After a winter of takeout, delivery, and eating al fresco, Italian restaurants in the Bay Area will finally be able to invite customers to dine in.
Yesterday, San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced that restaurants can resume indoor dining at 25 percent capacity. As long as health indicators remain the same, the city will remain in the “red tier” and restaurants will be given more options for accommodating diners, including indoor service.
Under those protocols, meals must end by 10 p.m., and dining parties are limited to four people from the same household. Changes were made to outdoor dining as well. Now, up to six people from three households are allowed to eat together.
San Francisco was the first major city in the United States to issue a shelter-in-place order almost one year ago. The news about the return of indoor dining comes at a time when many restaurants are prioritizing vaccinations for their staff, providing some with a much-needed feeling of relief and safety.
A16 Pizzeria in San Francisco prepares for indoor dining with tables spaced six feet apart.
For A16 restaurateur and sommelier Shelley Lindgren, the news came after a week of suspense and months of changes.
“Whatever we're able to do, we'll just do it," she says, adding that the smallest details can make a difference to the business and the wellbeing of customers. “We keep our skylights and doors open because we want to be as safe as possible by keeping air coming through.”
Lindgren and her team have plans to continue some more familiar traditions. To celebrate the “Festa della Donna,” or International Women's Day, on Monday, March 8, A16 will be pouring Italian varietals made by women winemakers and preparing a special menu of recipes from its female staff. Traveling throughout Italy, Lindgren learned to observe the day as a “girl's night out." Enjoying Neapolitan pizza and wine while having the option to remain inside should be a nice boost for festivities.
Like many other San Francisco restaurants, A16 built an impressive outdoor patio to accommodate diners who prefer to eat outside.
Next month, San Francisco Restaurant Week kicks off. Hopefully, by that time, most restaurants will be edging closer to normality and can start to get their businesses back on track.