How Do Americans Feel About Eating At Restaurants Right Now?

Question

" . . . With social distancing guidelines across the country in flux, the online neighborhood hub Nextdoor asked 745,000 people in the U.S. how they feel about dining in — or out. The survey, conducted in late June, showed some clear trends.

Nearly 9 in 10 respondents indicated that they’re ready to support their local restaurants in some capacity. Most just aren’t sold on indoor dining — 53 percent of respondents said they prefer outdoor seating or takeout. Furthermore, 9 percent of those surveyed said they’re sticking to delivery. But 11 percent said they’re avoiding restaurants altogether. . ."

Answer

We went out to dinner for our 50th anniversary (our celebration with others was canceled due to Covid-19). We were seated in a corner, well away from other diners, and our server kept a safe distance without a mask. It was a wonderful meal and we would do it again without hesitation.

Answer

Not for us. We are in a state with low rates of infection reported, but we are 65 and our adopted special needs son who still needs at least one of us is 21. Not worth the risk, even if everybody who isn't eating is wearing a mask (which is required in our state; I wouldn't even consider going if servers weren't wearing masks.) We get take out a couple of times a week and just last week, we did sit at a pub on their outdoor patio about 30 feet away from anybody else for one drink. We had things we needed to discuss outside the house.

Answer

Tons and tons of takeout. But I’m not dining in for the same reason I try not to drive in ice storms: while I trust my carefulness, I won’t put my life in the hands of those who might be reckless (I.e. other customers).

Zero worry, btw, about transmission-by-touch from waiter or chef (though I do wash and disinfect frequently and don’t touch face....and am careful with multiple-person-touch points like doors....and in an up-curve I‘ll ratchet up my concern a couple notches).

Answer

In March, April, and May we cooked at home nearly every night, with delivery from Whole Foods/Amazon Prime in San Francisco. 

In June and July we've steadily ramped back up on delivery to the degree that we're now ordering out more than we used to before the pandemic started in the hopes of keeping a few favorite restaurants alive.

If I lived outside the city, I might feel comfortable enough to try outdoor dining, but in the city, I think I would struggle to enjoy it for some time.

Answer

I can't relax at a restaurant. I'm constantly on edge with the feeling that people are too close. Aerosol and droplet spread is possible at 20+ foot distances. And people who are drinking get too casual.

Answer

We're getting takeout. In our immediate vicinity it's a few locally-owned places/regional chains. Plus, we're driving into DC and getting takeout from some of our favorite vegetarian sources and making a picnic of it somewhere in town.

Answer

15 weeks and counting since I've dined in a restaurant. Have only done takeout a couple of times as well. I'm just not comfortable that my fellow humans are taking all of the necessary precautions, whether they be staff or customers. Recent episodes in MA include a group of restaurant workers having an after work party and at least 10 cases resulted within that group (and spread to how many more?), and more than 30 testing positive after a local anesthesiologist attended a party.

Answer

Just read:
Vietnam reported ZERO cases in past 100+ days! Government decided to re-open restaurants for dine-in option. Before you know it, started reporting 15+ new cases per day!!
IMO, just too risky sharing closed spaces with strangers all removing face masks to eat and chat. Overhead fans and full blast Air Conditioning all added to the spread?! Only take one 'invisible' non-symptomatic virus carrier to do the damage!!
Heard partial causes for current Hong Kong's 3rd wave started with relaxation of restaurant dine-ins too!! :(

Answer

I'm somewhat ready to go back to outdoor dining although still haven't done it. If the virus was spreading from outdoor dining, we would have heard about a spike in cases or news that a restaurant worker was sick, at least in my area, which so far I haven't heard about, but there's always that inherent risk. Right now my area had contact spreading through country club gatherings that started with one lifeguard and affected a group of younger people and that's very telling that the virus is still out there even though my state has been effective about safety. Mask wearing is really good here but social distancing is getting really lax with too many close encounters.

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How Do Americans Feel About Eating At Restaurants Right Now?

How Do Americans Feel About Eating At Restaurants Right Now?

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