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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:
Perihelion · 06/08/2020 01:13

CoffeeRunner thanks, but I just carry plates, you're proper frontline.

Pyongyang I've done two full on, 7 hour shifts waitressing with a mask on this week. I can feel the spots erupting on my chin and last night, sweat running down the sides of my nose, but I don't want to be responsible for passing on Covid, ( which seeing as DD is back at school next week increases the risk) and I might gain a small amount of protection from the customers. There was a hotel outbreak in Switzerland where waiting staff wearing masks didn't catch the virus, but those wearing mask did and in at least one case is though to have passed it on. And it's not like full PPE that ICU staff have to wear for 13 hour stretches.

Perihelion · 06/08/2020 01:17

Those wearing visors did catch the virus...

middleager · 06/08/2020 06:05

@Augustseemsbetter

With handgel you touch the pump then rub your hands so disinfecting them. Am I missing something?
This is what I thought. Applying the gel to your hands is the very last part of the process.
HeronLanyon · 06/08/2020 06:27

Some of my locals (which I am ‘desperate’ to revisit aren’t social distancing - no masks and tables outside with seats touching seats of next table etc.
I did a walk round a few nights ago and have a list of places I wouldn’t dream of going to right now and some I will !

Chaotic45 · 06/08/2020 07:09

Lots of posters are saying that unless you are from Leicester, Manchester etc.. you should not really worry.

I'm from Leicestershire, a now unlocked area. DH works in central Leicester, I take my Dad for regular hospital appointments in central Leicester. DS got his hair cut earlier this week in Leicester.

We are now in the beautiful South of England enjoying a holiday. We have tried to SD but other people here are not bothering and it's been very difficult. We tried to eat out this week. Booked an outside table, and several locals ended up perched on the end of our table. We explained we were SD but they said there's no need around here. We asked for our food to be served as a take away in the end and left. So it is really not as simple as only worrying if you're actually from or in an area with a higher infection rate.

TheRealHousewife · 06/08/2020 07:16

Our lives have totally changed. Used to eat out at restaurants regularly. Not anymore. Also I can’t imagine ever flying again. I’ve seen photos of airports where social distancing isn’t happening. How do you SD on a plane? The photos I’ve seen people are seated as normal. Do online shopping too.

Unprecedented & strange times.

itsaratrap · 06/08/2020 07:20

ssd

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

Won’t be going to a restaurant, but this is the biggest problem when I food shop, staff completely ignoring social distancing. Appreciate they have a job to do, but part of that is complying with what they want customers to do as well.

KatherineJaneway · 06/08/2020 07:26

Won’t be going to a restaurant, but this is the biggest problem when I food shop, staff completely ignoring social distancing. Appreciate they have a job to do, but part of that is complying with what they want customers to do as well.

Tesco's near me has removed the one way system and the single pay queue. It is now impossible to socially distance.

111999A · 06/08/2020 07:29

I’ve been out to eat about 6 times and can honestly say worrying about covid has not crossed my mind. Our local Italian is fairly relaxed, it’s owned and run by a 68 year old Italian who is very pragmatic.
Perhaps my lack of worry stems from having worked frontline for the NHS all through and so seeing it first hand, I’ve also had it but 50% of my family at home didn’t catch it so I have a realistic view of how easy/difficult it is to catch it. I employed no social distancing/special hygiene precautions at home when I had it(DH and I had it together) we all ate together, hugged, watched tv together but the children (all adults) tested negative and have no antibodies. I do have antibodies.

Chaosreignshere · 06/08/2020 07:31

I don't blame you op.

We used to love eating out, but I know I wouldn't enjoy it at the moment.

I'm firmly of the belief that we need to live with the virus in a cautious way, but pubs and restaurants are a luxury I can live happily without for a while.

The thoughts of hand sanitiser, screens and waiting staff in masks doesn't make for an enjoyable dining experience.

Thecobwebsarewinning · 06/08/2020 07:32

We went to Pizza Express last week (a bit lame I know, but I missed it so much during lockdown). It was great. Menus on an app. Tables well spaced. Service was distanced. I don’t know If there was sanitiser available because I carry my own. I’m not going to shops because anything I need to buy is available online but I will be going back to Pizza Express soon, and to a very nice local Italian restaurant.

Incidentally, our longtime favourite, family run Chinese takeaway (we’ve been using it for 20 years) is not answering the phone. They might be on their holidays but I think it’s more likely they have gone out of business. We need to use these places or we will lose them.

theBelgranoSisters · 06/08/2020 07:42

I wish we had your options-we're currently on stage 4 lock down over here...counting my blessings tho- i can work from home, have easy kids& a large house& garden but its getting pretty boring...absolutely gagging for a decent meal out or to be able to use my gym pass again

SockYarn · 06/08/2020 08:03

So don't go. Nobody's going to force you out of the house and into a restaurant table.

We've eaten out twice and both places were great, one restaurant has been remodelled when they've been closed and have built hard partitions between tables.

KatherineJaneway · 06/08/2020 08:04

I wonder if there is a difference between those who have, and are able to, break out of their lockdown bubble and those still in it. I have spoken to and know of a few people who are scared stiff of going out and getting back to some sort of normal. They're not shielding or high risk. I had a wobble a few weeks ago and went out for something to eat and it 'broke' the cycle of being at home and not going out much. I'm now eating out, back at the gym etc. I take all the necessary precautions.

middleager · 06/08/2020 08:06

@Thecobwebsarewinning

We went to Pizza Express last week (a bit lame I know, but I missed it so much during lockdown). It was great. Menus on an app. Tables well spaced. Service was distanced. I don’t know If there was sanitiser available because I carry my own. I’m not going to shops because anything I need to buy is available online but I will be going back to Pizza Express soon, and to a very nice local Italian restaurant.

Incidentally, our longtime favourite, family run Chinese takeaway (we’ve been using it for 20 years) is not answering the phone. They might be on their holidays but I think it’s more likely they have gone out of business. We need to use these places or we will lose them.

Not lame - my kids love Pizza Express but our local branches are still closed in two big towns, along with Nando's, Ask etc. If we could visit these, we would.
Vinosaurus · 06/08/2020 08:06

but pubs and restaurants are a luxury I can live happily without for a while

It won't be just a while you're "happily living without them" - they'll be gone.

SurferRona · 06/08/2020 08:13

Confident in cafe takeaways and being out and about, but yes, similar concerns at local gastropub on Saturday. No masks on staff, and they insisted on standing less than a meter away and talking to us/ doing ‘banter’. Also tried to pour wine a couple times so I moved the bottle to stop that. SD between tables, but one large mixed group (10 or 12, couples) had a birthday and all the staff came and clustered around them to sing happy birthday to the chap! Just a lot of unnecessary risk and could be much safer behaviour in my view. Is very low incidence at the moment near me, but especially once schools are back I won’t be going to that restaurant again.

Oldraver · 06/08/2020 08:15

We went away for a few days and ate out three times. One place fine, took temp address all protocols in place, although two servers did have masks below nose

Other place we were barked at like dogs, dont do this do this etc. Good food but terribly atmosphere

dottiedodah · 06/08/2020 08:16

Well we have precisely one person in hospital with Covid in our area(South Coast) so I think its fine TBH! Unless you are in a high risk area then you have to assess risk and act accordingly .My DS has just returned from a trip to Europe (not Spain)

EllaAlright · 06/08/2020 08:18

I’ve eaten out a few times now and it’s been fantastic, really enjoyed it. The 50% off meals has been a bonus too.

Allnamesaregone · 06/08/2020 08:20

We’ve eaten out 3 times in 3 days to take advantage of the government scheme. It’s been great- happy to go out.
The virus isn’t going away and there isn’t going to be an effective vaccine.

LJC1234 · 06/08/2020 08:20

I have eaten out a lot since places re opened and felt so safe. Mainly at independently owned places as opposed to chains but where I have been they are trying so hard so they can survive and I'm happy to support than when we can.

Chaotic45 · 06/08/2020 08:23

@dottiedodah? Wow really? I didn't realise any counties had an admission rate that low- where are you?

Redolent · 06/08/2020 08:23

@Vinosaurus

but pubs and restaurants are a luxury I can live happily without for a while

It won't be just a while you're "happily living without them" - they'll be gone.

And new ones will open right back up again when this situation improves.
Oliversmumsarmy · 06/08/2020 08:28

I too have eaten out in different pubs and restaurants.
We have ended up eating in places in South Herts and so far each place has taken SD very seriously.

In the places I have been people aren’t perching on the end of your table. I don’t think it would cross peoples minds to even consider doing that.
Everyone is taking SD very seriously

Everyone is seated at a table and everything is ordered by text or in a chain restaurant, via an app.