Restos ready to open doors with new norms

Kolkata: Restaurants are ready with various innovative measures to ensure social distancing when they reopen on Monday after a two-and-a-half-month closure. These include glass partitions between tables, an option to place order on phone from the table, virtual instruction cards to inform guests about the new norms, a marked waiting area for those queuing up at the entrance, quicker delivery of food, disposable crockery and virtual menu. Thermal checks and sanitization of hands and shoes, of course, will precede them. At some restaurants, there will be a token hygiene charge to ‘drive home the seriousness of the measures’.
The interior of Mocambo — the iconic Park Street restaurant — will look different with a 5ft glass partition separating tables. Keeping with the norms, 50% of tables will be vacant. “Even though there will be a considerable distance between tables, the glass partitions will act as a shield and make our guests more comfortable. There won’t be a panic even if someone sneezes at the next table,” said owner Nitin Kothari. He added that Mocambo will be taking its last orders at 9pm and serving time will come down by seven-eight minutes to ensure that guests don’t have to wait long.
Mughlai chain Oudh 1590 has removed half of its tables and will be offering a set of disposable cutlery and crockeries. Each guest will receive a set of instructions on his or her mobile on arrival. Orders can be placed by calling a number given on the table in case one wants to reduce contact. “Repeat orders, too, can be placed at the same number. Guests will be briefed on safety on arrival and must get their hands sanitized and shoes fumigated. There will be a hygiene charge of Rs 25 each which will make everyone take the safety measures seriously,” said owner Shiladitya Chaudhury.
The restaurant has barred guests from carrying anything other than phones and purses. There will be a marked waiting area for guests at the entrance. “Some of our outlets have a limited capacity waiting space at their lobbies. In case the entrance queue gets longer, guests will be requested to wait in their vehicles. We will also encourage visitors to install the Arogya Setu app,” added Chaudhury.
Half the tables have been removed at Song-Hai to ensure a 6ft distance. Disposable crockeries and cutlery will be offered at a price of Rs 30 per guest. But there will be the option of sticking to the regular ones.
“Instead of keeping tables vacant, we have chosen to remove them, which will give our guests the feeling of distance,” said owner Sudesh Poddar. Menu cards will be sent on WhatsApp.
Some like Mocambo are not willing to use disposable cutlery. “There is no guarantee that the products have been safely produced and sanitized. It is easier to sanitize our own crockeries than deal with a material that is unknown to us,” said Kothari.
Almost all restaurants have discontinued mouth fresheners. Some will provide packets of mint and toothpicks on request. Bills will be sent on WhatsApp and a hard copy will be provided to guests who ask for one. It will be wrapped in a disposable paper jacket and guests must discard it after payment.