Many of you may have already done it. Some of you may have done it more than once, and others, well others may still be waiting it out. Whichever category you fall under, going out to dinner for the first time (or the tenth time) post quarantine certainly has its risks and its rewards. Let’s talk about a few ways you can ensure you’re doing all you can to stay safe while going out to dinner during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Educate yourself
Any establishment that is taking all of the necessary precautions to keep their customers and staff safe is most likely also the type of establishment that posts their COVID-19 regulations on their website and social media platforms. Do your research, and educate yourself. Before heading out to just any restaurant, check out their website, Facebook page, and Instagram feed. Chances are, if they are serious about keeping you safe, you’ll be able to read all about it. This will also allow you to find out what their rules are regarding reservations. Many restaurants are only allowing those in the door, who have called ahead or booked a table online. Staying informed is one of the best ways to stay safe.
Keep calm, and keep your distance
I know we’re all sick of hearing about social distancing, but, whether or not we’re tired of the phrase, it is a vital step to stopping the spread of coronavirus. It should go without saying that keeping a proper distance from the host stand, other patrons, your server, the restaurant’s manager, and other employees is a simple way to keep yourself and others safe. If the restaurant you’re dining at doesn’t have any rules about where you can and cannot wait for your table, a reasonable solution is to wait outside or even in your car. I’m sure the host would be more than happy to call your cell phone once your table is ready. Also, remember to speak loudly when talking to the host and also when ordering from your server so they can hear you. Distance, although can keep you safe it can also make it difficult for others to understand you.
Do not enter
This suggestion goes hand in hand with social distancing. I only use public areas in restaurants when it’s absolutely necessary. I’m talking about waiting areas, and bathrooms. I have children so of course there are times when using the bathroom at a restaurant is unavoidable. But, when it comes to waiting areas unless they are outside and everyone is spaced apart, I quite literally avoid them like I’m trying to avoid the plague.
Stay sanitized, my friends
I always carry a bottle of hand sanitizer with me when I go out to a restaurant. Yes, most establishments have added hand sanitizing stations in multiple locations throughout their spaces, but in the off chance they’re empty or there are other patrons waiting to use them, I know I have my trusty bottle in my bag. Making sure your hands are clean and sanitized is one of the top methods in slowing down the spread of germs. Don’t be afraid to slather on that sanitizer often and in large quantities. Of course, washing your hands with soap and water works as well. But in a restaurant setting, using hand sanitizer is easier and much quicker.
Just wear it
My final recommendation is one that comes with an air of controversy. Wear a mask while entering and exiting a restaurant, as well as when you walk to go to and from the restrooms. To some of us, this seems like a no brainer. Science says that wearing a mask can greatly reduce the spread of coronavirus, so I’ll wear a mask. But to others, it stirs up political dissension as well as beliefs of infringing on their freedoms, or a general reluctance to believe in the advice. To be clear, I’m talking about people who should be wearing a mask, per the CDC. Not those who have an underlying health condition that affects their breathing or children under the age of 2. Wearing a mask is the first and easiest step to keeping yourself and others safe while enjoying a meal at a restaurant. It’s literally the least we can do to help stop the spread.
Looking for a restaurant? Check out this blog post: Round Up: Restaurants Open Across the Country