns are the safety of staff, including commute by bus, etc., and of course, safety of patrons. At least one of them said that his staff had requirements for their home life, too. I greatly appreciate their doing everything possible to maintain the health of their staff. Bringing in customers is a big risk.

 

[Conan]

Probably there's a paywall here, but if you can read this from the owner of a shuttered hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Manhattan's East Village, it's worth your time.

My Restaurant Was My Life for 20 Years. Does the World Need It Anymore? (Published 2020)

Forced to shutter Prune, I’ve been revisiting my original dreams for it — and wondering if there will still be a place for it in the New York of the future.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Luanne]

Before restaurants in our area were closed completely, except for take out, restrictions were put in place to cut down on the density. One restaurant that has a couple of smaller rooms, change the seating to just one table per room. I don't remember if I was told they were just doing one seating in that room per night. Any all of this was only in place for about a week so I don't think any of the restaurants got a feel for how it might work longer term.

We have one restaurant in town that usually only does breakfast and lunch. They are more of a coffee type place with a small menu. They've started doing dinners. They have one choice per night. When I picked up some food from them the other day they said they are doing pretty well, but I have no idea how they are managing with the dinners.

 

[Talent312]

For 24 hours before they closed, Florida restaurants were under a 50% rule.

When we went, they took chairs away and put signs on every other table + booth.
They told us that the tables + menus had been cleaned between each use.
Texas Roadhouse took away buckets of peanuts and handed out pre-filled bags.

I 'spose that approach would be okay.

 

[Rolltydr]

For 24 hours before they closed, Florida restaurants were under a 50% rule.

When we went, they took chairs away and put signs on every other table + booth.
They told us that the tables + menus had been cleaned between each use.
Texas Roadhouse took away buckets of peanuts and handed out pre-filled bags.

I 'spose that approach would be okay.

Maybe I would get used to it, but that really doesn’t sound like a pleasant dining experience to me. I think I would stick to takeout for the most part.

 

[MrockStar]

If space & parking allow move every other table outside and install umbrellas or trellises properly spaced this could keep most of your seating/tables weather permitting.

 

[geekette]

We have one restaurant in town that usually only does breakfast and lunch. They are more of a coffee type place with a small menu. They've started doing dinners. They have one choice per night. When I picked up some food from them the other day they said they are doing pretty well, but I have no idea how they are managing with the dinners.

This is very smart. From what I understand, food supply is an issue for them. I recall when I worked at a restaurant, "specials" were generally what they could get a good price on. Now, it's what you Can Get.

One choice seems to be very smart, and helpful in the kitchen. I'm sure it is helping to add a new rung to the diminished ladder with dinner.

 

[Rolltydr]

If space & parking allow move every other table outside and install umbrellas or trellises properly spaced this could keep most of your seating/tables weather permitting.

Not in Birmingham AL in the summer. 95-100 degrees with 90+ humidity? No, thank you.

 

[slip]

This is very smart. From what I understand, food supply is an issue for them. I recall when I worked at a restaurant, "specials" were generally what they could get a good price on. Now, it's what you Can Get.

One choice seems to be very smart, and helpful in the kitchen. I'm sure it is helping to add a new rung to the diminished ladder with dinner.

I work in food distribution and there is no shortage with any of our food supply. All items are fully stocked. Business is down because restaurants either closed or can only do takeout/deliveries. There is plenty of inventory.

There has been some supply shortages in retail packaging because about have of the food supply is packaged that way for the general public. The rest is packaged for distribution to restaurants.

We have actually been selling some of our retail labeled products to retail stores across the whole country. The FDA and USDA have done some relaxing of some of the labeling restrictions because of some of the shortages on the retail side. These relaxing of labeling restrictions are only temporary though.

 

[geekette]

Not in Birmingham AL in the summer. 95-100 degrees with 90+ humidity? No, thank you.

We still aren't regularly making it into the 50s. No thank you for opposite reason!

 

[WinniWoman]

How are the individuals in the groups going to sit 6 feet from each other as they eat. You would need awfully long tables and then distancing the tables themselves. And you would need a big room or a lot of outdoor space. LOL!

Plus- restaurants, like most businesses, depend on volume. I just don't see it.

 

[Rolltydr]

How are the individuals in the groups going to sit 6 feet from each other as they eat. You would need awfully long tables and then distancing the tables themselves. And you would need a big room or a lot of outdoor space. LOL!

Plus- restaurants, like most businesses, depend on volume. I just don't see it.

And what about the bar areas of restaurants? Seems to me they’re either opened or closed. How could you separate people in those smaller areas?

 

[CalGalTraveler]

It would be best to look at other countries for inspiration. There was a segment on TV recently on how Wuhan has handled their opening. Wuhan "opening" is not really that. It is a gradual lifting of restrictions. Many restaurants were still serving takeout from the door/window to outdoors. People are still very nervous to go out.

Travel is still very restricted in the country with everyone issued a unique QR code (I presume on their phone). This is scanned before entering an establishment to ensure no illness and to track movement.

Hair salons take one patron for an appointment in the store (masks gloves etc). Then there is an hour in between for sanitation then another patron.

Fitness gyms and spas still closed.

 

[slip]

How are the individuals in the groups going to sit 6 feet from each other as they eat. You would need awfully long tables and then distancing the tables themselves. And you would need a big room or a lot of outdoor space. LOL!

Plus- restaurants, like most businesses, depend on volume. I just don't see it.

I would think you would only dine with who you live with. So families could dine together and wouldn’t have to have a 6 foot spacing.

The other thing about volume, we won’t be able to go off of their sales before the virus. If they are making it now and still being able to stay afloat with only takeout/ delivery and in house dining would be more sales.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[WinniWoman]

I would think you would only dine with who you live with. So families could dine together and wouldn’t have to have a 6 foot spacing.

The other thing about volume, we won’t be able to go off of their sales before the virus. If they are making it now and still being able to stay afloat with only takeout/ delivery and in house dining would be more sales.

Just my 2 cents.

On the contrary a lot of them are not doing well on take out and have closed completely for now and maybe forever.

Yeah sure- a family or couple that lives together can sit close, but what about singles who want to go out with other singles? What about friends and other family members that want to go out together? I don't know....

 

[slip]

On the contrary a lot of them are not doing well on take out and have closed completely for now and maybe forever.

Yeah sure- a family or couple that lives together can sit close, but what about singles who want to go out with other singles? What about friends and other family members that want to go out together? I don't know....

Yes, that was my point. If they are still open, they may be able to weather the storm and then any dine in sales would be extra sales.
It sounds like some places will go under and not re-open. It may take a while but others may open new places.

The other groups you mentioned probably won’t be able to dine together under the first wave of relaxing restrictions.

 

[geekette]

Yeah sure- a family or couple that lives together can sit close, but what about singles who want to go out with other singles? What about friends and other family members that want to go out together? I don't know....

That's on them. Dine together at your own risk. That's a people problem, not a business problem. A party gets a table. If the dimensions matter, call ahead.

People can want a lot of things but this is the time that a person determines how much they want it.

 

[geekette]

.... The other groups you mentioned probably won’t be able to dine together under the first wave of relaxing restrictions.

I don't think the restaurant has any desire nor authority to enforce.

 

[CO skier]

It would be best to look at other countries for inspiration.

 

[Luanne]

Maybe I would get used to it, but that really doesn’t sound like a pleasant dining experience to me. I think I would stick to takeout for the most part.

I think if tables were spaced further apart it might cut down on some of the noise at the restaurants we go to.

 

[slip]

.... The other groups you mentioned probably won’t be able to dine together under the first wave of relaxing restrictions.

I don't think the restaurant has any desire nor authority to enforce.

Some have mentioned how they don’t want their workers exposed so not all feel that way but I’m sure others won’t.

 

[am1]

We are doing delivery tonight for the first time in a month. Long time before we go to a restaurant.

 

[rboesl]

Restaurants, and even more so Bars, will probably one of the last industries to return to "business as usual" (which will be different). The issues raised here regarding social distancing and sanitizing are going to create costs that many will not be able to bear. There will need to be changes food & drink delivery to the table. More distance between patrons will require more square footage or fewer customers. Neither of which will come cheap.

Bars will not be able to operate the way they used to. Can you imagine sitting at "the bar" with other patrons you don't know. Or even the regulars, and there's always regulars, with 6 feet between you? And, what about the guy/gal that comes up between you to order their next drink?

And, both types of businesses will need special permits for using outdoor space. In NY State they would need special liquor & food licenses to use outdoor space if they don't already have them. Then there's the extra furniture and loss of revenue with inclement weather.

I'm very familiar with this space as I have a small business that relies on restaurants and bars. I don't see too much working in this industry, beyond take out, until there's a vaccine or a test that shows you're not infected that gives results in seconds.