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How restaurants might reopen

b2bailey said:
Someone has mentioned that buffets will be a thing of the past. Yesterday I drove by a place I've enjoyed -- Souplantation. It's part of a chain, mostly west-coast. Similar to buffet, but mostly self-serve soup and salad. I was sad to realize they probably won't be able to re - open. Ever.
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We enjoy Souplantation also, they have a decaf tea we have never found anywhere so I fill my pockets with teabags :), lavender sage.

I was on a cruise in November that has the norovirus outbreak, they kept the buffet open but modified the operation. There were barriers set up 3ft from the buffet and you requested items from a server that had gloves and mask on. I suppose Souplantation could do something similar although it would mean more staff and increase prices.



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b2bailey said:
Someone has mentioned that buffets will be a thing of the past. Yesterday I drove by a place I've enjoyed -- Souplantation. It's part of a chain, mostly west-coast. Similar to buffet, but mostly self-serve soup and salad. I was sad to realize they probably won't be able to re - open. Ever.
Click to expand...
They have those here in Florida, Sweet Tomatoes Soupplantation. They will certainly struggle to get through. I think you will see most go out of business, especially the small independant locations. Golden Corral is another big chain buffet restaurant. I think there are people that like that way of dining, so they may make it if they can adjust accordingly. It may mean they have staff to plate the food for you. Much like we expect cruise buffets to be handled going forward. These restaurants main issue will be getting gaining the confidence of the customer that it is still a safe way to dine.
 
I went into an open restaurant last night to pick-up my to-go. They were seating no more than four at every other four-top booth or every other four-top table. Chairs at the bar were limited to keep it spaced well. Every employee was wearing a mask. I thought it was a good environment and was encouraged with what I saw.
 
No matter how restaurants are opened up I think it will be a long while before we go to a dine in.
 
I think i will wait for the weather to get warm enough here and sit outside.
 
b2bailey said:
Someone has mentioned that buffets will be a thing of the past. Yesterday I drove by a place I've enjoyed -- Souplantation. It's part of a chain, mostly west-coast. Similar to buffet, but mostly self-serve soup and salad. I was sad to realize they probably won't be able to re - open. Ever.
Click to expand...
b2bailey said:
Someone has mentioned that buffets will be a thing of the past. Yesterday I drove by a place I've enjoyed -- Souplantation. It's part of a chain, mostly west-coast. Similar to buffet, but mostly self-serve soup and salad. I was sad to realize they probably won't be able to re - open. Ever.
Click to expand...
They're done.
www.restaurantbusinessonline.com

The owner of Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes plans to declare bankruptcy

Garden Fresh Restaurants has hired bankruptcy counsel and says it sees “no way to operate” given FDA recommendations that buffets not
www.restaurantbusinessonline.com www.restaurantbusinessonline.com
 
Until it is safe for me and the servers to not have to wear a mask, we are not going back to dining in. Takes away a lot of the enjoyment of eating out. Will stick to curbside pickup.
 
mbh said:
Until it is safe for me and the servers to not have to wear a mask, we are not going back to dining in. Takes away a lot of the enjoyment of eating out. Will stick to curbside pickup.
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A friend of mine worked as a waitress for years. She thinks those in food service should always have been required to wear masks.
 
This is a real thing in Amsterdam.

1588970999837.png
 
Ours can open outside now. One section, a block over from us, looks like a European city with all the tables on the sidewalk from restaurant to restaurant in rows. We've only done pick-up of take-out so far but the streets are buzzing again with people.
 
I did not read all the replies.

The cook/chef, waiter - don't they have to touch/handle your glasses/cups, paper or otherwise? I know we don't need to touch our plates once they place them down. What about silverware? Don't we still have to touch the silverware or open the package? Touch the paper cup, glass to drink from? Do we use hand sanitizer/wipe our hands each time we touch our glass/cup? I am not sure how this all works since the virus lives on surfaces - and they don't really know how long. Some hours or days......

Am I over thinking this?
 
We went to a favorite haunt yesterday, "Blue Water Bay."
The dining room was sparse, only 5 tables and 1 booth.
They had moved most of the tables outside under a tent.
Same menus, but they were cleaned after each use.
The offered us a choice of plastic or regular utensils.
The staff wore masks.

Anecdote:
About 16 years ago, we had an office dinner at this place.
There were 12 of us, but our supervisor was not invited.
Nor ever told about it. She was intensely disliked...
To this day, I believe that she never found out, either.
 
Restaurants in Charleston are being allowed to open to inside dining on Monday.
 
AnnaS said:
I did not read all the replies.

The cook/chef, waiter - don't they have to touch/handle your glasses/cups, paper or otherwise? I know we don't need to touch our plates once they place them down. What about silverware? Don't we still have to touch the silverware or open the package? Touch the paper cup, glass to drink from? Do we use hand sanitizer/wipe our hands each time we touch our glass/cup? I am not sure how this all works since the virus lives on surfaces - and they don't really know how long. Some hours or days......

Am I over thinking this?
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Yes, lots of touching. But, the touching is only dangerous if infected.

Gloves aren't any assurance, since the gloves can touch infected surfaces just like ungloved fingers can.

It's all a crapshoot. You aren't overthinking, you are identifying touch points, and those matter.
 
Restaurants in Ohio can open next week. Haven't seen details of precautions that will be taken by the restaurants or required of their patrons, but I'm looking forward to dining out again.
 
Glynda said:
Restaurants in Charleston are being allowed to open to inside dining on Monday.
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When we visit DD & family over the 4th of July we'd love to return to R Kitchen, but I think if we dine out it will be at a venue with outdoor seating.

Middle GS has been car hopping at the Sonic in Mt. Pleasant since U of SC was shuttered. Tips are great but I am a worried grammy since he is Type 1.
 
DW refuses to dine out among friends, even for a picnic.
It's not fear of the virus. It's becuz they'll make fun of her hair.

Her favorite salon opens Monday. She'll beg for an appointment.
Only then, will she consider resuming our little get-togethers.

.
 
Restaurant is filling empty seats with mannequins to make social distancing "less awkward"

https://dc.eater.com/2020/5/12/2125...mannequins-fill-empty-seats-social-distancing

"The D.C. area’s only famous restaurant with three Michelin stars, for show-stopping presentations of its haute American tasting menus, has come up with an equally theatrical — albeit, a little creepy — way to make its dining room fell less empty while social distancing protocols go into place. When the Inn at Little Washington can host visitors inside its glamorous, rural Virginia digs, chef Patrick O’Connell plans to seat unused tables with mannequins wearing vintage, 1940s-style outfits. "
 
beejaybeeohio said:
When we visit DD & family over the 4th of July we'd love to return to R Kitchen, but I think if we dine out it will be at a venue with outdoor seating.

Middle GS has been car hopping at the Sonic in Mt. Pleasant since U of SC was shuttered. Tips are great but I am a worried grammy since he is Type 1.
Click to expand...

I'd be worried too! Hope all goes well for him. You know, I walked down East Bay St where quite a few restaurants have opened with outdoor seating and I'm not sure I'd want to sit outside on the front sidewalk with all the people walking by. The sidewalks are too narrow and people are looking down at and breathing on your food. We will continue to do take-out when we want to eat out...hopefully lunch today! PS: July is akin to torture in Charleston!
 
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