State releases guidelines for restaurants to reopen beginning with outdoor dining only

BOSTON — When restaurants finally begin seating customers in the second phase of the state's reopening plan, initially only outdoor dining with restrictions will be allowed.

While no date has yet been set for the industry to reopen, the earliest restaurants can begin serving diners outside is June 8. Indoor dining will begin at a later date in Phase 2.

Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito outlined the industry guidelines on Friday.

Restrictions for outdoor dining include tables at least six feet apart, unless separated by a wall or Plexiglass divider, with a maximum of six people at each table.

All workers are required to wear face coverings, and guests are also encouraged to wear masks, when possible.

Single-use menus and utensils are required, and workers must sanitize each table after every use.

Bars must remain closed, but bar seating can be used to accommodate guests at a safe distance.

Touchless payment is encouraged, and alcohol-based sanitizer must be available for workers and customers.

Balacov Teixeira, general manager at Amelia's in Stoughton, is looking forward to reopening with outdoor seating. Since the state's emergency order due to the coronavirus pandemic, Amelia's has been offering take-out and delivery only.

"The income lost due to the shut-down is three to four months of money we'll never get back," Teixeira said. "We're ecstatic... To be able to use our dining space, this patio space, it's tremendous for us."

The restaurant has a large patio with furniture that staff have reconfigured or removed to ensure proper distance between patrons.

"Every table is spaced out six to seven feet. We measured everything," Teixeira said. "We have to keep in mind, not only are we looking out for the health of our customers, but the health of the staff and our community. So no mistakes can be made."

Jeff Gates, partner at the Aquitaine Group and chair of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, told Boston 25 News Friday getting guidelines from the state is a good start, but not having a set date to reopen is problematic.

"We need a date," Gates said. "It's difficult without a date to hire, to train, to bring people back. It's difficult to buy our product. We order fish, it lasts for a day or two."

Gates' restaurants include Aquitaine, Gaslight, Metropolis Cafe and Cinquecento. While some of the restaurants offer outdoor seating, he feels for the business owners and employees that do not, especially smaller mom-and-pop restaurants.

"Everybody in our industry, we're all on the deck of the Titanic, and we're going down," Gates said. "So, the people with outdoor seating, it's like they're getting on the life boats now. And the restaurants without outdoor seating, they're watching them get on the life boats, and they're wondering if there are going to be any left for them."

Legislators are working on streamlining the process for municipalities to grant permits to restaurants for outdoor dining, the governor's office said Friday.

Gates said he is focused not only on his customers but also his staff, many of whom will not get the hours they did before the pandemic struck.

"The wait staff, they can do the math," Gates said. "If occupancy is diminished by 6-foot rules, they know that not all of them are going to be coming back and having full schedules. And that's devastating."

When patrons finally return to eat at their favorite restaurants, Gates encourages them to come on slower nights and before and after the usual dinner rush. He also urges customers to think about their servers who may be experiencing difficult financial times when leaving a tip.

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