Although food is considered an essential business, the coronavirus pandemic is causing tens of thousands of restaurants to close their doors for good. In most states, restaurants can stay open for takeout, but many cannot survive on takeout revenue alone. Takeout service is only profitable for outlets such as pizza, Chinese food, coffee, and convenience items.
Although we have lost many small restaurants and pubs, we have not lost them all. In an attempt to preserve their livelihoods, determined restaurant owners are coming up with cool ways to stay open for business and protect their guests at the same time. This is what some of them are doing.
1. Self-service table order
The future is definitely here with contactless self-serve tabletop ordering, though it's not entirely new. For example, for many years, The Olive Garden has allowed customers to order, pay and play on a tablet sitting at their table. However, servers still greet guests and are not required to use the system.
All that is about to change. In states where restaurants are allowed to stay open for dine-in service, their occupancy limits are highly restricted. Since occupancy limits include staff, those businesses will likely take the opportunity to reduce service staff to serve more guests.
With the current demand to limit person-to-person contact, the need for servers to interact with guests until their meals are ready will also be eliminated. Per table, this only eliminates two touch points: the greeting/ordering process and the checkout process, but it becomes significant when multiplied by a full day of guests.
2. Create "indoor" outdoor dining spaces
Some warmer states, including Arizona and Kentucky, are still unattractive. However, outdoor dining in the winter in Washington or Oregon is not appealing. Even in Arizona, most outdoor diners will need to wear a coat to stay comfortable. Hardly the ideal dining experience.
Some may say you're cheating the system, but restaurant owners have found a way to make outdoor dining comfortable for guests despite the cold weather. Many are erecting pop-up tents to enclose diners and protect them from rain and wind. Technically, this creates an indoor/outdoor dining space, but it still falls under the definition of outdoor dining.
Some restaurants are investing a good chunk of the change in individual pop-up tents to cover 2-person tables outside. Others, such as covered patios, heated patios, and tents. Many of these restaurants, like Gracia, have posted the protocols they follow to keep diners safe.
It seems that if a restaurant is going to survive in the long run, outdoor dining with a covered, warm space will be a must.
3. Delivery services
Restaurant delivery service is more desirable than ever. In addition to the ban on indoor eating, many people are afraid to leave their homes. Or, they're home with young children, and it's a hassle to get everyone in the car just to pick up lunch.
Restaurants that provide delivery services to people during the pandemic will stay in business longer. The cost of setting up a delivery service will be a barrier for some, but for small business owners who have the budget available, it's a wise move.
The downside is that income. The cost is too high. However, restaurant corporations with a bigger budget have the option of subscribing to third-party delivery services like Grub Hub.
4. Online orders
If a restaurant doesn't offer online ordering yet, it's behind schedule. Some restaurant owners have delayed because they are not tech-savvy. However, the coronavirus pandemic is providing the necessary motivation to "stick with the show."
Depending on the restaurant, guests can order online, make reservations online and sign up for curbside service when they arrive.
5. Curbside Pickup Services
Now, even small restaurants offer curbside pickup, so guests don't need to enter the store.
Curbside pickup probably
The positive side of the pandemic
There's a silver lining to the push for contactless restaurant services: convenience. People want comfort. In the immediate future, we can expect to see more restaurants offering indoor heated outdoor dining, online ordering, and dedicated parking spaces for curbside pickup.
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