Second wave hard on restaurants
The second wave of Covid closures is proving to be hard on restaurants.
Friends of mine spent years building up a clientele for their Petite-Patrie restaurant, but they’ve had to put the key under the door, as the saying goes. The kind of place that offers exquisite tasting menus and paired wines can’t readily translate that experience to delivery.
(Got to go out soon and curate myself some groceries…)
Tim S. 11:11 on 2020-10-17 Permalink
I wish there was some sort of hibernation plan for restaurants. They just won’t be viable for the next few months, but eventually they’ll be able to reopen, and there will be huge pent-up demand. Put the employees on CERB (or whatever the replacement is), or get them jobs as delivery drivers, legislate some kind of rent relief (with interest rates being what they are, it shouldn’t necessarily be up to the taxpayers to protect the incomes of the Cromwells and Schillers), and look forward to better times.
In the meantime, I’ve been thinking about trying the takeout from local restaurants, but just can’t bring myself to spend 20$ on a burger and fries, times 4.
Kate 11:39 on 2020-10-17 Permalink
Even with CERB, the folks I know saw an uncertain future. They’re a trio, and at least two of them are now teaching, although teaching cookery online is like doing a cooking show for a small audience.
I’ve ordered out a few times since the lockdown, on days when I simply could not face my own cuisine one more time, but – as you say – it gets expensive. I’d love to be able to do more to support my local restos but there’s a limit to what I can do.
dwgs 12:46 on 2020-10-17 Permalink
You know what would be a great way to get takeout and keep the restaurateurs’ expenses reasonable? Food trucks, that’s what. Not the stupid over regulated version that our overlords messed up but good old fashioned stand alone food trucks. Park it in a different neighbourhood every few days and sell cheap decent takeout to the locals.
Kate 12:58 on 2020-10-17 Permalink
I agree. A general deregulation – food trucks, booze delivery and so on – should have been done, and still could be done. So long as food goes on being safe to eat, nothing else should matter.
Joey 13:19 on 2020-10-17 Permalink
Tom, the recent federal supports basically do this (extension of the wage subsidy to cover employee salaries, rent subsidies that do not require active engagement from the landlord, no-interest/partially non-repayable loan program extension), all accessible to businesses that are in bad shape but not necessarily facing a catastrophe. Plus the province is kicking up support too. Sadly it took six months to get these programs right; the earlier versions weren’t generous or broad enough to save many businesses.
JaneyB 09:10 on 2020-10-19 Permalink
@dwgs – You’re absolutely right about the food trucks. That should have been up and running months ago. Just get it out there. Also patrons should be ordering directly by phone, not via Uber Eats etc with their 30% markup. Sure, pick-up and delivery would make it more neighbourhood-centric but…also good.
Kate 09:29 on 2020-10-19 Permalink
JaneyB, the main reason I’ve used Skip The Dishes instead of calling individual restos is my credit card’s already registered, I don’t have to fumble with cash at the door, it’s all contactless. I don’t think most individual outfits have anything like that set up.
Michael Black 10:17 on 2020-10-19 Permalink
Aux Vivres has some sort of delivery system, I think just set up for this now. I think it’s their own vehicles. But it’s not their restaurant menu, just the items you couid buy at stores. And they’ve teamed with a bakery. Unfortunately, their tempeh had a problem in August, and there’s been a shortage.
If you want the restaurant items, then it’s third party delivery.
There was that story months ago about a new delivery service that seemed to be restaurant-based, but I’ve not seen mention of it since.
JoeNotCharles 12:52 on 2020-10-19 Permalink
Kate, I’ve been ordering from a wide variety of restaurants, and none of them demand cash. The ones that do their own delivery generally let you give your credit card over the phone when ordering.