Restaurant-owners focus on building back, focuses on safety and hygiene

Restaurants across many parts of the country seem to be the biggest winner with Unlock 4 guidelines. With malls also allowed to open many restaurants that were shut for almost five months now are finally back in the business.

“The state government's decision to allow bars and restaurant to start serving liquor is a great initiative and has come in at the most opportune time. This decision comes as a sigh of relief for all business owners. The focus would now be on building back the business by ensuring all safety and hygiene measures are followed while maintaining the top-notch standards of service that we are known for,” shared Pravesh Pandey, Director, Byg Brewski.

Also Read: Bengaluru Restaurants, bars allowed to open for dining, serve liquor

Experts also believed that this will be a new start for all and an opportunity for many. The race towards building customers' trust will become much more competitive. With a lesser section of the consumer base venturing out to dine, each restaurant with an attached bar will now, have to up their game in delighting their customers.

“The initial challenge that I foresee would be recreating those before-corona vibes, which would be difficult with lesser footfalls and a limited seating capacity. Entertainment like live bands and performances will be a great add on, if a business can afford the costs. Hopefully, this will be a transitional phase which will be over in a few months,” added Pandey who is happy with the government's decision and it's a ray of hope for the entire restaurant and bar industry and this tough phase too shall pass.

Similarly, restaurants also voiced that if restaurant sales and consumption reached at least 70 per cent and above by end of this year, then they might see some growth else the struggle will continue for a longer time.

“I have an optimistic approach. It's the fight till vaccine. Future of dining will be very bright,” said Dinesh Arora, Founder, La Roca and Unplugged Courtyard that re-opened last week.

For restaurant and bars, it is after almost six months that they will be able to serve alcohol in restaurants and pubs, till now they were either doing delivery orders or were open for takeaway and parcels.

Now, that they are allowed to serve liquor and also open bar in some parts of the country, bar and Pub owners are also working on seating arrangements and are waiting for further SOPs from the government.

“We eagerly await the final letter from the Excise Department as this would definitely improve our sales,” added Vishal Anand of Moonshine Food Ventures.