Fools, the state of Delaware is allowing us to slowly open up again and we are absolutely thrilled to welcome you back beginning, Monday, June 1 at Noon. Of course, there are a few rules and we wanted you to know that we are following each and every one of them. Many things have changed but one important piece of this puzzle is that you need to make a reservation before arriving. Please call ahead!
The following guidance is for providers of food or drinks, such as restaurants, breweries that provide table service, taverns, and bars that provide table service, in addition to the general guidance that applies to all businesses:
- Staff and customers must follow the general guidance on the wearing of cloth face coverings at all times, except for customers seated at a table to eat or drink, who may remove the cloth face covering while seated at the table in order to do so.
- Tables and booths must be arranged in a way that ensures seated customers at one table are at least six feet apart from seated customers at another table. For booths, this typically will mean seating customers at every other booth. For freestanding tables (with pull out chairs), there should be eight feet apart to ensure that a seated guest is six feet from seated guests at other tables. Inside and outside seating must both comply with these standards. Tables must be disinfected in between each party.
- Only members of the same household unit may be seated at a table, and guests must all have seats, be seated, and remain seated unless going to the restroom. Orders must be placed from the table, and both food and drink must be delivered to the table by the staff of the facility, a guest should not leave the table to retrieve food or drink.
- For restaurants that provide table service: diners must have a reservation in order to sit down in a facility (takeout can still continue under pre-Phase 1 guidelines, but should be done without those ordering entering the dining facility when picking up the order). Signage must be posted to remind people not to enter the restaurant without a reservation and provide a number to call from their car in order to place a reservation.
- For restaurants that do not provide table service: Counter service locations must be spaced 6 feet apart. Signage and floor markings must be present to guide patrons inappropriately spacing while in line. Staff must be designated to monitor patrons entering the facility, monitor lines, and ensure social distancing throughout the facility.
- The total number of guests within a facility shall at no time exceed 30% of the fire code occupancy.
- Guests should be provided with single-use, paper, disposable menus. All condiments (salt, pepper, ketchup, mustard, mayo, sugar, etc.) must be provided directly to diners in single-use disposable containers or reusable containers that are cleaned between each party.
- Cups, lids, napkins, and straws must be delivered to the table after the party has been seated.
- Proper precautions must be taken when handling ready-to-eat foods. Variances or other allowances for bare hand contact are void until these restrictions are lifted.
- Self-service food and buffet options may not reopen.
- Bar service and seating at a bar may not reopen. The bar of a restaurant may open to prepare drinks to be brought to diners at their tables.
- Any to-go containers for food guests bring home after dining must be protected from possible contamination.
- Every restaurant is expected to have its own reopening plan and must follow DPH guidance.
- Customers should be guided to seats by staff to control traffic in, out, and through the restaurant to ensure that safe social distancing is maintained as much as possible. If guiding a table is not practical or safe, the restaurant should provide clear signage and instructions to control the flow of traffic through the facility.
- No activities, outside of those guests engage in while seated at a table, may take place, and any common areas where people would typically stand must be off-limits if not otherwise occupied by tables with seated guests. This includes dance floors, arcade/bar game areas, pool tables, and similar spaces.