Here Is What CT Restaurants May Look Like After Coronavirus

CONNECTICUT — Restaurants and bars in Connecticut cannot legally offer in-person dining through at least May 20 and it's expected that ban will be extended further. Eateries are currently allowed to offer takeout and delivery services. Gov. Ned Lamont said this week that restaurants may be able to offer outdoor eating sooner than inside dining due to the potential to ensure safe social distancing practices.

While the short-term future of restaurants remains uncertain, the Connecticut Restaurant Association this week announced “The Connecticut Restaurant Promise." The promise is a public pledge from local restaurant owners to the public, detailing how they will use every necessary safety and sanitation measure as the state plans its reopening in order to protect both their employees and their customers.

The Connecticut Restaurant Association has unveiled several changes customers can expect for when restaurants fully reopen. Some of the changes will be required of employees while some will involve customers. (See further down for a list of all the changes).

Dan Meiser, who owns the Oyster Club in Mystic, and is a member of Lamont's reopening committee, told the Hartford Courant that some of the new changes is likely to include hand-washing and sanitizing stations throughout the restaurant.

According to the Hartford Courant, some restaurant owners have discussed setting aside specific dining times for at-risk customers. You can expect to see a reduced seating capacity to ensure social distancing is maintained inside. Some seats and barstools may be blocked off from patrons, according to the Courant and masks will definitely be a part of this for employees.

Restaurant owners told the Courant that they will need two weeks to get fully operational again and many will continue to focus on takeout and delivery options even after the restrictions are lifted.

Nearly 50 percent of the entire state's restaurants are closed, Hearst Connecticut reports. Three percent of restaurants don't plan to reopen, Hearst reports. One change the restaurant industry wants to keep is the ability to sell "to-go alcohol" and the meals and beverage tax could be postponed for awhile, Hearst Connecticut reports.

“As Connecticut is now planning how best to begin reopening businesses and reopening its economy, we want the public to know that local restaurants are taking our role and our responsibility seriously when it comes to protecting public health,” said Scott Dolch, Executive Director of the Connecticut Restaurant Association. “Connecticut restaurants are working with state officials to determine how best to return to full service as soon as it is safe to do so. As part of that work, we’re making these promises directly to the public that we will do everything in our power to make their dining experience safe and enjoyable.”

The Connecticut Restaurant Promise includes the following promises from local restaurants to the Connecticut public:

• Continue leading in safe sanitation practices
• Establish protocol for monitoring the health of all staff prior to shift start
• Our indoor & outdoor seating meets all physical distancing guidelines
• Hand sanitizer or hand washing stations are at all entrances
• Clean and sanitize common areas and surfaces regularly
• Clean and sanitize all tables and hard surfaces after every use
• Place settings, utensils, menus, and condiments are sanitized after every use or are single use

As they prepare to make these extra efforts, the association is also asking for promises in return from their customers that will help keep them and the employees of the restaurants they visit safe and healthy.

Those asks include:

• If you have been exposed to COVID-19 recently or have symptoms of COVID-19 (including a fever, aches, cough, shortness of breath, headache, chills or loss of taste/smell), keep everyone safe by staying home and contacting your local restaurant to inquire about their contactless delivery options
• If you have underlying health conditions or are otherwise concerned about contracting COVID-19, please consider contactless delivery options
• If you have any questions about the Connecticut Restaurant Promise, please ask for a manager who will be happy to answer any questions

“It’s the responsibility of restaurants to make extra efforts to serve our customers during these difficult times, but we’re also asking them to do what they can to protect one another,” said Dolch. “Connecticut has shown real unity and real resolve to manage this crisis -- and now we need to work together to come out of it, for the sake of our health, and for the sake of our local economy.”

How do restaurants participate in the Connecticut Restaurant Promise?

"Restaurants agree to comply with governmental guidance for all phases of reopening and recovery. We also commit to protect our employees and customers in the following ways:

• Continue being a leader in safe sanitation practices
• Have all team members understand safe food handling
• Have a certified food protection manager on every shift
• Follow hand washing protocol for staff set by ServSafe©
• Have staff complete a health survey prior to each shift
• Have employees wear gloves and/or masks and other protective equipment in keeping with public health guidelines relating to COVID-19
• Have all indoor and outdoor seating options comply with the appropriate physical distancing guidelines
• Offer hand sanitizer or hand washing stations available upon entry and exit for guests and staff
• Continue cleaning and sanitizing common areas and surfaces regularly
• Continue cleaning and sanitizing tables and hard surfaces after every use
• Have place settings, utensils, menus, and condiments be single-use OR cleaned and disinfected after every use
• Post the Connecticut Restaurant Promise at our entrance so everyone understands the steps we have taken to help keep our communities safe."

What are some best practices restaurants can implement to enhance their commitment to the Connecticut Restaurant Promise?

"Restaurants are already experts in safe food handling and sanitation, so many of their routine practices comply with fulfilling the commitments in the Connecticut Restaurant Promise.

Different strategies will be appropriate for different restaurants at different times.

"Please see the following are ideas which can be implemented to fit a restaurant’s needs:

• Designate a single employee per shift, ideally with a clearly identifiable uniform or badge for customers to recognize to oversee safety and sanitation measures
• Limit table capacity in accordance with recommended guidelines
• Consider the use of physical barriers when appropriate
• Remove tables which are not being utilized during service; for tables that are unable to be moved, physically block off to show they are clearly not in use
• Use signage and/or floor markings to help customers comply with social distance guidelines in common areas
• Encourage contactless payment options like credit cards or online ordering
• Temporarily close self-serve, unattended buffets, topping bars, and other communal serving areas."

Don't miss local and statewide news about coronavirus developments and precautions. Sign up for free Patch alerts and daily newsletters from all across Connecticut.

See also: Latest Town-By-Town Coronavirus Cases, Deaths In CT

• Hospital To Furlough 375 Employees
• Connecticut Restaurant With 'Best Sandwich' Opens For To-Go Orders
• CT Man Recovers From Coronavirus: Report

What questions should a restaurant ask its employees to perform health screenings before each shift?

Yes or no questions/statements like these can help strike the balance between obtaining the necessary health information and respecting privacy concerns.

"Recommendation is to have all employees complete a simple pre-shift screening that includes answering questions like:

• Do you have any of these symptoms: fever, aches, cough, shortness of breath, headache, chills or loss of taste/smell?
• Have you come in contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19?
• Are you currently waiting for the results of a COVID-19 test?
• Have you traveled to an area with high COVID-19 concentration rates over the last 14 days?
• I understand my responsibility to not come to work if I have symptoms of COVID-19 or have recently come into contact with someone who has COVID-19.
• I understand my responsibility to comply with the restaurant’s health and sanitation standards."

How should participating restaurants communicate the commitments of the Connecticut Restaurant Promise?

"It is vital that restaurants communicate the commitments directly to their staff and monitor compliance. Restaurants should also take steps to communicate their enrollment in the Connecticut Restaurant Promise by posting the required notice at entrances. If the restaurant has a website or social media, we recommend advertising enrollment on there as well."

Why are customers included within the Connecticut Restaurant Promise?

"Customers are included because we all have a responsibility to follow public health authority guidance to prevent the spread of COVID-19. By partnering together, we can keep everyone safe."

What commitments does the Connecticut Restaurant Promise ask customers to make to restaurants?

• "If you have been exposed to COVID-19 recently or have symptoms of COVID-19 (including a fever, aches, cough, shortness of breath, headache, chills or loss of taste/smell), keep everyone safe by staying home and contacting your local restaurant to inquire about their contactless delivery options
• If you have underlying health conditions or are otherwise concerned about contracting COVID-19, please consider contactless delivery options
• If you have any questions about the Connecticut Restaurant Promise, please ask for a manager who will be happy to answer any questions"

What can restaurants do to help customers meet these obligations?

"Restaurants are encouraged to maximize the use of contactless delivery options and advertise those options to potential customers. Publicizing information about the Connecticut Restaurant Promise should also increase customers’ compliance with these standards."