potsticker
Active member
The $5 Hopdoddy deal is a good one. Might have to try that soon. My love for In N Out is strong though...it's my go-to.
Which restaurants can you dine in?
- Thread starter irvinehomeowner
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usctrojancpa
Well-known member
best_potsticker_in_town said:
Agreed, I do In'n'Out at least 2x per week...4 patty hamburger protein style with french fries.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
Went to Maggianos last weekend.
50% capacity but most tables were full.
They said their big loss is they can?t do large parties/events.
50% capacity but most tables were full.
They said their big loss is they can?t do large parties/events.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
It's interesting to see how each restaurant does their safety protocols.
One place (a table service restaurant) we went to would not let you sit inside and order your food. You 6-foot distance order from the counter and then wait outside until they call you. Once they call you, you go to your table and then all the food is served in take-out containers. No condiments at the table, you request it and they give it to you in disposable containers.
Another place is basically the same as pre-Covid, except the server is wearing a mask.
Some places use a disposable menu, others have condensed theirs down to a single or double page for easier sanitation and yet others have gone mobile menu only where you scan a QR code on the table and the menu comes up on your phone.
Most will not take a party larger than 6 or 8. For Father's Day we had to cook and do take-out yesterday.
One place (a table service restaurant) we went to would not let you sit inside and order your food. You 6-foot distance order from the counter and then wait outside until they call you. Once they call you, you go to your table and then all the food is served in take-out containers. No condiments at the table, you request it and they give it to you in disposable containers.
Another place is basically the same as pre-Covid, except the server is wearing a mask.
Some places use a disposable menu, others have condensed theirs down to a single or double page for easier sanitation and yet others have gone mobile menu only where you scan a QR code on the table and the menu comes up on your phone.
Most will not take a party larger than 6 or 8. For Father's Day we had to cook and do take-out yesterday.
irvinehomeowner said:
The QR code is really a no brainer. Less things to wipe down/throw away and probably less costly than having to print/reprint when you change the menu. I was listening to a podcast and one restauranteur said he will never go back to physical menus.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
I need to be more careful of where we dine-in.
Like those bars you see... some other places are getting packed not due to dine-in patrons, but people waiting for their take-out orders. Luckily they all have to wear masks to be inside but there are few of those people who don't cover their nose and then add that to all the diners who aren't wearing masks and it becomes higher risk.
Another thing I notice is many have gone to individual packets for condiments/sauces.
With the current surge... I'm going to scale back on dining out.... while it's good to see more people eating out... I'm a bit concerned because of the asymptomatic nature of this virus.
Like those bars you see... some other places are getting packed not due to dine-in patrons, but people waiting for their take-out orders. Luckily they all have to wear masks to be inside but there are few of those people who don't cover their nose and then add that to all the diners who aren't wearing masks and it becomes higher risk.
Another thing I notice is many have gone to individual packets for condiments/sauces.
With the current surge... I'm going to scale back on dining out.... while it's good to see more people eating out... I'm a bit concerned because of the asymptomatic nature of this virus.
potsticker
Active member
We went to North Italia this weekend. The couple that invited us said that the patio was open and we could eat out there instead of inside. Story changed when we got there. Patio was only open for bar orders and food is packed "to-go." And no tables out there were available. We opted to eat inside. Service was SLOW.
Tables were distanced and everyone was wearing masks. Kitchen was bustling and they were clearly prioritizing to-go and Doordash orders. We got there at 5pm, seated at 5:30pm, got food at 6:30pm, and out by 7:15pm.
I'll default back to to-go. Heard that an employee there tested positive for COVID recently too. Great.
Tables were distanced and everyone was wearing masks. Kitchen was bustling and they were clearly prioritizing to-go and Doordash orders. We got there at 5pm, seated at 5:30pm, got food at 6:30pm, and out by 7:15pm.
I'll default back to to-go. Heard that an employee there tested positive for COVID recently too. Great.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
qwerty said:The district Costco had four employees test positive according to a next door post. Hey letter on Costco letterhead was posted on nextdoor as well, it was dated 6/22 if I remember correctly.
I wore two masks and two sets of gloves this weekend when I was there
Why? They don't work remember? If you die... you die.
qwerty
Well-known member
irvinehomeowner said:qwerty said:The district Costco had four employees test positive according to a next door post. Hey letter on Costco letterhead was posted on nextdoor as well, it was dated 6/22 if I remember correctly.
I wore two masks and two sets of gloves this weekend when I was there
Why? They don't work remember? If you die... you die.
If I die I die but I?m going down swinging!
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
qwerty said:
That's better.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
So I guess I'm like qwerty in that I'm contradictory in my actions.
I have high fear of getting Covid, yet I do the high-risk things like eat out.
It was interesting to see how some eateries adjusted to this new "outdoor dining only" order.
Some places have "cheat patios" because although one side can be open, it really is similar to an indoor space.
Luckily, in Irvine, many places have patios and for those that don't, I see that they are making space in the parking lot for seating if they only have indoor seating.
Some places are even setting up lights for when it gets dark, although a lot of eateries have been closing at 8pm.
We were at a place last night and it was nice to eat outdoors, but kind of cold... and the bugs were flying around (it's July now... June bugs go away!).
It's just sad because people have just started eating out again, but all these places without outdoor dining are going to have to suffer (like the KBBQ and Shabu places). The other day I was near a Souplantation and there was a crew demolishing the interior and taking out all the fixtures... I guess there is no chance for them to come back.
I have high fear of getting Covid, yet I do the high-risk things like eat out.
It was interesting to see how some eateries adjusted to this new "outdoor dining only" order.
Some places have "cheat patios" because although one side can be open, it really is similar to an indoor space.
Luckily, in Irvine, many places have patios and for those that don't, I see that they are making space in the parking lot for seating if they only have indoor seating.
Some places are even setting up lights for when it gets dark, although a lot of eateries have been closing at 8pm.
We were at a place last night and it was nice to eat outdoors, but kind of cold... and the bugs were flying around (it's July now... June bugs go away!).
It's just sad because people have just started eating out again, but all these places without outdoor dining are going to have to suffer (like the KBBQ and Shabu places). The other day I was near a Souplantation and there was a crew demolishing the interior and taking out all the fixtures... I guess there is no chance for them to come back.
potsticker
Active member
I had All That BBQ on 7/1. I convinced myself that it was okay since we were cooking all the food. We sat near the door so there was a constant breeze of fresh air along with being at least 10 feet away from the next party. It was so damn good. I missed KBBQ so much!
usctrojancpa
Well-known member
best_potsticker_in_town said:
Dang, I sooooo miss KBBQ but not sure I'm ready to go just yet.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
USCTrojanCPA said:
We did I Can BBQ when they reopened. I figure all those overhead vents suck up the Covid.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
eyephone said:
I agree but I've already seen one restaurant in Irvine open during this pandemic and I see 2 more on the way. All 3 of them are in Irvine Company plazas so maybe TIC is giving them a break to open or maybe they can't back out.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
Diamond Jamboree has made part of their parking lot outdoor dining for all those eateries on the northeast corner (where Kicking Crab is).
I see a lot of this converted outdoor space to dining... depends on the eatery and how much they want to service dine-out patrons. Some of the places I talk to are doing fine without table service and just continue to do take-out only.
As far as I know... I Can BBQ is the only KBBQ with outdoor dining in Irvine but I haven't really looked at the other spots.
I see a lot of this converted outdoor space to dining... depends on the eatery and how much they want to service dine-out patrons. Some of the places I talk to are doing fine without table service and just continue to do take-out only.
As far as I know... I Can BBQ is the only KBBQ with outdoor dining in Irvine but I haven't really looked at the other spots.