While the restaurant industry is reopening, guests are still feeling cautious.
As spring blossoms, your restaurant can be a champion of social dining, while also being a guardian of sanitation. Use these sanitation tips, equipment, and unique take out and to go solutions to elevate the dining experience from beginning to end.
Take Advantage of Take Out
Though your guests may be opting for carry out of their favorite dishes to enjoy at home, as opposed to dining in your establishment, they will still associate the meal with your restaurant.
This means the packaging, presentation, food temperature, and taste need to reflect the wonderful experience a customer would have when dining out.
To take full advantage of every opportunity, your restaurant must be prepared to serve a to go menu that is appealing and appetizing in value-priced disposable containers. Use reliable, secure, premium quality delivery bags, food carriers, and take out containers for each order.
Serving burgers? What about salads? While restaurants used to boast large communal condiment dispensers, individual serving sauce and dressing containers are now a must-have. The 2 oz. portion cup or the 4 oz. cup are the perfect solutions for saucey To Go meals — and don’t forget to order lids!
Think beyond the meal itself. Consider the full dining experience. It will almost always go better with napkins and ketchup!
Hand Sanitizer and Dispensers
Customers will be eager to clean their hands before and after picking up their meals. To prioritize their safety, make hand sanitizer readily available throughout your restaurant. The best hand sanitizers are at least 60% alcohol (according to the FDA).
Likewise, the best hand sanitizer dispensers are automatic. Touchless dispensers prevent the spread of bacteria and germs on surfaces and show your commitment to guest safety.
Social Distancing
While everyone knows not to crowd and cluster, few people can accurately gage and abide by a six-foot distance between other customers and themselves. Take the initiative in promoting safety by using signage to remind guests to socially distance.
Another practical way a restaurant can help customers feel safe is by using floor mats to indicate where to stand. This has become a very popular tactic throughout the foodservice industry, as well as theme parks, gyms, and shops that are reopening but remain cautious.
Masks and Barriers
Consider placing a box of disposable protective masks at the front of your establishment for guests to wear while they are ordering or picking up their order. This prevents any upset if someone forgets their own mask.
Clear plastic barriers and register shields are another reopening essential. Along with protecting customers, these features help to keep your staff safe as they assist and serve multiple guests.
Keep Safety and Sanitation Top of Mind
Handwashing has been a large tenet of the past year and the practice is especially important for those handling food. Here are some guidelines that are worth sharing with your restaurant staff.
Use soap with glycerin or other moisturizers that is gentle on the skin.
Your skin is a natural protective layer that wards off bacteria from entering your body. Excessive or rough hand washing can damage the body’s thin but tough bacteria-armor!
Dry your hands after washing.
If you are rinsing and flicking, you’re skipping a crucial step. Drying your hands will help remove dead skin cells and bacteria.
Wash your hands after removing gloves.
Your hands can become sweaty under the gloves, and bacteria sticks to damp skin.
That’s a Wrap!
We hope these take out and sanitation tips inspire you and your team with creative ways to serve customers safely and re-establish your business in the community!
