2 local family owned restaurants here which were all take out are doing booming business. They had no in restaurant business to lose. One we know well said their weeknight business is up 70 percent. Only their live in family work there so no added risk or worry about distancing. ( it’s 2 nuclear families that already live together ). They do contactless pickup (cc over phone with license plate number , you pop the trunk, they come out in put in car)
Will people start bringing their own utensils to eat out?
Could tables be shrouded by plexiglass, or tempered glass?
About twenty years ago the non-smoking movement came to bars and restaurants where I live. People could no longer smoke in restaurants, but they could smoke at the bar. That meant restaurants had to install new air filtration systems to capture the second hand smoke as best they could. Does better HVAC/filtration become the new norm, and can already financially strapped restaurants afford the accommodation?
Originally my prediction was that 50% of restaurants wouldn’t make it through these SAH orders. Now, any locality that extends SAH will likely lose another 5%-10%.
Well, if the virus circulates as easily as smoke, I will say I don’t think those fancy HVAC systems will do much good.
Today marks a full month that we’ve had all three adult kids home, so we are ordering a takeout dinner from a nice restaurant to celebrate our survival. ?
Right before everything closed we went to our favorite place. There was enough concern then that a usually crowded night had plenty of room to distance. I took Clorox wipes and wiped our area and utensils. I would probably do that again. But with the distancing the wait and bar staff weren’t making enough anymore. That will be a big issue.
My H and I have had a long-standing date night at our favorite restaurant. Due to our work schedules, we have always gone late on a Monday night at a time when most everyone else has left. The restaurant has been closed and not open for carry out.
As soon as it opens, we will be back on Monday nights.
@ucbalumnus Not sure about gym sizes etc… Only going based off what I read in the New Times Miami website.
I don’t know if this is helpful but I think that looking at what is needed now is a good idea. My relative made a restaurant that was more geared to grab and go in a busy city and it did great business. (Have not heard an update on what is happening there now). I think some restaurants may have to reinvent themselves to stay open in creative ways. I hope restaurants can do it It pains me to think of places going out of business now.
We are talking about waiting for the peak to pass here and be much lower and then to start getting take out from our favorite places. If I weren’t immune deficient I’d do that more now but I’m not comfortable with the number of cases that are happening in the area around us and in particular around our favorite restaurants. We can support the local pizza place because DH finally felt comfortable getting pizza and heating it here a bit more. I have thought of buying gift cards to use in the future at some places.
I think I like takeout!! We can grab fancy food from fancy places that never sold food to go, then we get cozy on our deck, and dig in… Miss the fancy plate presentation and the service, but wine refills are dirt cheap. 
That only helps the restaurants now if they are local and you buy the gift card from the restaurant. If you buy a gift card at Target for say Chili’s, the local location only gets the money once you use the card. Until then (or if you never use the card) the money stays with the issuer of the card like a bank or service company.
You also take a risk that the restaurant will go out of business before you use it.
The news this evening showed one restaurant in Spain with diners divided from other customers with plexiglass and thermal cameras measuring the temperatures of diners as they walk into the restaurant. Along with the usual stuff like gloves, masks and hand sanitizer.
I don’t get the temperature taking. It’s a false sense of security since you can be carrying the virus and not have a fever.
I am wondering if antibacterial wipes and soaps are ever going to be available again. If we are to start back to work and venturing out to support the economy I need this stuff more than ever. My small supply is almost gone.
It’s to rule out who you can vs who you can not.
I only quote relevant passage from people’s post, not the whole post because it is more focus as to what I am responding to.
@Empireapple
Yes, they are available, but you need to start looking few weeks before you run out. I used to be able to get anything I want “just in time,” but now I search few weeks ahead. I buy them when they become available not necessary when I need them.
I expect dining out will become more expensive for me and for people I know. The restaurants I go to would need to disclose how they are preparing their food (even health of their employees). The tables would need to be pretty far apart (with less people) and with dividers if possible. Instead of having wait staff to take my orders I would prefer it to be digital (ipad) and cashless. I probably wouldn’t mind a way of cleaning my own utensils (a pot of hot water for me to dip my utensils into) and sanitizer wipes on the table for me to use.
With fewer customers and additional investment (virus testing, more PPE) will all translate into higher costs.
Come to think of it, I am just going to eat at home until there is vaccine or cure.
We seldom ate at restaurants (perhaps once/twice a week), including take-out, before Covid-19 and we have not had any food from a restaurant in over a month. I do not see that changing anytime soon for us.
Old fort
Yes! I’ve been doing that. I can’t find one antibacterial wipe yet. I did find 2oz. of antibacterial soap (you were allowed to buy one) which I gave to my 87 year old mother.
We enjoyed the meal we had delivered from the local restaurant last night. The prime rib and mac & cheese were so good! I thought the cost was not bad for five of us - $140 including tax, and then I tipped $25. Our kids really enjoyed it.
I’ve searched online here to order Lysol or Clorox wipes…i can’t find them available anywhere for online order. The stores are getting them, I’m told, but the supply sells out very quickly.
I did get two bottles of Clorox Clean Up at my local grocery store which I can use at home. I thought that was a big deal!
kKnowstuff writes It’s to rule out who you can vs who you can not.
Yes, I know WHY they think they are doing it but this is ridiculous. There are many asymptomatic carriers who have no temp. This is just a false sense of security. It’s really quite silly. Not to mention that people can run a temp. for many other reasons. Many people also have early symptoms of CV during the first few days that do not involve a temp. One person I know who tested positive spent few days thinking his allergies were acting up. No fever.
@Empireapple. It’s far from perfect but it’s what we have. We’re waiting for our thermometers scanners to arrive in our medical office this week. If someone has a fever and it’s non emergent they won’t be treated. They also need to have a face mask and we don’t have enough just to give out to each person . Every person has been told this prior to coming into the office.
We can only do what we can do and take the best precautions possible within our means. I think that’s the best anyone can aspect.