Florida restaurants were given the go-ahead to begin reopening to in-house dining beginning Monday. The so-called Phase 1 plan outlined by Gov. Ron DeSantis allows restaurants to again welcome guests through their doors but only at 25 percent of legal capacity to allow for proper separation between diners.
Restaurants may also use outdoor dining space that would be uncounted toward the 25 percent capacity as long as distancing protocols were observed. The Phase 1 rules go into effect for all of Florida except Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. There is no timeline for a Phase 2 or any indication what businesses would be included.
Most Central Florida restaurants appear to be taking a cautious approach to reopening. All are anxious to put their furloughed staff members back on the payroll and to start making money. Though some wonder if a full staff and a return to regular service can be supported by a 25 percent capacity limit.
Ask restaurateurs what 25 percent capacity means and you may get different answers. Some wonder if it means a quarter of what the fire department considers maximum capacity. Some wonder if it means 25 percent of the number of chairs. Or tables. If your capacity is 80 people and you can only have 20 people in the restaurant, does your staff of eight mean you can only serve 12 guests?
Besides the confusion of the guidelines, some owners think it is too soon to allow diners inside at all and continue to be concerned for the safety of their staff members, perhaps with good reason. According to the New York Times, the Trump administration is privately projecting daily COVID-19-related death counts to double during May.
So some restaurant owners plan to keep offering the takeout and delivery service they’ve been learning how to do over the past several weeks.
Orlando based Hawkers Asian Street Fare had declined to open its Atlanta location when Georgia was given the OK to reopen restaurants last week. In an announcement on its Facebook page, Hawkers said it would also would not open its Florida restaurants at this time but would continue to offer takeout, contactless curbside pickup and delivery.
The popular Tap Room at Dubsdread is taking advantage of its banquet spaces and ballrooms, as well as its verandah and patio to reopen with appropriate spacing. But it will continue to offer to-go and delivery orders. Owner Steve Gunter said the restaurant has reservations for 165 people Monday evening.
Restaurant Row’s the Whiskey, which has been closed since the initial lockdown orders, is reopening Monday with a limited menu for both dine-in guests and those wanting takeout. Two other Restant Row venues, American Social and Big Fin Seafood Kitchen, are planning Monday openings.
In Sodo, Delaney’s Tavern is opening but requiring reservations. Tapa Toro on International Drive is open and allowing walkins “as long as capacity restrictions allow.”
Also opening: 4 Rivers Smokehouses, with patio seating only. And all Darden Restaurant brands, including Olive Garden, Seasons 52, the Capital Grille and Eddie V’s, will allow indoor seating at 25 percent capacity.
It is not clear in any of the printed guidelines whether staff members of reopened restaurants are required to wear gloves and face masks, or whether tables must have hand sanitizer – where would they buy it? – or whether tables and chairs must be sanitized between uses. Gunter of the Tap Room at Dubsdread said that his staff members will wear masks and gloves if only to put their customers at ease.
Restaurants are exploring using menus that can be wiped down or disposed of after each use. Some may direct guests to access a menu online using their own smartphone.
The next week or so should begin to provide better answers and serve as a guidance for other restaurants to continue.
Do you feel safe enough to return to dining inside a restaurant? Do you think the guidelines are sufficient to protect you? To protect the workers?
Leave a comment below.
