By Chef Joseph Massaglia
Just as I was getting ready to submit this article to meet this paper’s deadline, New Jersey’s Governor announced that he is going to allow the state’s restaurants to reopen June 15 for outdoor dining. But he gave no other specific details with his announcement; he’s planning to provide “additional guidance” in a few days. I certainly hope so. Restauranteurs have been very anxious and frustrated, and many were not going to be able to survive much longer with just take-out and delivery.
That being said, we’re all beginning to take a hard look at our restaurants to see how we will be able to operate going forward. Knowing that we will have to decrease the number of seats and tables, I’ve been fascinated by some solutions put in place by restaurants that already have opened in other states and countries.
Naturally, some restaurants have just removed 50 percent of their tables in their dining rooms to allow for social distancing. That’s great if you have the space to store the tables and all the chairs. Others have put “no seating” signs on every other table or booth, which gives you social distancing as well.
But the latter option makes for very strange looking dining rooms, so some owners have placed mannequins or cardboard cut-outs of people at the “empty” tables to make diners feel less isolated. And many restaurants are now playing their music at a higher volume to make up for the lack of conversations from a full house.
Now I’m not sure how I feel about dining with mannequins; maybe I’d feel uncomfortable. What about you?
In some Asian countries, stuffed pandas or other cute, large stuffed animals or cardboard figures – shaped like robots or dragons – sit in seats to allow for proper distancing. I think children would like that option.
A few restaurants have hung circles of PVC pipe from their ceilings over each table, and then hung clear plastic sheets, like shower curtains, from the pipes to surround their guests. And PVC/plastic curtain “walls” have been erected at bars between bar stools to separate customers. What do you think about that?
Some owners have put up Plexiglas “walls” between tables, sometimes opaque, to give privacy and safety. This option may work well, if allowed, in restaurants with small dining rooms with many tables – think New York City restaurants or your favorite pizzeria.
Extending social distancing to outside dining, instead of just separating tables a few restaurants have built clear, small, greenhouse structures to seat couples privately. And this even works in the rain! But I’m not sure how it would work here at the Jersey Shore with all our wind.
And closer to home, I saw in the media that in Ocean City, Maryland, seaside restaurant Fish Tales ordered 10 “bumper tables” to use when dining service begins. Customers will get their own wheeled inner-tube tables to roll around and socialize in at a distance of six feet from each other. Perhaps you saw that as well. Crazy idea? Who knows?
It will be interesting to see how each restaurant adapts to the required changes, and how our guests will react once they begin in-person dining – whether inside or out. And no matter how social distancing is achieved, all staff will be wearing masks and gloves, menus will be disposable, dishes and flatware may be disposable, and most likely we will need individual condiments or, as Chipotle is now doing, storing them behind the counter until requested and then sanitizing them after each use.
Yes, our dining experience is going to be different, but I strongly believe it will be a temporary one. And hopefully sooner versus later when you visit me at Mama Mia’s – or when you visit your favorite restaurant – we can welcome you with a handshake and/or a hug.
Be well, stay safe, and as always, Buon Appetito.
Mama Mia’s Restaurante is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for Take-Out, Curbside No-Hands Pick-Up, and Delivery to Marmora, Ocean City, Beesley’s Point, Petersburg, Seaville and more! Mama’s Take Home Pizza Kits also available; please call to reserve yours. The One and Only Original Mama Mia’s Restaurante in the Marmora Shopping Center. 609-624-9322 www.mamamiasnj.com
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