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Update: Since this story was published, the city of Chicago released its own specific outdoor dining guidelines, which encourage contactless pickup and payment, social distancing, visual signage on hygiene, face coverings for employees and guests and new cleaning procedures.
Though the city of Chicago won't start reopening restaurants until early June, the state of Illinois is moving forward with its plan to enter Phase 3 later this week on May 29, when restaurants and bars will be allowed to open outdoor dining spaces at limited capacity. Over the weekend, state officials revealed a slew of new guidelines for the hospitality industry, giving us a first glimpse of what dining out could look like in the near future. Spoiler alert: It involves masks, spaced-out tables and possible temperature checks at the door.
It's worth noting that Mayor Lori Lightfoot is expected to release her own set of guidelines that are specific to Chicago, which will give us an even clearer picture of what city dining could involve. Also noteworthy is the fact that while Mayor Lightfoot will allow restaurants to reopen in Phase 3, bars haven't been assigned a phase in which they'll be allowed to reopen in some capacity—another point that differs from the state's agenda.
We combed through the state's new guidelines for outdoor dining at restaurants and bars, and these are some of the most interesting takeaways that will affect the way we eat and drink. Keep in mind that these recommendations are subject to change and that the city's approach could look quite different.
- Employees should wear cloth face coverings when they come within 6 feet of others. Guests will be asked to wear face coverings except while eating and drinking at a table.
- Parties will be limited to six people or fewer.
- Tables will be rearranged to be at least 6 feet apart, and use of plexiglass between tables is considered best practice.
- Reservations or a call-ahead bookings are encouraged.
- Waiting areas will be closed to discourage congregating. Instead, guests will be asked to wait in their car or outside the bar or restaurant while maintaining social distancing practices.
- If practical, management could take customers' temperature using an infrared thermometer.
- Self-service food areas like buffets, salad bars and coffee stations will also be closed.
- Tables will be stripped of "presets" including menus, salt and pepper shakers, straws and shared condiments.
- Hand sanitizer will be readily available in outdoor areas and restrooms for customers to use.
- Menus will be disposable or touch-free; if practical, restaurants are also encouraged to use app-based ordering or menus with digital QR codes.
- Customers will be asked to package up their leftover food to go.
- Diners should not be seated if inclement weather is forecasted. (And if it does rain while you're dining outside, you'll need to package up your food and leave.)
- Bar seating within restaurants will be eliminated when possible.
- Live music is allowed, but performers should follow social-distancing guidelines, wear masks when possible and use a barrier between themselves and guests.
Stay tuned for more Chicago-specific updates on these guidelines as the city reveals its reopening plan ahead of Phase 3, slated to begin in early June.
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