My state started Phase 1 about a month ago which included limited capacity outdoor dining.
Now in phase 2 which will include indoor dining in a few days. My bf and I took a drive early in the evening back in May to the downtown area and what it was like. Surprisingly not an overwhelming amount of people. There was really no one waiting or hanging out on the sidewalks and laughably that night was literally our first night out past 4 pm. It was 7 pm when we drove out and it felt pretty strange.
Well, low and behold yesterday, the sidewalks and street that was shutdown for additional outdoor seating had more people hanging around, it just seemed like a cluster, and as far as distancing, some people did and others could care less. I did find it exciting to see things starting to go back to the way they were however I'm still unsure of whether to go or not go.
What about you?
Cities across California have jumped on this when their regions move into Phase 2 and have issued emergency orders allowing sidewalk dining, as we started to discuss here, https://www.chowhound.com/post/op-ed-...
Yet, I did see one restaurant proprietor quoted that while he was taking advantage of being able to use public space, 63% of the public are not planning to patronize restaurants at this time. I'd love to know the source of that statistic.
Me, I'm waiting another month or so.
We went again this afternoon to check out the downtown area was pretty busy but not like yesterday. A few are still closed, some didn't seem to have any patrons even thoug they were open. I honestly wanted to go and sit outside for a meal and as far as I could see only one family brought a small child which I thought was kind of scary.
Our state is in Phase Two and last week restaurants were allowed to open for patrons with outdoor seating. The main street in our town with the majority of restaurants has been shut down until the beginning of November so that the restaurants can use the street for outdoor seating. I have seen pictures of what has been set up, but they don't fill me with a great desire to visit because the tables and patrons all seem way, way too close for my comfort. I will stick with delivery and my own cooking skills at this time.
Phase 2 here. Tried a couple places for early dinner around 4:30 both times. Really no wait or crowds. The one bigger chain restaurant had a limited it's menu while the other was a burger place that seemed to have a regular selection.
However, if there were people waiting and clustered I would have skipped the restaurants. I don't trust people especially if they're not masked up.
NJ restaurants can only have outdoor seating at this point and obviously tables have to be at least 6 feet apart.
I am on Martha's Vineyard until early July. I have had two outdoors meals that were fabulous. Massachusetts opened outdoors dining on June 8th.
Silverware is packaged with paper napkins. One place asked for my contact information for contact tracking, the other did not. (I did make a reservation at that one, so they have my info) Staff wore masks as did I, removing to eat and drink, putting back on when a server approached me. No bread basket, no salt and pepper or condiments of any type on the tables. They're used to outdoors dining here - it being a seasonal economy.
In my state patios are open and inside dining is opened at a limited capacity. No current plans to dine out, but we are enjoying take out with broader menus, instead of the very limited menu options during the shut down. Had a lovely NE style lobster roll and shrimp po boy from a local seafood place today on our patio sipping a cool beverage.
I won't be going anytime soon. The restaurants and bars here reopen tomorrow, despite the fact that numbers in my state continue to rise. I'd rather have an Annie Chung's noodle bowl or eggs or a sandwich if I can't be bothered to "cook". Not worth the risk to me. I'm truly sorry about all the suffering restaurants and staff, and I'm not a germaphobe, but this is serious business.
Too many unknowns! Hot kitchens and staff not wearing masks or gloves. Servers wearing the same gloves for every patron. Servers touching every plate, glass and utensils without changing gloves. Back of the house is of concern.
Saw a few people sitting outside eating. None of them approached were wearing a mask. So many people do not believe the virus is real and that anyone can be a carrier.
When I feel the unknowns are addressed I will venture out but I will initially have my UVC hand held sanitizer for the table, chairs and any thing that is on the table.
So last night was the first time we went into a restaurant...........but for Chinese takeout and it was so good! Because they did such a high volume of takeout before the whole shutdown, they were able to maintain really good business and only initially they closed before eventually reopening and it wasn't good at first but eventually got better. I'm so happy for them and it was not scary or unsafe feeling. We are going to do takeout again tonight, either our local Mexican or pizza place. I really want both! I have not had any in such a long time.
Glad you got to enjoy, but viruses are invisible to the eye. Not sure what "feeling" unsafe has to do with the risk you incur. This is exactly the kind of thinking that leads people to believe everything is OK now, no mask required, back to normal.
CT was horrendously hit early on and the state enforced strict guidelines, obviously now easing some restrictions. Masks are still required unless eating or drinking and even outdoors unless there's not a lot of people around. I'm cautiously optimistic but personally more strict than the rest of society. We just never did any restaurant ordering all these months due to the inconsistent news about this virus's behavior, air quality shelf life, those factors. And as much as I'd like to dine out, we're still taking a wait and see approach even for outdoor dining. It's not so much the restaurant seating as it is people just lingering on the sidewalks.
As far as my personal feelings of safety, my concern is the air in enclosed environments like restaurants since they are smaller and don't necessarily have open doors or windows. In this case, the restaurant had it's floor markers as required by law and had their doors open which they didn't in the past. Going to pick up a food order wasn't a big scary ordeal, esp. slowing coming out of our hermit house lifestyle over the past 4 months. Plus there was no one in there except the employees and two of us for pickup (although really from a safety measure it should have only been one of us and not both of us to pick up).
I live in Texas, and yes, some restaurants are open for dining in. In fact, our Republican governor is pushing for ALL businesses to open 100%. But there are big differences among the cities here. Austin is less open. Houston and Dallas more open. Since I'm over 60, I haven't even purchased take-out from a restaurant. I wear my mask to go to a supermarket every couple of weeks and cook at home.
But my brother who's in his 50s won't even wear a mask and is going out to restaurants on dates. He'll be sorry if he ends up in the hospital.
The California county I live in just moved to Phase 3. Even though restaurants are allowed to have indoor dining, we’ve chosen to stay outside for now. We choose our destinations carefully too. We ate at Donato Enoteca tonight and found all employees to be very cautious and took all the precautions necessary to make us feel safe. Some places really put lots of thought and effort in to diners’ safety and those are the ones we will patronize.
MA opened patio dining a couple weeks ago and will allow indoor dining as of tomorrow, june 22nd. restaurants can avail themselves of their parking lots and even curbside, metered parking spaces to extend patios as "streeteries" until october 31.
have walked the dog a few times in my downtown and even though patio seating is supposed to be spaced for social distancing they all looked to have the same number of tables set up as any old summer. none of the guests are wearing masks -- how can you eat or drink with one??
there is NO way i am eating inside anywhere and we're in the midst of a long 90+ degree heatwave so i wouldn't sit outside in this weather anyway.
pre-pandemic i ate out 3-4 times a week and really miss it but not so much that i am ok winding up on a ventilator or dead. the whole thing feels too fraught for now, and i expect to feel like this until the virus either burns itself out or we find a vaccine. fwiw, i am healthy with no underlying conditions but i live alone with a dog. if i get sick who will care for me or for her??
My state began allowing dine in a few days ago, very happy. Social distancing and sanitation a priority.
Went out, to one of my favorites that I support, last night with a few friends. Restaurant and staff were very welcoming and glad to see us.
Excellent food, service, the whole package !
Have to say, I missed going out.
Too soon and too risky for me. Sadly, on the news this morning, the largest single-day increase in covid-19 was reported in my county. I have no-contact delivery. As much as I would like Musso & Frank's chicken pot pie, it will have to wait.
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