Going out to eat?

For those who go out to eat have you been having trouble actually eating inside there? I went yesterday to a restaurant and it was a 2 hour wait and my uncle who lives in another state was saying it’s bad there too and even with reservations it’s still a 2 hour wait.

My mom says it’s because restaurants can’t get staff to work because people have it so good with unemployment benefits. They are making more then if they were working.

Is anyone else having this issue where you live?

Dear Mountaindewed,

I experienced what you describe on Saturday at a pizza place. I think you are right about the causes of this. When I drive around town I see "Help Wanted" signs posted in a lot of restaurants, service stations and stores. I have also noticed that many stores are permanently shut down. It is quite a shock.

Sincerely yours, Yao Wen

We have one restaurant in town that said they will open back up when they can hire the necessary help. They were my favorite restaurant Fudge Factory. Great food (not just fudge) Have eaten at other family owned places & they are just fine but everyone is heading there to eat & yes, the reason you stated is why they can't get help. I support our local family owned restaurants most.

We don’t have such extreme issues. Some places you need a reservation and in some wait is a bit longer but most of them are just fine. Four of us just went out to eat last night and there was no wait, no more than usual. I live in a very busy metro area and everywhere you look, there is a restaurant of any variety, so if one isn’t suitable people just go to a different one. I am in Midwest if it helps.

We’ve never had to wait but we go at odd times like 2-3 pm so we miss the crowds and have no problem getting seating.

Maybe I just went at a bad time. I went yesterday (the federal 4th of July holiday) right at lunchtime. And my uncle lives in a tourist beach town.

There are very few restaurants in our town that I would have eaten in BEFORE the pandemic! So, no, not a problem, here.

As it stands now, I have absolutely no desire to dive right back into the "new normal". People didn't know how to behave over the last 15 months. They're not about to start, now, as everything is thrown open. I'll give it about 6 months before I return to taking chances.

I was able to go to a breakfast place today. They close at 1 and are only open 5 days a week. I had no trouble getting in and there were plenty of tables the whole time I was there. There was a lot of outdoor seating and I was inside. I went around 8.

So it must have just been the holiday and the time of day I tried going on Monday.

Where I live restaurants can only open for outdoor seating during the week. No indoor seating is allowed and you can only get take-out on weekends, due to the stupid restrictions here. I mean, is the virus more dangerous during the weekend?

I don't have much time to even go out to eat during the week due to work. Add that to the fact that my husband doesn't want to eat out with me, because he got the crappiest COVID vaccine and it will probably be a while before I go to a restaurant.

I have to edit what I said there, last month:

It will be another YEAR, at least, before I enter a restaurant to dine. Perhaps even two.

Yeah we’re not going for a while either. This surge is alarming

In defense of anyone who is waiting in order to return to work in a crowded public place, I don't blame them. Some countries, including the US, are still knee deep in a dangerous pandemic. Pretending otherwise is delusional or naive. When the pandemic finally looks more in the distance, such supports from the government will start to end. Then people will not only feel more comfortable going back to work, but be forced to.

Also, in some cases people are making more money (and therefore spending more and living a little better) than when they work. Restaurant workers are often barely paid minimum wage. Not even a living wage. Them spending more only improves the economy. Having a little more help pulls them out of poverty, at least temporarily and partially. Of course some don't see those positives. Some don't even like the idea of pushing the minimum wage to a living wage. This definitely reflects differing political and social views. And priorities on humanity. Not to say there is no humanity on one or the other side, but differing ones.

In the US, restaurants only have to pay a measly $2.13 an hour to servers. They are expected to make the rest in tips. Fewer tips because fewer people are going out to eat makes it very difficult for them to survive.

I would be ok eating out if everyone at my table was vaccinated. That would mean no kids under 12. I'm terrified of infecting someone else and killing them. I have been vaccinated, so I doubt I would get seriously ill.

Yeah like you down and lonely I’m not worried about myself I’m worried that I’ll give it to others.

All restaurants here are looking for help even moreso now that alot of employees are headed back to college.

Yeah I noticed that too. It seemed like every restaurant has a for hire sign. I’ve also saw signs that say they are closing early due to staff shortage and I saw a sign yesterday that the drive thru was closed permanently due to lack of staff.

I now mostly just get stuff early in the mornings and I go to the drive thru without an issue.

I have no plans on going out to eat again. Not permanently I hope but for sure not for the foreseeable future. I went out about 6 times before it got bad.

The first time I went out and I was not vaccinated at all but I had to do it for my own mental health. It was a strange agenda type thing.

My husband and I finally were going to try outdoor dining on Saturday. While delta seems to be causing problems in a lot of the word, here all our numbers are about the best they have been since this started, so it seemed pretty safe. It's winter, but it was about 19 Celsius.

Unfortunately everyone had the same idea. We had picked a specific place where we wanted to go, but all the outdoor seating was either reserved or taken. We could have eaten indoors because we are vaccinated, but really preferred to be outside.

I have never seen our town like that, so many people out and about. We checked a few other restaurants, but it was the same at all of them, so we decided to go back home. That was a problem too. I guess the buses and shared taxis were caught in all the traffic. We ended up walking back home Not one bus or collective taxi passed us, so I guess we did the right thing. We saw some other groups of people doing the same.

I guess it is understandable. we've had some of the longest lockdowns in the world, so people want to finally get out and about and do things. I am sure the nice weather played a factor too. A friend of mine who still lives in the capital, where we used to live, says it is the same there.

We want to try again next week, but we will arrive right when they open.

I’m going out to lunch tomorrow. It will be my first time since mid July. I’m hoping based on the fact that kids are in school now and it’s a weekday I won’t have an issue getting in. When I was on vacation in July we got into the restaurant right away. By the time we left there was a large crowd waiting to get in. It was kinda weird that we got in at the correct time. But then when we went out for dinner we got in right away and sat outside.

So idk.

But I had the same issue on July 5th when it was the federal day for July 4th. The 2 times I went out to breakfast and the one time I went out to lunch since I moved there was no wait.

So yeah I think holidays and tourist towns have a big thing to do with it.

I did eat indoors with a friend for my birthday yesterday. But both my friend and I are vaccinated. We wore masks when we were not at the table. I'm terrified to be around kids under 12 right now because they are unvaccinated. I don't want to put them in the hospital.