Going out to eat looks a lot different now than it did in March 2020. While the restaurant industry has always been a leader in following strict safety and sanitation guidelines, it’s also now following robust guidance from local and state officials, the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association, and the National Restaurant Association.
These guidelines incorporate the latest information and best practices from the:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
What are COVID-19 protocols that you can expect to see when dining out?
- All employees wearing masks and diners wearing masks when not seated
- Frequent hand washing by all staff
- Customer information collected from one person in each party dining in for contact tracing purposes only
- 6 ft. spacing between tables OR
- Physical barriers between tables
- Tables and hard surfaces cleaned after each use
- Contactless or disposable menus
- Hand sanitizer or hand washing stations at entrances
- No more than 6 adults per table – with children the total number of guests can be 10
- Daily health screenings for employees
While not required under guidelines, many restaurants are also employing:
- Nightly deep cleaning or fogging
- High temperature dishwashing
- Enhanced air purifiers
You can also keep an eye out for restaurants with the ServSafe Dining Commitment, NH Promise Certification, or Seacoast Safe Pledge logo on their websites or doors. Employees of these restaurants have gone the extra mile by completing COVID-19 safety courses or pledged to follow all the recommended steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Ask any restaurant and they’ll tell you, their top priority is your safety. While many things have changed, their commitment to welcoming you into a safe environment for a memorable experience remains the same.