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Original poster

I'm not going to a restaurant again.

376 replies

ssd · 05/08/2020 21:36

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.

OP posts:
Celan · 05/08/2020 22:26

No patience at all with this "feeling safe" stuff. I've eaten out several times since restaurants re-opened. It was fine. However, I haven't been cowed into worrying about leaving my home, because Covid is just like any other horrible illness. Some people will get it, some won't. Meanwhile, people will die because their MH is shot to pieces. Though as they won't have died of/with Covid, their deaths will be irrelevant.

Yes, I am angry.

Mothermorph · 05/08/2020 22:29

We had our anniversary a few weeks ago and my inlaws said they would babysit but we didnt feel like we wanted to eat out. We're going away in a couple of weeks (uk ) and while I dint want to cook every day, i think I'd feel happier with take away fish and chips by the river than eating in somewhere.

Mothermorph · 05/08/2020 22:31

Part of my reluctance is the test and trace system. We cant really afford not to work for 2 weeks if asked to isolate (obviously we would have to find a way if it came to it, or family was unwell) so easier not to be too social!

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 05/08/2020 22:33

No masks and lack of social distancing by staff would put me off but also the fact that others have touched the plates, glasses etc. I can’t imagine it being enjoyable.

It’s why I’m not looking forward to schools reopening with no SD, masks etc and spending six hours indoors with others who may or may not have been following the guidelines, travelled etc. Children and teens know all about SD etc and yet apparently it doesn’t count in schools just other group activities Hmm

IceCreamSummer20 · 05/08/2020 22:33

I’ve been getting the odd collect restaurant meal. It’s a great idea, a limited menu, and have to partially cook it at home - but I do want to support restaurants, just don’t want to go in them just yet. You order online and collect at the door!

BillywilliamV · 05/08/2020 22:35

Thats okay, carry on like this and there wont be any restaurants left to "feel a bit dodgy" anyway!

I am angry too!

AnneOfQueenSables · 05/08/2020 22:35

I feel the same. We haven't been out to eat yet because we've walked past our local places that we like and we could see the staff weren't social distancing or wearing masks or gloves. We regularly ate out or ordered deliveries from them. But I don't know when we'll feel we want to do that again.
As for someone saying they can't wear masks for hours, shop staff are. I don't understand why restaurant staff can't.

pourmeanotherglass · 05/08/2020 22:39

Im a bit cautious as it would be difficult if i had to tell work i needed to work from home for 2 weeks due to someone in a restaurant i was at testing positive.
Ive had a meal sitting outside a pub, and that felt safe. We were well spaced, with table service.
I sat outside a cafe with a coffee today, and again there was plenty of space. Not ready to sit inside yet.

AlecTrevelyan006 · 05/08/2020 22:39

@SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito

Unless you are in Manchester, Bradford, Aberdeen or Leceister you need to address your perception of this risk. Go and find out how many hospitalisations and how many deaths there have been in your area in the last three weeks. I bet you it's less than you think.

If the restaurant is doing all it should be re safety measures and there's nothing making it feel dodgy other than your own perception of the risk, you need to reset your risk perception.

This. 100%.
uniglowooljumper · 05/08/2020 22:40

@Celan

No patience at all with this "feeling safe" stuff. I've eaten out several times since restaurants re-opened. It was fine. However, I haven't been cowed into worrying about leaving my home, because Covid is just like any other horrible illness. Some people will get it, some won't. Meanwhile, people will die because their MH is shot to pieces. Though as they won't have died of/with Covid, their deaths will be irrelevant.

Yes, I am angry.

So don't go. I won't go here with this taking details action. Nope. Takeaways will do, but none of this taking details.
CornishTiger · 05/08/2020 22:40

Seriously? The supermarkets are worse for SD than restaurants.

Dontrainonmyparade · 05/08/2020 22:40

I get it. Took the kids out for lunch yesterday and realised after we left that they never asked for any details at all. Tables were pre set with cutlery etc, menus were just paper and presumably handled by everyone, they weren’t disposed of after, just added to the pile by the till. It was a small place and one other table were in, with lots of kids. While parents were paying kids were all over the place, touching other tables (already set up for diners) - nothing was said and nowhere cleaned after they left. Server wore a mask. That’s really all I can say for it. I’m put off but we are meant to be going somewhere nicer on Friday night (adults only) and it’s our first night out together in such a long time that I have high hopes it will be better.

If it’s not, I’m giving up and staying in for a good while longer.

Echobelly · 05/08/2020 22:44

I've been to some - we're not going to go to as many as usual but enjoying while we can, I expect it'll all have to shut down again over winter. It actually hasn't felt that weird at the ones we've been to.

BigChocFrenzy · 05/08/2020 22:44

I've been eating out often since late May (Germany) but only outside
I've also been going to the gym since 16 May, but no choice of outside there Grin

I don't get angry if people choose not to go to restaurants or gym, even if some places do go out of business

I do me
They do them

BigChocFrenzy · 05/08/2020 22:45

They don't need to "reset their risk perception" just because they are more risk averse than I am

MotheringShites · 05/08/2020 22:45

The word “safe” has lost all logical meaning.

I’m angry too.

BigChocFrenzy · 05/08/2020 22:47

Here, servers wear masks and we have to fill in full contact details
Otherwise, they serve food as normal
Doesn't bother me - I still enjoy eating out

Jent13c · 05/08/2020 22:49

I'm in Aberdeen. We have had many days without reported cases, Grampian was fairly low hit compared to Glasgow so we went out for a meal 10 days ago. Staff did not wear masks but the tables were well spaced, we booked so all details provided. Enjoyed our meal but decided we wouldn't be going out again for a while, it just didn't feel right.

Around that time 1 or 2 people went out (rumoured with symptoms or awaiting tests but not confirmed). That then confirmed 4 cases and now about 5 days on we are in lockdown with 191 people involved in the cluster and a list of premises that they visited...including the restaurant where we ate.

Unfortunately due to the incubation period of the virus it's very difficult to risk assess using local case data as you wont know what is actually going on in your city until about a week later.

Original poster
ssd · 05/08/2020 22:50

I don't really care if anyone here is angry at me, each to their own and all that.

Maybe part of the reason it felt dodgy was because the place wasn't very clean. As I said, it was cheap and cheerful, meaning tacky and dirty. We only stayed as we'd paid at the bar and we were starving. I've worked in kitchens and restaurants and I notice everything..

Maybe if it was posh and the food better it would have been different.

OP posts:
fabulous01 · 05/08/2020 22:51

I was concerned but DH was adamant about going out as we were at in laws and it was a birthday celebration
I preferred to stay at home

We went out, local pub, ate inside ... and it was lovely. The kids really loved it, and so did the adults. Tables were spaced out and staff were so attentive.
If I could afford it I would definitely do more of it

PuzzledObserver · 05/08/2020 22:52

To some extent, the people staying away because they don’t feel safe reduce the risk for those who are willing to go, because lower numbers in the restaurant mean less crowding and therefore less risk of transmission.

uniglowooljumper · 05/08/2020 22:56

@SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito

Unless you are in Manchester, Bradford, Aberdeen or Leceister you need to address your perception of this risk. Go and find out how many hospitalisations and how many deaths there have been in your area in the last three weeks. I bet you it's less than you think.

If the restaurant is doing all it should be re safety measures and there's nothing making it feel dodgy other than your own perception of the risk, you need to reset your risk perception.

I can't agree more!
starsparkle08 · 05/08/2020 22:56

Don’t go again then

lilgreen · 05/08/2020 22:57

First time eating out tonight. We sat outside to be safer. Good measures in place. All fine in that respect but I’m pretty sure the prices have gone up. The 50% off didn’t make it as cheap as we thought and we only had soft drinks.

Comefromaway · 05/08/2020 22:58

I’m not comfortable. I’m driving Ds and his girlfriend to pizza express tomorrow as he’s been craving it but I’m not happy about it. (We are only about half an hour away from Manchester though and there has been a cluster of cases linked to a pub)