The last time Etiquetteer dined out in a restaurant with friends was Leap Day, four and a half months ago. Although Massachusetts numbers appear to be rising again, Etiquetteer decided to take a risk and celebrate Bastille Day with a Francophile Friend at a popular neighborhood bistro. Overall it was a lovely experience, but there have been changes to restaurant dining in the Time of the Coronavirus.
Like many, Etiquetteer is just not comfortable dining out indoors yet - and that’s OK! This particular bistro’s existing sidewalk tables had been expanded into two or three parking spaces on the street, creating a spacious patio for additional tables. While a little closer than expected, the tables were not all squashed together, and there was a breeze. But if you decide that conditions leave you anxious, apologize to the manager and take your leave. Yes, you should apologize, and don’t get huffy about it.
This also makes the weather a lot more important. The forecast was officially “iffy” with gray clouds predominating. Everyone could not be accommodated safely under the sidewalk awning if the heavens opened up. While we did feel a few sprinkles once or twice, it didn’t mar the meal. But check the weather before you go.
Grappling with technology is not a reason for going to a restaurant, but it may become a permanent part of the experience. Etiquetteer kept waiting for a menu, but it never came. The creative restaurateurs have all but eliminated that high-touch item; the menu had been transformed into a QR code stuck to a small glass vase. And that’s great . . . if you know how to use a QR code. Both of us never could figure out how to access it, and then the restaurant’s menu on Google didn’t match what was actually being offered. Eventually things got sorted out, but if you’re planning to dine out, check ahead to be sure you have the right apps on your phone.
So, eliminating high-touch items is a good idea, and Etiquetteer would like to see that extended to the bread basket. Single rolls and individual pats of butter would have been more comfortable than the usual loaf of bistro bun for all to rip apart with one ramekin of butter.
Observe how Etiquetteer has handled the face mask for dinner.
The scene was lively, with every table occupied and fellow citizens back and forth on the sidewalk bisecting the dining area. And Etiquetteer found it interesting to see how the table really did feel like a “safe space” to be around people without wearing a mask. (Diners are required to wear masks when not at their tables.) And diners all managed their masks differently while dining. Some removed them altogether. Others wore them as a chin strap, which Etiquetteer finds risky. You could end up with a bit of food on it quite by accident and then have to spend the rest of your night out wearing a visibly soiled mask. Not a good look. Etiquetteer kept his mask on but swung the mask part behind, leaving only the elastic in the front (see above). That way it couldn’t get lost and was available immediately if necessary.
Etiquetteer did not witness any skirmishes in the mask wars taking place at eating establishments throughout the city. Please read this article from the Boston Globe to find out what’s going on. Etiquetteer really has no patience with these “maskholes.” But with a sidewalk running right through the middle of the dining area, it was also surprising to see how many strollers chose not to wear masks.
Unsurprisingly, the meal was superb, and so was the service. Restaurant work, stressful to begin with, is even more so in the Time of the Coronavirus, and this crew all brought their best, and clearly enjoyed working together as a team. And every mask absolutely in place at all times, not even a nostril visible. If you’re dining out now, tip more generously than you usually do. We’re all in this together!