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* I go to a small handful of trusted restaurants a couple times a week or so and always sit outside. I also order delivery.
* The Question: What are your dining policies?
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:21 pm
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That restaurant that wired Terry Link took Arroyo is pretty good place to eat.
Comment by Nummy yummy Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:25 pm
50-50. Outside preferred, but the flies have been so bad of late that , if conditions look relatively safe, we dine in. BTW, your list of violating dining establishments may be too large to post.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:27 pm
If spaced I will eat inside. Went to Papos yesterday for brunch on West Side of Springfield. Excellent. Sat outside because so nice out
Comment by Eire17 Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:28 pm
Do not feel safe dining indoors, especially if it seems like there is no air moving in the room. Not keen on outdoors if the establishment isn’t vigilant about spacing. I get carryout and give big tips.
Comment by Morningstar Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:31 pm
Pre-Covid, my wife and I dined out 2-3 times per week. Since mid-March we carryout 2-3 times per week and have only done outdoor dining at two restaurants a handful of times. Our grill and back deck are getting a big workout.
Comment by Diogenes in DuPage Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:31 pm
Since the start of this adventure I have not dined in anywhere and dined outside one time. Otherwise its Hello Fresh delivered once a week and I make the meals at home.
Comment by Tommydanger Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:31 pm
Take out only. Never been a big fan of eating outside anyway and these days it’s just not worth the risk to eat inside.
Comment by MSIX Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:32 pm
Haven’t bought food from any place but the grocery store since March. But that was pretty much how it was before Covid. Like cooking and eating at home.
Comment by NoMoreYears Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:33 pm
Some carry out and eat at home. What a boring life.
Comment by pool boy Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:34 pm
I follow whatever rules are in place. This goes all the way from the current masking and outdoor seating only at Old Herald Brewery and Distillery and elsewhere in Illinois to no rules at a place in Missouri last weekend.
Comment by Collinsville Kevin Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:35 pm
Takeaway only… I would go and eat outside if it ins’t crazy packed but haven’t felt the need just yet.
A good friend did just back from his favorite Mexican place (eating outside) and the way he described the food and drink it’s making me considering going out to eat.
Also - I’m just as worried about spending too much money on dining out right now as anything. Fear of job security will keep your spending habits under the microscope.
Comment by Cool Papa Bell Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:35 pm
I do not eat out at all.
Comment by Simple Simon Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:38 pm
Delivery, curbside pick up or drive thru. No indoor eating but could do outdoor dining if secure.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:39 pm
Take out meals only.
Comment by Wensicia Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:39 pm
2 trusted outdoor places, 1 trusted indoor during off hours. Well distanced tables, masks required to leave your table or when server comes.
That may change with the weather, but for now it’s working fine.
Also: a fave local pizza place may NOT reopen indoor dining at all: owner found that carry out and delivery only have increased his business to the point extra revenue may not be worth the risk.
Comment by GregN Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:39 pm
Drive through and pick up at grocery only. The only buildings I have entered since lockdown are medical and those only with an n 95
Comment by Not a Billionaire Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:39 pm
= Some carry out and eat at home. What a boring life =
Cook and eat at home. Carry out usually once a week for a treat. My spouse and I use tech to reach out to family and friends. Not bored, but miss the physical connection, especially with the grandkids.
Comment by Res Melius Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:42 pm
Take out only when not eating at home. We live in Effingham Co. and have not eaten on-site since mid-March. Can’t count on others to practice safety so we have to protect ourselves.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:42 pm
Take out meals only for me as well.
Comment by Suburbanite Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:43 pm
1 trusted inside eatery once (it’s a Browns that does a lot of catering so not busy inside. We were the only customers that day and sat far from the staff (to protect them too)). Other than that takeaway or delivery. I have a nice outdoor patio in my yard that we can eat on.
Comment by cermak_rd Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:43 pm
Almost completely home cooking. But that’s not much different from before-days, except now I even always bring lunches to work. I think it will be a long time before I eat in a restaurant.
Comment by bhartbanjo Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:45 pm
The only place I’ve dined inside is my club downtown because I trust them.
Otherwise, it’s outside dining, carry out, or my own cooking.
Comment by JoanP Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:47 pm
A few trusted restaurants with spaced out tables and masks. Try to avoid busy times. None have a bar type feel.
Take out frequency pretty much normal. Also eating at home more.
Comment by thoughts matter Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:47 pm
At home…eating (delicious) home cooked food…made with love…eaten with gratitude… in a time when so many are hungry.
Comment by Dotnonymous Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:51 pm
Only carry out or outside dining. Fortunately the weather has been perfect for that right now.
Comment by Spfld Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:53 pm
I’ve only eaten indoors at a restaurant once this whole time, and only because I was out of town with family and didn’t have much other choice. I didn’t like dining al fresco before, so why start now? We order out every Saturday night and do our best to order from somewhere locally owned.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:54 pm
Lunch inside an observant restaurant once a week, (used to be four), usually on the way to or from appointments and errands.
Farewell dinner at augies outside. One more evening outside elsewhere. With a little planning, I can do better at home than most carry out. Restaurant budget goes for better ingredients at home.
Comment by Langhorne Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:56 pm
I haven’t eaten in or out of a restaurant or gotten take out since early March.
No food that hasn’t been prepared by me or that a trusted chef friend has sent me in care baskets.
Tomorrow is a big day for me - that same trusted friend and I are dining out for breakfast!
We will be getting our breakfast to go from a new establishment that opened during pandemic and is thriving. AND following all health and safety guidelines in an exemplary fashion.
We will breakfast lake side at Rend Lake - just may go back to the same place for lunch on our way home for patio dining!
I’m looking forward to tomorrow - it will also be the first time I have been in a vehicle with anyone other than my husband since March.
I realize this sounds extreme, but my husband and I are both very high risk so living down here in Region 4 we’ve sort of been forced by all the covidiots into being hyper cautious.
Comment by DownSouth Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:57 pm
Delivery only, with generous-to-lavish tipping. We were doing 1x/week but now not quite as often because we’ve whittled the list down to a trusted few, our fave place closed, and right now we have a lot of homegrown produce. (Eggplant coming on most recently. Eggplant parm needs work but the baba ganouj is outstanding if I do say so myself.)
Comment by yinn Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:57 pm
On rare occasions, take out only. Otherwise, cook at home.
Haven’t been to a dine in restaurant in a long time.
Comment by Huh? Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:59 pm
I’ve been doing outdoor dining for awhile, if mask and spacing rules are being adhered to. This past weekend I dined indoors for the first time since March. Not sure I’ll make that a habit yet, however.
Comment by Leslie K Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:00 pm
My wife and I live in very rural, McDonough County (we do not live in Macomb). We generally order out twice a week from a couple very small family-owned restaurants in Bushnell, IL, to help keep them afloat. We also tip the waitstaff well, even though they are simply bringing our food to our car. Gotta help as much as possible.
Comment by H-W Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:03 pm
Carry out only.
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:04 pm
If I ate there before COVID, Happy to eat there now as well.
Comment by PJS Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:05 pm
Mostly carry out or drive through. I have eaten out 5 times since inside opened up. 3 of the five I would go back to, 2 I will never step foot in again.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:07 pm
Is Dr. Ezike eating in restaurants or dining alfresco? What about carry-out?
I am going to bet No, Nope and Not Yet on that.
Haven’t set foot in a restaurant or bar since early March.
Just started ordering the occasional pizza in August, they leave it on the porch.
I will be going back to bars, restaurants and movie theatres when there is a vaccine and it’s widely in use.
To borrow from the governor’s analogy, outdoor dining is about as safe as wearing your seatbelt half the time.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:09 pm
Been doing a lot of cooking on the grill this summer. Take out once a week or so. No dining inside yet. Once the weather turns I’ll have to go to plan B.
Comment by SSL Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:11 pm
Don’t trust indoor dining yet. Have not tried outdoor dining. Am happy with regular pick-up of foods at our favorite restaurants.
Comment by Mongo Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:11 pm
I’m high risk and therefore housebound. I haven’t been in another structure since March. Used to eat out daily. I take the money I’m saving and donate it to the food bank. Makes me feel a little less helpless.
Comment by Rachel Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:12 pm
Drive through and carry out. Occasionally go to a family member’s house for dinner. Kids eat a daycare that takes precautions seriously. Please make the list of offenders.
Comment by Jessica Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:13 pm
Carry out only, and super happy about the margaritas to go.
Comment by Banish Misfortune Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:14 pm
Go out all the time. Eat inside. Do some carry out. Eat at home.
Comment by Bowwow Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:16 pm
I’ve dined outside four time over the course of the summer. Never inside as it just doesn’t seem worth the risk. Probably do carryout a couple of times a week which is what I’ll revert to as the weather starts to turn. I feel for the restaurant industry. Even with restrictions I just don’t see how many will be able to make the economics work this winter. And it’s not just about easing restrictions. People like me aren’t going to risk dining in until this thing is behind us.
Comment by Pundent Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:16 pm
Went for take out once. Saw manager not wearing mask in kitched. End of take out and never going back even post covid.
Comment by Drake Mallard Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:17 pm
Curbside takeout a couple times a month. Had pizza delivered once.
Fortunately, MrsJM makes good food and plenty of it.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:19 pm
Strictly carryout. Although I have to admit, the SC is a pretty good cook, so I don’t order carryout too often.
I do miss sitting down for a nice meal in a restaurant but won’t feel safe doing that until there’s a vaccine or the infection rate drops to near zero.
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:20 pm
Pickup or delivery only. Too many covidiots here. I leave a dine-in tip for the nice restaurants.
Comment by Norseman Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:25 pm
No eating inside, and only eating outside if there’s lots of space between tables. We’re doing the vast majority of our eating out via delivery or carryout, though. No indoor dining for us until the pandemic eases–it’s a want, not a need.
Comment by Benjamin Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:26 pm
My regular restaurants all deliver or have curb side pickup. Get groceries delivered. Also receive organic farm fruits and veggies regularly. Learning to cook a lot of neat stuff I wouldn’t experience otherwise. Got to make your own fun these days.
Comment by a drop in Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:27 pm
Haven’t eaten indoors or outside at a restaurant since March. I’ve had carryout from Cafe Moxo a couple of times when I’ve been in the office and didn’t pack a lunch.
I have no plans to resume eating indoors in restaurants in the foreseeable future.
Comment by Facts Matter Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:33 pm
We’ve done takeout for lunch every Friday since April, but have not eaten at any restaurants. We will not be eating out (indoor or outside) until the state gets to Phase 5…vaccine, very low cases, high level of contact tracing and testing. Probably late spring 2021 at the earliest…summer 2021 more likely.
Comment by Scott Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:38 pm
Have dined indoors in TN, KY, MO, NV, and this weekend will be adding MS to the list. I have always preferred small locally owned places and have been eating at them as much as possible. Except when we were in Las Vegas in July. This weekend in Tunics will be one meal in a casino, ajd at least one at a great old burger place, probably a stop in Memphis on the way back for BBQ also. We have very limited choices for indoor dining around here anyway. Have frequented a few local owned places for takeout as often as possible.
Comment by SOIL M Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:38 pm
Pre-COVID, my wife and I would eat out 2-3 times a week. Since, we’ve eaten out - outside - exactly once and indoors not at all. We cook Sunday-Thursday and get takeout and tip lavishly on Friday and Saturday.
We’d probably eat outside a *little* more, but it turns out that sitters are hard to round up in a pandemic too (and we wouldn’t let them in the house anyway)
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:41 pm
side note - Rich, at a minimum, you should post your trusted restaurants. That shouldn’t upset too many of the snowflakes who don’t want to be outed for being bad actors
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:42 pm
Have only eaten at 3 restaurants since this whole thing started. BTW, Olive Garden “to go” was horrible at the Springfield location. Been walking over to Cafe Moxo on Friday mornings to pick up breakfast that I ordered online.
Comment by Sal Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:43 pm
So far I have only done take out.
Comment by Groucho Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:46 pm
Tried eating in a couple of restaurants a few weeks ago. I wasn’t comfortable. Servers didn’t have masks and one place didn’t have any distancing. Nope, not going to tempt the fates again for a while.
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:47 pm
Carryout, outside patio drinks a couple two tree times, have not eaten inside. The grill is crushing this year. Lots of friends investing in smokers, maybe this years xmas gift to myself?
Comment by Frank talks Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:50 pm
Curbside delivery to car trunk.
Comment by DuPage Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:59 pm
I’ve picked up pizza three times since March 18. That’s it. No restaurant for me. I have learned to cook more variety.
Comment by My New Handle Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 5:02 pm
Have eaten inside three or four times since March, only under great duress. My wife refuses to eat inside at all. Have eaten outside on occasion, provided there is good spacing and everyone is masked. A stiff favorable breeze is a plus. Takeout and delivery from trusted joints only.
How life has changed: An extended photo shoot will soon take me through IA and NE to Yellowstone, then MT and ND to the MN North Shore, and home through WI. Staying at familiar, trusted lodgings, or places I’ve talked to about their sanitizing practices. PPE and sanitizing tools already packed. No restaurants at all, taking my own beer, rye, and room microwavable food. Prepared for sleeping in the car or roadside If necessary. Plan to be self-contained as possible while still finding car space for photo gear and a change of underwear. Not so young anymore, but it’s a different world out there and you gotta adjust.
Comment by Flapdoodle Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 5:04 pm
We dine anyplace we like that’s open if we feel like it but even pre covid we were skewing heavily towards takeout. Either way we take out or dine in on average 3 Or 4 nights a week whether we are here or at our other place in MO. Covid has made little difference for us in that regard. We have favorite family owned places we patronize because we love their food and don’t want to see them fail.
Comment by Captain Obvious Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 5:19 pm
I have eaten al fresco a couple of times, and inside only once at Curtis Duffy’s (of Grace)new place, Ever. Spouse is a food writer; here is his write-up of the experience: https://fooditor.com/dined-inside-fancy-restaurant-lived-tale/
Comment by 32nd Ward Roscoe Village Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 5:20 pm
Outside dining, less than once a week.
Comment by walker Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 5:25 pm
Tried eating outside at two places and frankly, the ambiance was not there; ugly tent facing nothing worth looking at at one, the second, great Mexican food with a view of a bus garage. Until there’s a treatment or vaccine, I’m not doing inside or outside, only to-go orders I can eat at home, where I can pick the company and the view. I have upped my tipping game since Covid; when I make a pickup I tip an amount that I would have called insane, pre-covid.
Comment by Give Us Barabbas Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 5:32 pm
NW Chicago. Plenty of take out. Al fresco only for now and foreseeable future. Always 20-40% tip. Surprisingly no local restaurants have gone out of business. More surprisingly, some new ones opening.
Comment by Original Rambler Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 5:34 pm
Indoor once with basically nobody there. Outdoor under a big tent once. Rest at home and off the grill on the patio.
Comment by zatoichi Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 5:38 pm
As with Morningstar: Tip big and take away.
Comment by Socially DIstant Watcher Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 5:57 pm
I order carry-out/delivery from places I know and trust. No outdoor dining - sorry just no need. Pretty much everywhere I like still has carry-out or delivery options. Plenty of cocktail kits on my front porch with friends while the weather was still warm. I also have been ordering Purple Carrot meal prep delivery pretty regularly.
Comment by CG Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 6:02 pm
I never eat out groceries are expensive and eating out is even far worse. It seems to be maybe a better path given the situation. I guess covid from going to grocery store more than others?
Comment by cler dcn Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 6:47 pm
Six places in Springfield we regularly dine at, inside or out depending on how busy they are. When inside was shutdown, we ordered from them.
Son happens to work in the kitchen of two of those places, a third is owned by a good friend, and we also know the owners of the 4th. We tend to go at off peak times when we are often one of a very few there. We avoid bars …
When we travel, we look for places practicing distancing or have outside seating with distancing. If it looks too crowded, we pass. Just got home from Michigan; they are mostly the same rules as Illinois. From what we can see, people are being cautious but getting together with other trusted friends.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 7:00 pm
Have eaten indoor on occasion. No crowded location. Our preference is at home, either cooked or grilled here or carry-out.
I think outdoor dining is acceptable; but I worry when the temps fall.
Comment by bogey golfer Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 7:38 pm
some take out and delivery. had one at restaurant visit and not comfortable doing that.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 8:19 pm
I’ve been doing curbside and drive through a lot, trying to help keep my favorites afloat. A couple of my favorite Mexican places have outdoor patios that I have been to a few times. No inside dining since March.
Comment by dr. reason a. goodwin Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 9:44 pm
I had started to dip my toes into curbside pick up but in the last few weeks several local restaurants have banded together to publicly announce they will not be informing patrons of positive COVID tests among their employees so it’s back to the kitchen for me.
Comment by tea_and_honey Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 10:14 pm
Curbside or Delivery only, huge tips.
I’m sure (some of) the outdoor dining is safe, but it’s easy enough to have it delivered or pick it up, and not be exposed to waiters/have them exposed to me.
We ordered our anniversary dinner from the place we went out to for our anniversary last year, and we actually really liked having it at home, where we could eat at our own pace and put stuff in the fridge and just chill and watch TV during dessert. There are several restaurants we hope keep doing take-out because it’s been very great!
Comment by Suburban Mom Tuesday, Sep 15, 20 @ 12:00 am
We are also very into “make food at home” kits from several places — a local bar has an amazing “make BBQ ribs at home” kit that they give you in roasting pans; BR has great home sundae bars; Taco Bell until recently had a “make a taco bar at home” kit that was amazing and has apparently left the menu. We’ve been LOVING those kinds of things and hoping restaurants keep doing them after Covid. It’s hard to get a sitter for three kids so we can go out to dinner, but ordering a “heat it in the oven” meal that we can enjoy with a streaming movie after the kids go to bed is amazing!
Comment by Suburban Mom Tuesday, Sep 15, 20 @ 12:03 am
Cooking lo-cal meals/salads during the week.
Either take-out from Lou Malnati’s, Pat’s Pizza, or Athenian Room on weekends or grill steaks or burgers.
Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Tuesday, Sep 15, 20 @ 12:07 am
I feel reasonably safe dining outdoors so long as tables are spaced properly. It’s one of the few things keeping us sane.
Comment by Independent Tuesday, Sep 15, 20 @ 8:49 am