Cuisine Queen

By Paula

Eating Out In A Pandemic

When the going gets tough, one of the first industries to suffer is hospitality, because we all know eating out is a luxury. The world pandemic has not only changed how restaurants are now serving food, but it has also changed how consumers have conditioned themselves to eat out. It’s a change so big that huge news outlets like Forbes and Florida Trend are convinced that even after the dust starts to settle, many consumers will continue with take-out and curbside pickup.

Dining in and letting someone else do the dishes has been replaced by calling/texting your order, having it brought to you curbside, tossing the dishes, saving money on fullservice tips, and drinking your own beverages at home. Under this new normal, smaller restaurants flourished during the worst of the pandemic.

Take Gyros King Greek Restaurant in Dunnellon, a family-owned restaurant where only father and son are in the kitchen six days a week. Because they run a small restaurant with lower overhead than most, their takeout business was as busy as a pizza delivery business.

We also saw lines of patrons at restaurants that had drive-throughs, such as Zaxby’s, Sonny’s, and the typical burger and taco places. If you do the numbers, an efficient drive-through can serve 10 families in about 25 minutes with no cleaning and resetting of tables in between, which is why more restaurants are thinking about incorporating or keeping curbside pickup.

It’s going to be a changed world in the dining industry for quite a while. Some are already accustomed to it and some still need to adjust.

Here are some pointers if you still need to adjust:

Tipping should not be excluded when it is optional on your receipt. Yes, the restaurant is saving on soap, water, and electricity, but the containers, napkins, condiments, and plasticware do add up— fast! Usually ten percent is admissible when not full serviced.

Please don’t go on social media and berate a struggling restaurant if you have an issue with your takeout order. It would be best to call them and state your complaint in a very nice way. You might even get a refund or a replacement the next time you visit. That’s much more rewarding than trying to hurt a business that’s just trying to survive.

Search out restaurants that have outdoor dining. In this issue, see our suggestions for those by the water. Enjoy fresh air and full service and if you want to bring your pet, call ahead to see if it is allowed. Please ask for a water dish or bring your own for your pet. Never let them drink from a restaurant dish or cup and never let them sit on a dining table.

If you’re one of the fortunate that has antibacterial wipes or spray, feel free to re-clean your area and condiment bottles or place a clean napkin as a placemat and use a napkin when picking up condiments.

Dining out as we have known has changed dramatically, but this can be for the good—if we let it. Keep it positive. Help restaurants on social media, don’t hurt them. Give them a chance to rectify what’s wrong before you tell others. Try to understand the changes they are going through as well. You’ll look like a nicer person and will be rewarded in more ways than one.

Happy eating out!

Got A Hot Tip For The Cuisine Queen? E-mail me at paula@ocalasgoodlife.com