(Submitted/Devour Grill and Bar)

By Nicole Reis

RE-OPEN MEADOW LAKE

Meadow Lake restaurateurs weigh-in on re-open plans amid concerns of public safety, profitability

May 25, 2020 | 5:34 PM

Some restaurants in Meadow Lake are rearranging their in-house dining experience or not opening their doors to the public at all. The province has given a green light for some local restaurants to re-open their doors with a list of restrictions on June 8 during phase three of Saskatchewan’s Re-Open plan.

Kassidy Dunsing, owner of Eatery on Main told meadowlakeNOW she’s looking forward to re-opening but has some apprehension about the space’s capacity limits. She said because most people have been eating take-out over the last three months, the public will likely be eager to get together with friends and family.

“They’re only going to be able to [dine-in] a little bit with us because we’ll have to go from 10 tables to five,” she said.

The restaurant adjusted quickly with delivery and take-out once closures were imposed in March, however looming questions about safety and staffing leaves her with additional planning and more adjustments. The restaurant will continue with take-out options once re-opened at half capacity.

“We’ve been dealing with the public for the last three months so we’re in a good routine,” she said. “We’re really excited to see our regulars that we have missed and we’re hoping this phase goes well so we can move forward and open at full capacity.”

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Sandy Mack, owner of Mack’s Family Restaurant said she isn’t sure if her staff are entirely comfortable with her opening her doors to the public either. The restaurant has been doing take out which she says has been keeping the restaurants afloat for the last nine weeks.

“If staff do not feel comfortable serving the public, there’s not much I can do,” Mack said.

Mack’s restaurant can hold approximately 140 people and will likely cancel their lunch buffet service and remain with takeout as a dining option. Mack said she will know more about her re-open plan in the coming days as updates develop with the status of the coronavirus.

Sandi’s Poutinerie has also said they will stick with take-out service for the time being as their space cannot accommodate customers with two-metre physical distance. The restaurant has decided to remove tables for now.

Priscilla Millar, owner of Devour Grill and Bar said she is focused on take-out and delivery services for now, she has not yet considered what the future could hold for her restaurant’s dine-in function.

“It’s a lot of weight to bear for some owners, I think,” she said. “There’s discussions about a second wave while some have gone back to their normal lives already, and some are still scared at this point.”

She said most of her customers miss sitting in her restaurant overlooking the golf course but takeout and delivery has been a helpful option to her customers during this time. The restaurant can accommodate 50 people, although she said in her three years of doing business in town, the public is still learning about her location.

“I want my employees to feel safe though we have tables blocking the restaurant and most people have understood [the measure],” she said.

Trevor Barden, owner of Garfunkel’s Gourmet Grill said his re-opening plan will depend largely on whether staff feel safe while serving the public. With June 8 still weeks away, Barden said until his restaurant can resume service with fewer restrictions, it may not be practical to serve guests until the public is comfortable again with the idea of dining in.

“For me, it would be more viable to open [the lounge], once the Video Lottery Terminals open up,” he said. “It will be another week before I know our [plan for re-opening.]”

Garfunkel’s can seat approximately 127 people, but the active case numbers in the North is causing some apprehension and uncertainty. He said a majority of his staff are willing to come back to work and customers are looking forward to when they can have their dining experience again.

Food and Beverage Service Guidelines

According to the province’s phase three re-open plan, restaurants, bars/nightclubs, lounges, food courts, cafeterias, cafes, bistros and similar facilities are allowed to re-open in phase three at up to 50 per cent of regular capacity. The reduced seating capacity is intended to limit the size of gatherings and promote physical distancing. Restaurant dining will look significantly different in the coming weeks with strict guidelines.

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nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722