Customers can give restaurants the real unlock

Customers seen at Goa Portuguese restaurant and bar in Mahim

After several meetings, dharnas and pleading, restaurants have been allowed to keep their establishments open on the weekends till 4 pm. Recently, this paper had an extensive report about hospitality owners on the brink as they claimed that takeaways and parcels were not sustainable for business. They were bitter as they felt unfairly targeted, citing a number of other industries like health and retail which were allowed extended hours. They had some relief with the weekend rule, but the real rejoicing, they claim, will happen when they are allowed to open late evenings, which are prime business hours.

A lot will depend on patrons who need to be disciplined so that they can make things easier for the staff. This means less arguing with restaurant staff if they want you to adhere to guidelines, distance, or mask up while awaiting orders. Since there is a power imbalance, a lot of staffers get intimidated telling patrons to maintain Covid-apt behaviour. Patrons take umbrage at being told what to do by a mere staffer. This needs to change, with do's and don'ts clearly established by the restaurateur who should not be begging for them to be followed.

Even those waiting to enter a restaurant must do so with restraint and respect. Those who come in to take away parcels should adhere to rules too. There are instances when these parcels are opened on the premises or just outside, and people are thronging to eat.

We have witnessed impatience and some bickering amongst those who are awaiting seating, since there is a 50 per cent only rule and some tables have to be vacant to ensure distancing. In the end, so much depends on customers who are key of course to the hospitality business and overall conduct to give restaurateurs the big unlock they have been asking for.