The Dining Experience Amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic

The New Dining Experience at Restaurants Amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic

The corona virus pandemic has created new challenges for every individual as well as the economic sectors. Now, maintaining social distancing, isolation and quarantine are the current hot topics that have left behind the partying, social gathering, or dining out experiences far behind. 

The dining experience is never going to be the same post COVID-19. A lot of precautionary measures have to be taken by restaurant owners as well as the visitors, to make the experience safer and enjoyable.       

Dining Out Is Not Going To Be Casual As It Was Before

Corona virus has made a severe impact on restaurant business across the world and dining out is probably going to be changed for a long time to come, owing to the guidelines that have to be observed to minimize the virus spread like maintaining social distancing, wearing mask shield and gloves when in public dealing, etc.

Challenges for Restaurant Businesses

Growing preferences for healthier food options, increased competition from grocery stores and home delivery apps, higher consumer expectations, and rapidly advancing technology necessitates renovating changes in the traditional dining experience. Additionally, the corona virus spread has forced to modify how the industry operates.

With the evolving consumer expectations from menu solutions, dining experience, and convenience, restaurants have to indulge in safe health practices to survive in the hospitality business.

Need For Quick Changes in the Restaurant Business Is Inevitable

Due to corona virus spread to survive in the prevailing market scenario, restaurants have doubled up their digital offerings. Additionally, they have to continue to experiment with new brick-and-mortar renovations for quick-service formats and comply with corona virus guidelines.

With safety as the priority in the wake of COVID- 19 pandemics spread, there is doubt if people would like to dine now for quite some time, and even if they do would they be casual as before.
To cater to changing norms, restaurants are observing various changes in their operating strategies like enabling digital ordering in the restaurants that minimize human touch.
According to the reports, customers at the restaurants are requested to scan QR code using their mobile phones, check out the menu on the phone and order their favorite from the menu.
This enables restaurants to build their digital platform while interacting with customers.

Home Deliveries Have Picked Up Momentum

Undoubtedly home deliveries have picked up great momentum in recent months due to COVID-19 spread. Before corona virus spread, the restaurant business has been greatly affected due to foodservice aggregators like Zomato, Swiggy, and Dine Out, etc. The spread of corona virus has inclined people more towards these apps and restaurants have to partner with them for services. But now that lockdown has been lifted from various states and in countries, restaurants are putting their best feet forward to attract customers back.

Restoring Customer Confidence by Observing Upgraded Corona Virus Spread Related Protocols

With the corona virus outbreak, people have been scared to step out of their house to dine. However, restaurants and cafes are resuming their operation gradually as people are eager to socialize but with caution. They want to enter places that have social distancing protocols. Therefore, food restaurants are ensuring proper hygiene practice and spacing between the people. Innovative arrangements have been incorporated in the dining areas to maintain the security of guests.

Not only ordering food has been made contactless but the bill payment and the digital menus are also measures for attracting clients and minimizing human contact.
While dining out, guests will be attended by a waiter wearing gloves and a face mask. At some places dinner menus are disposable and the temperature of incoming guests is checked before they walk in.

Some Advance Measures by the Renowned Restaurant Chain Can Be Summarized As Follows:-

1) Focus on narrower and more specialized menus— with the motto to enhance quality standards, speed, and service of the food

2) Preferences for healthier food options
 Now due to hygiene and safety concerns, consumers prefer to eat at home. If they opt to dine out, they are inclined to consume healthier and less processed foods (more of farm to table options). Therefore, restaurants are making attempts to influence consumption patterns by offering attractive pricing.
 Additionally, ads strategies, marketing techniques, serving, and cooking methodologies have changed to regain the trust of guests.
3) Some restaurant chains are introducing new technologies for ordering, payment, and loyalty programs to make new dining experiences normal, convenient, and intuitive for customers.
4) Restaurants have been emphasizing on minimizing food waste to manage the rising costs of the restaurant business and to “go green” and fulfilling environment sustainability criterion.
Common Cautions Observed At Restaurants Post COVID Are:-
• Cleaning of a plastic card (for payment) while receiving or handing over to the client
• Making sure the POS terminal is clean and hygienic while contacting with clients or other employees
• The changing of gloves between customers handling or the regular use of hand sanitizer dealing with customers
• Sanitizing the tableware, cookware, cutlery, glassware, and plates and sitting arrangement before coming in contact with the customers or brought to the table packaged in disposables for customer assurance.
• Placing utilities like napkins, condiments, and removing salt and pepper shakers. Either bring them in packets or on-demand to avoid human touch.
• Increased spacing between tables and/or fragmenting larger rooms into smaller sections
• Easy and quick availability of hygienic products such as wipes and sanitizers on tables and in public areas
• Coverings over dining wares to be removed tableside
• Offering e-receipts instead of paper
• Digital menu boards or tablets with anti-microbial screens rather than paper menus

Bottom Line

The re-opening of the restaurant has to be weighed with the public safety and security as well as the team members of the establishment along with economic survival while observing local government guidelines.

Awareness regarding health, sanitation, and food safety is important on both sides of the counter, involving the employees as well as the consumers. Restaurants have to incorporate technology to cater to contactless transactions.
Touch less payment systems will be here to stay. The main emphasis of the restaurant business post-COVID is on public safety, cleanliness, and hygiene of the food served at their destination even though at the expense of speed and efficiency.