After the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued guidelines to kick-start ‘Unlock 1.0’ in the State, the Goan restaurant industry preps for vigilant resurrection.
After being entangled in a lifeless spell over the unremitting spread of the Coronavirus, Goa saw the light of the day earlier this month after the Central Government granted certain relaxations followed by a fresh set of guidelines and protocols in place for re-opening of restaurants for dining in.
“It’s true that Government has now given permission to open restaurants for dining-in; however, we have chosen not to go for it and continue with our existing system of deliveries and takeaways primarily because we do not want to take any kind of risk associated with restarting the dine-in system.” Vinod Shetye, Owner, Anantashram
Where the Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant put it out there that restaurants would open up with strict adherence to social distancing and hygiene related norms, the Goa Hotel and Restaurant Owners Association, in a recently held meeting made a call to open only 25% of the restaurants in the State. Restaurants that were already in operation with respect to takeaways and home deliveries would be given top priority. Moreover, as much as all restaurant owners wish that they could re-open and achieve normalcy at the earliest, it does not seem like a possibility as most of the restaurant staff quit their jobs and left for their home towns during the initial phase of the lockdown.
“The situation is pretty bad at the moment as people have still not gotten used to the ‘eating out’ scenario. Although the Government has allowed us to open up, we have not been permitted to serve alcohol. Further we have directions to shut shop at 9 pm and people hardly begin dinner at that time. So that has affected our revenues drastically.” Rommel D’Souza, Owner, Peppers Gourmet Cuisine
Various suggestions such as screening customers upon entrance using thermal guns, checking their body temperatures, ensuring sanitization before entry into restaurants and maintaining highest levels of safety at the kitchens have been taken into consideration.
Reacting to this development, few restaurant owners across the state have shared their views pertaining to the present set up.
“We were the first standalone restaurant in Panjim to start the home delivery and takeaway system, post the initial lockdown announcement thus welcoming the trend and setting the benchmark for the same with a private delivery network!” Akshay Quenim, Founder, Tataki
Vinod Shetye, owner, Anantashram, Vasco says “It’s true that Government has now given permission to open restaurants for dining-in; however, we have chosen not to go for it and continue with our existing system of deliveries and takeaways primarily because we do not want to take any kind of risk associated with restarting the dine-in system. As it is, the COVID situation in Vasco is pretty serious with the number of positive cases increasing every day, and our restaurant being located at Vasco is at higher risk! Secondly, Anantashram is a ‘family’ restaurant. However, no families, as such, are willing to step out and take the chance of exposing themselves to an unsafe environment.”
Akshay Quenim, founder, Tataki, Panjim says “We have taken the call not to reopen our restaurant to dining in, not because of the Government norms or anything, but because we personally feel it is not the right time to do it; and be responsible citizens and remain closed for some time till the situation gets better. It is risky, as opening restaurants to dining in would mean exposing everyone to public gatherings thus elevating the chances of contracting the virus.
We were the first standalone restaurant in Panjim city to start the home delivery and takeaway system, post the initial lockdown announcement thus welcoming the trend and setting the benchmark for the same with a private delivery network!”
Rommel D’Souza, owner, Peppers Gourmet Cuisine, Margao says “The situation is pretty bad at the moment as people have still not gotten used to the ‘eating out’ scenario. Although the Government has allowed us to open up, we have not been permitted to serve alcohol. Further we have directions to shut shop at 9 pm and people hardly begin dinner at that time. So that has affected our revenues drastically. I have opened up the restaurant for dining-in where about 5-6 tables are occupied in the afternoons but not a single one at night. Additionally, since the lockdown, people have become a lot more careful with respect to their spending capacity, hence they hesitate to visit restaurants.”
All in all, where the State has made calculated decisions regarding recommencement of restaurant operations and administrative mechanism is doing the best they can; achievement of absolute normalcy is something that we will still have to wait for!
