I'm not going to a restaurant again.

[ssd]

Me and dh just been out for dinner. Cheap and cheerful place, food not brilliant but half price so can't complain. Social distancing in place, took contact details at door, hand sanitiser at entrance and exit, paid contact less. Our table has plenty space around it.

Still felt too dodgy. Didn't enjoy it.
Won't be doing that again for a while.

We’ve eaten out once, sat outside. That felt ok, I can’t imagine we’ll choose to eat inside at any point soon unfortunately.

We had a lovely meal at a restaurant with a Michelin star.

Sat in a local cafe and had brunch a couple of times.

We’ve eaten out a couple of times now, different settings and it’s just been shit.

We live in a low risk area. Lots of hygiene measures in place and well organised cafes/restaurants so no complaints there BUT because of the measures in place it’s just so clunky and sterile.
Cutlery placed in a pile at the end of the table for self distribution, meals also placed on edge of table. Having to pile up your used plates/cutlery at the end. Staff who seem terrified to be serving you even though they try to make small talk.

Cafes were bad enough but ‘nice’ places have just totally lost all sense of atmosphere. I understand why this has to be the case and I get the need to ‘eat out to help out’ but at the end of the day eating out Is an experience and luxury for most if it’s not pleasant people won’t bother!

Been to a few local pubs for drinks, one inside.

My fear of food is kitchen hygiene - are masks being worn there? How clean are their hands when touching cutlery to bring to the table, is the crockery always really clean?

I know stomach acid should kill anything you eat but still a bit worried.

@FinallyRelief

Oh I just said same to DH.

I was expecting staff to wear masks - we ate outdoors. They didn't ask for our details I voluntarily filled them in on their website online

The staff didn't SD and they put on outdoor heaters. Food was great as it's a local gastro pub but all staff mingling - really didn't feel safe at all.

Sounds similar. Staff not wearing masks or visors. And not social distancing.

Went to local pub to meet friends and I expected a big table, decent amount of space to the next one, quiet ie no shouting. Instead nobody took my contact details as I came in, no hand sanitiser, windows all shut, music on loud so you had to shout, sitting far too close to friends and people on the next table. Stayed 45 minutes to be polite and I know my friends haven't been out so they were pretty low risk, but I'm not going back even though I'm fairly relaxed about risk. It might be different in a restaurant when just me and DH.

On a short break at moment have eaten out each day. Felt “safe”, staff in masks and socially distanced tables. Name and number taken. Nice to feel a little bit of normality! I totally respect anyone who chooses not to.

had a lovely meal out. Filled in forms on line for track and trace. Hand sanitiser available at entrance and exit. Space between tables and front doors and side entrances open for free flowing fresh air. Great experience lovely to be out again . We were extremely nervous taking this step as husband part of the previous shielding group. Get out there and support our local shops and restaurants as long as they follow the rules. Good for our well being and for the economy.

OP, I'm the same! Happy to shop but when it comes to eating in a restaurant I just can't bring myself to do it. If it survives in the air for a few hours, possibly longer, then it can't be safe. I suppose it's different with shopping because you're constantly moving about and not in the same place for long.
I would eat outside or go to the pub outside but definitely not inside.

@Realitea

OP, I'm the same! Happy to shop but when it comes to eating in a restaurant I just can't bring myself to do it. If it survives in the air for a few hours, possibly longer, then it can't be safe. I suppose it's different with shopping because you're constantly moving about and not in the same place for long. I would eat outside or go to the pub outside but definitely not inside.

Do you think that by moving around in shops you’re dodging the germs?

Had a drink outside a pub and a meal outside another pub last week, felt fine. Yesterday had a meal inside a quiet pub in the country, at all three places gave our details, staff wore shields rather than masks. Everything at all three venues well organised, lots of cleaning going on. I do live in Wales though our numbers are negligible. I think that I would perhaps be less happy in other parts of the country that are suffering again.

Thank god the staff weren't wearing masks, imagine how horrendous that would be for hours at a time.

I've found nothing dodgy or weird about it at all, in fact it feels reassuringly normal. I'm trying to get out at least 3 times a week.

We are eating out a LOT and enjoying it. It has felt normal and tbh, I haven't given hygiene measures in the kitchens a second thought.

...no masks or gloves anywhere we have been. This would put me off, tbh.

I went to a restaurant this evening and it felt the most normal public thing I’ve done since lockdown. Felt safe enough and a better experience than shopping where masks have to be worn now.

I enjoyed meal out recently...Liked paying first as hate when you’re having to ask for bill (the waiters never seem to be around) and then wait for the card reader etc. Nice having fewer people around too. Even better now meals are half price Mon-We’d in August!

I feel more comfortable eating out than in do in the supermarket and avoid that as much as possible

We've eaten out a few times, and have felt safe and fine. Feels much safer than walking down our local high street to buy a pint of milk, tbh.

I went to a taco restaurant local to us which we love but some of the tables are Wagamamas style and we were on a bench with another couple... we weren't right next or each other or anything but it felt like they were pushing it and wish we'd known beforehand.

I am not eating out

It no longer feels like a relaxed thing to do

That’s it

Am not even that worried about catching it as such, but the atmosphere is a bit weird and tense and servers are on edge

It’s just no fun like this

I guess things may never go back to how they were... dammit, lots more home cooking ahead then

If it survives in the air for a few hours, possibly longer, then it can't be safe. I suppose it's different with shopping because you're constantly moving about and not in the same place for long.

That’s a bit like saying you’ve got more chance of winning the lottery if you stick to the same numbers every week than if you change them. If you’re as close to other people in both restaurant and shopping settings, the risk is the same... (though you are, or should be wearing a mask when shopping so that lowers the risk).

I ate out yesterday. Was fine. Chain restaurant (Turtle Bay). Guy on reception wearing a mask, took details, explained the ground rules. All waiting and visible cooking staff wearing masks. Clear instructions for using the toilets.

They’re never going to stay open at 2m distancing between tables though.

It felt much more controlled and safe than the shops where apparently anything goes...

Have eaten out once. Felt absolutely fine, safe and secure. Would have no problem doing so again.

(though you are, or should be wearing a mask when shopping so that lowers the risk)

Except that people in supermarkets seem to think masks are a magical shield which mean they no longer need to social distance.

We have eaten out a few times and really enjoyed it. Very glad to be able to get back to something we enjoy. It has all felt quite safe to me.