"A lot of our regulars are super supportive," Ronspies said. The tasting menu restaurant has been offering a $60 family meal for delivery or takeout since March 11. "It's not super efficient right now, but we're figuring it out," Ganzer said.Īt the Art of the Table in Seattle, "the phone has been ringing off the hook," co-owner Dustin Ronspies said. Orders are flowing in through direct messages, emails and its website. Nine months ago, it began offering catering for orders of at least $300, which has prepared it for the shift. The French wine bar is now delivering bottles of wine with food. Restaurants can now sell booze for takeout and delivery as long as it's sold with food.
It certainly doesn't pay rent or utilities or the insurance, which is not paying for our stop in work, although we have work stoppage insurance," Einbund said.Ĭaleb Ganzer, managing partner of New York's Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels, said business has been helped by New York state's decision to relax liquor laws. "All this work is just paying for labor, not any of the hard costs. The Morris is also selling wine and encouraging customers to buy gift certificates to use when the restaurant reopens.
Its general manager and partner is delivering all of the orders to customers for now, Einbund said, citing liability issues and the fees taken by delivery companies. The Morris has laid off 16 of its 21 employees. In France, he got a preview of how governments would react to the virus: French officials closed Parisian restaurants and bars after consumers continued to disregard social distancing guidelines by crowding cafes. "Higher-end restaurants don't really do a lot of to-go dining because the food isn't the same," owner Paul Einbund said in an interview.Įinbund, who is in Paris, has been managing the transition from there. In San Francisco, Michelin-starred restaurant The Morris has created a new, simplified menu as it pivots to serving food and drinks for curbside pickup or delivery only. The streamlined menu features items like caviar and smoked duck, which should arrive to customers in good condition. Its wait staff is also driving, biking and walking around the city with food for customers. Nur has teamed up with DoorDash's Caviar to deliver food. "I think have become one of the most powerful forces in the industry right now," said Gadi Peleg, owner of the Manhattan Middle Eastern restaurant Nur.