What’s on your list?

Beginning September 30th, indoor dining will reopen at 25% capacity. It’s exciting news in a time when hope is running short. As a city, we have been making progress in our fight against the pandemic. The number of reported cases per day has been going down and so are deaths. Restaurant culture is an extremely important aspect of New York City’s livelihood, and the pandemic has already claimed many of our favorite spots.

Benno Restaurant. Photographic image used with permission from Parts and Labor Design.

We are happy to see that many restaurants will be able to resume business, but we need to remember that this pandemic is far from over. Data shows that outdoor aerosol transmission is far less likely than indoor transmission, which is why we’ve been able to successfully maintain outdoor dining without a rise in case numbers. A 25% capacity will help alleviate some of the risk, but it’s not enough to fully stop infection. It’s up to all of us who will participate in indoor dining to be responsible, follow protocol, and make safe decisions. If all goes well and numbers stay down, then we’ll be able to take the next steps: 50% capacity, bars reopening, etc.

Murray’s Cheese Bar LIC. Photo used with permission from Murray’s Cheese.

With that being said, many of our favorite restaurants have been closed since lockdown and will be reopening their doors for the first time since March. A lot of these places are in poor financial situations, and while it will take a lot more than reopening at 25% to relieve the pressure, we want to show them support. What restaurants are you looking to go to on September 30th?