Post COVID19 Scenario for Restaurants [13 Changes to Adapt]

Reading Time: 10 minutes

While the coronavirus crisis has affected the entire world; we cannot deny the fact that it has given us a great opportunity to innovate. Restaurant industry is one of them. 

As they say, when life gives you lemons, make a lemonade. 

Where most of the businesses (had to) shut down their operations; the restaurant industry made a lemonade by adopting the takeaway and delivery options instead of sticking to dine-in. 

A few eateries I know also came forward to help those in need with daily food essentials. 

Now, as the lockdowns ease across the world progressively; the restaurant industry is reopening with a different look and feel. 

In this blog, I’m going to touch upon what is actually happening on the ground and the changes in a post COVID19 scenario for restaurants.

What would be the post COVID19 scenario of the restaurant industry?

Before the virus hit, I’m sure your customers would’ve had a bucket list to explore the various types of eateries and ambiances that the F&B industry offers. 

But what about the situation now? Do you think customers are ready to dine-out like before? Probably not!

And, even when they do, it may not be the same as earlier. Safety, cleanliness, hygiene — all of it would have an upper hand. 

Here’s what I personally observed about the orders processed worldwide. 

If we see, here are some of the worst hit times that the industry has faced. But, things are improving gradually

Whilst, it’s too early to predict what the post COVID19 scenario for restaurants is going to look like; I know for sure that below mentioned changes are BOUND to happen in the industry 

I hope this list will tickle your brains and get you thinking about new ways to meet the crisis. You can also add these measures in your plan of action to restart the business.

Let’s understand each of these in detail.

1. Take precautionary measures

‘Prevention is better than cure.’ And, as taking sufficient precautionary measures is of utmost importance; ascertain that everyone is following them too!

Provide free masks to anyone who enters the restaurant. Along with this, install sanitizers everywhere across your premises.

You can also hang posters highlighting the precautions you’ve implemented at your restaurant. 

This will create a sense of trust for anyone who visits and make them feel safe. 

2. Focus on hygiene and sanitization

Safety is paramount as more and more COVID19 cases are being reported every single day.

You need to assure your customers that their food is being prepared in safe hands and hygienic ways. 

For this, put up guidelines about handwashing all over your kitchen and dining area. 

Keep a tab on your staff and make sure that they’re following the required protocols. Mandate the usage of masks, gloves, and a cap during every step of the delivery.

Keep sanitizers and wipes handy at all times. And, disinfect all areas in the restaurant every half hour. 

Further, when a customer finishes their meal, do disinfect the seating area as well as the tablespace they’ve made use of.

3. Perform temperature checks

Temperature checks are a common trend not limited to any particular industry. 

It is the easiest way to know whether the person entering your restaurant has COVID19 symptoms or not.

Though this shouldn’t be limited to your guests only. You should perform temperature checks of all your delivery personnel (before they leave and once they are back). 

They are the ones who would be getting in touch with several customers. And, not taking care of their safety would be a serious threat to you and your future guests.

4. Ensure safety measures of food supply vendors

Just like it’s advised to wash everything before using, the same should be followed for any ingredients, spices, and vegetables used at your restaurant.

Chlorine-based disinfectant tablets are available for this. 

You should also make sure that your food supply vendors are taking adequate safety measures at their place. 

If you think that they are not meeting the safety protocols, then it’s time to change your vendors as taking risks here is just not an option.

Further, do note that all of the food items are duly sanitized while you enter your restaurant.

5. Revise your table placements

Gone are the days when your guest’s seating arrangements would be hardly a few distances away. 

New table arrangements and partitions have been introduced lately, with a 1-2 meter distance from each seating space to follow physical distancing. 

For this, you need to put signs highlighting “NO SEATING” in red sign posters indicating your guests to keep that particular place vacant.

Rather, if you have a warehouse or a backup area you can simply shift your extra tables there and reshape your tablespaces accordingly.

6. Switch to digital menu and online ordering

Frankly speaking, I’d be afraid to visit a restaurant and touch any menu card. Who knows, how many customers have touched it and whether it is sanitized or not. 

Even if it is a trusted place; it’s better to be safe than sorry. 

Your customers would be having the same fear. Touch-free is going to be the new practice here, and everywhere you look. 

For that reason, you need to move towards a QR code-based digital menu and an online ordering option for your guests. This minimizes human touch and physical interactions.

Your customers can easily check out your menu, select what to order, and directly place their order from their smartphones. 

For instance: Dominos - the fast food giant is offering a completely contactless service at their outlets worldwide. 

7. Practice fresh food preparations

Rather than preparing the food in advance (to serve your guests on time) you should now move to “freshly cooked food.” 

I know this would be time-consuming but it would surely prevent the wastage of food and keep your place hygienic.

All the more, cooking only as much as your guests require, would lower down the spread of the virus in your premises.

Here, you can mention the cooking preparation time to make them aware.

8. Make the most of disposable crockery and cutlery

Disposables are the safest way to prevent the spread of this virus (as they are used and thrown) thereby ensuring a no-touch journey to your guests.

If we consider the scenario before COVID19, you’d place the crockery and cutlery on the table while the order was being prepared. 

But, right from washing utensils, cleaning them to placing it on your guest’s table; every single process requires a human touch.

So, to provide a safe and contactless service, you need to now move towards using good quality disposables. 

This helps you to stay away from the infection carried on the utensils alongwith an ease in the cleaning process.

Moreover, you can have pre-designed disposable kits wrapped in a plastic cover and place it on the tables before your guests arrive.

9. Avoid overcrowding

Long queues and waiting time have definitely become the past. Environment post COVID19 would be different. People would avoid overcrowded places.  

Even I would prefer busy or filled restaurants previously over empty ones. Because the crowd just proves how good the place is. But would I prefer that now? Absolutely NOT. 

For that reason, you’ll need to prepare yourself and match your guests’ expectations. This can be done by avoiding the crowding and long queues in and outside your restaurant. 

However, in case you experience such a scenario, do keep sanitizing the outside area and encourage that activity among the waiting guests.

Also, have proper 2m markings in the waiting area. This would help your guests to maintain a safe physical distance. 

For a while, do not host any events at your restaurant. Further, encourage table reservations through a phone call, social media, food ordering portals, or your restaurant’s website (if you have one).

Prevent the usage of your banquet or conference halls as it would lead to mass gatherings at your restaurant. 

Rather, convert your banquet halls and such rooms into dine-in seating areas. This can get you more tables and customers at a better distance.

10. Encourage takeaway, delivery and curbside pickup

Back then, I’m sure you wanted more people to dine-in, sit for long hours, and experience a great time at your restaurant.

However, times have changed completely. Rather than dine-in, you have to encourage takeaways, delivery as well as curbside pickup options.

All of these would help you to deliver a complete no-contact service benefitting both - you and your guests.

Moreover, it would help them enjoy your delicious meals at their convenience and safety (at homes).

11. Share bill via email, SMS or WhatsApp

As we discussed earlier, moving to cashless payments is a great option currently. Likewise sharing the bill via email, SMS or WhatsApp is a good approach to go paperless.

It’ll help your guests save the bill on their phone and access it anytime they want. Besides, it can help you to stay in touch with them further and share updates about your restaurant.

If you are thinking about sharing it via WhatsApp, then you should surely download WhatApp Business instead of the normal WhatsApp application.

Also, you need to have an official email address for your business to share the bill with your customers. (If you don’t have one, we’d recommend creating at the earliest). 

A lot many Restaurant POS have this feature to share eBill on customer phones. So, adopt that kind of POS. To mention, eZee Optimus is one of them! 

12. Prefer cashless payments

We know any type of touch can transfer the virus (including exchanging money) so digital payments are a great option here.

With so many guests visiting regularly, you never know who is infected and who isn’t. 

So rather than having this fear in mind, you can simply move to a complete digital payment mode for your guests. Offer them various options like Paytm, Google pay, credit or debit card, UPI, and such likes. 

I’m sure from these several options, your guests might be active on at least one and can opt for cashless payment. 

Various Restaurant POS are integrated with payment gateways. So you can adopt such a system and accept digital payments directly from it. eZee Optimus is one of them! 

13. Stay active on social media

Social media is one such platform where I’m sure 95% of your guests would be active. And, they would regularly refer to updates of their preferred restaurants. (At least I love knowing what my favorite eateries are up to, and if they have any new offering)

So, if you are inactive on social media handles, it’s time you start now and engage with your guests.

Thereby, being active is not just enough. You should post updates highlighting the safety and precautionary measures that you are following.

Here are some other F&B businesses that are highlighting these measures:

• McDonald’s
• Domino’s
• Nini’s Kitchen

Along with this, you should share pictures of the attractive meals that your restaurant is famous for.

This would surely drive you more guests who’ve been waiting to enjoy your meals for quite a long time.

Here’s a video that’ll help you to understand better:

At the moment, that’s all I have to share about the changes that you need to adapt to your restaurant. 

 Above all, a contactless guest journey is what you should focus on, for a post COVID19 scenario in restaurants. 

I hope this will help you cope up and match the latest mindset of your guests.

We also have some best tips on: How to stay safe from COVID19? [MUST READ]

FAQs:

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