People are 'dying to get out': Restaurants see dinner crowds as Singapore enters Phase 2 of reopening

SINGAPORE: Restaurants were filled out on Friday , the first day of Phase 2 of Singapore's reopening after a two-month-long COVID-19"circuit breaker".AdvertisementJust minutes after the rooftop restaurant at Marina Bay Financial Centre made its announcement, bookings and enquiries started streaming in and"did not stop", said its founding manager director Dr Martin Bém.

Self-service buffet lines are not allowed during Phase 2. Communal amenities such as drinks dispensers or common condiments are also prohibited.When CNA visited popular hotpot chain Haidilao's Paya Lebar Quarter outlet at 6.45pm, its manager said that the seats in the restaurant were all taken and that groups with more than two guests would have to wait at least two hours to be seated.

While condiment stations are closed, Haidilao customers can still customise their own sauces with this guide and order sheet. Earlier, at 5.30pm, there were eight people waiting outside the I'm Kim Korean BBQ restaurant at the School of The Arts . All of them had reserved before coming. “We only had two days to redesign the workflow and last-minute recruitment as a la carte buffet style will require much more manpower.

Despite the changes, I'm Kim maintained safety measures remained its"greatest focus". Patrons had to log their visits on the digital check-in system SafeEntry and their temperatures were recorded by staff. Common touch points such as booth seats and the iconic kousoku trains that deliver sushi to customers were wiped down thoroughly and disinfected after every group of diners had left.

“I feel relieved that we can finally head out together but we are also extra conscious of safety measures in place,” she said.Deliveries and partnerships will remain a key strategy for a while longer as restaurants manage their new workflow and try to recover the losses made during the circuit breaker.

The response was “overwhelming” and even though the demand gradually tapered towards the end of Phase 1, sales were “consistent”. Hence, the partnership will continue not just for deliveries but for dine-in as well. Other businesses who experienced success through active promotion of food online intend to continue doing so even as their outlets open for dine-in.

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