PHOENIX — Arizona restaurants spent the weekend preparing for the reopening of dine-in eating under new guidelines.
Sitting six feet apart, salt and pepper shakers by request and one-time-use paper menus will be some of the new parts of the post-COVID-19 dine-in experience at Revolu in Peoria and Phoenix. Straws will come prepackaged in plastic, and all workers will be wearing masks and gloves.
"It's overwhelming, but it's exciting," said Jeremiah Gracia, Owner of Revolu. "It's been challenging these past six weeks or so."
Gracia, who closed down Revolu's Phoenix location temporarily, but plans to reopen it on Tuesday, said his restaurants would also decrease capacity by two-thirds and have separate entrances for take-out and dine-in orders.
Gracia said taking the necessary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is well worth having customers back in his restaurant.
"We're looking forward to the interaction again," said Gracia. "It's been hard, you know, it's been all phone interaction. You know we're in the hospitality industry. We love talking to people. This is our house that we're in. That's how we treat it."
Pomo Pizzeria, with locations in Phoenix and Scottsdale, has a similar plan to keep people healthy when opening, even adding additional screening.
A spokesperson for the restaurant said Pomo would require staff to wear masks and gloves during shifts, to have his/her temperature taken before working, and will designate sanitation stations.
Pomo Pizzeria will also offer digital menus and disposable paper menus.
Governor Doug Ducey's Office released a checklist for restaurants before opening dine-in services on Monday. That list includes sanitizing all food contact surfaces and ice machines, flush all water lines at all faucets, and provide plenty of sanitation supplies.
