June 1st signified the date in which restaurants, cafes and bars could begin seating customers, but with one catch. All seating must take place outdoors, and all tables must be at least six feet apart. While some larger restaurants may already have patio seating that accommodates these rules, what can food managers do if they don’t already have a patio or designated outdoor eating space?
Outdoor Dining Seating Tips for Minnesota Food Managers
The unfortunate part of this regulation is that it puts food managers at smaller restaurants at a disadvantage, since they simply may not have the space to set up outdoor seating, but you may have a few options.
- Utilize parking spaces
- Request permission to use sidewalks or alley spaces
If your restaurant has a parking lot, even a small one, you may be able to convert part of it into an outdoor dining area. Since you’re currently required to limit seating to the outdoors, your parking lot won’t be used to its full capacity. Try setting up portable pavilions, roping off sections of tables or getting creative with your seating layout. Keep in mind, under current rules all tables must be at least six feet apart and no more than fifty people, staff and guests can be on the premises at one time.
What can food managers in Minnesota do if they don’t have a parking area to utilize for outdoor seating? Well, this is when it comes time to get a little creative. There are different sidewalk rules in different jurisdictions, but you may wish to consider working with the local authorities to create dining space on the sidewalk in front of your establishment. This may only be one or two tables, but it could be a start to tiding guests over until they are able to once again dine indoors.
How is your restaurant dealing with the new outdoor dining rule as we begin to reopen for business?
