LIVING
EATING OUT AFTER LOCKDOWN WHAT'S CHANGED?
EATING OUT AFTER LOCKDOWN same same but different..
This post is written on 30th May, Ramadan is over, going home time is now 11pm and some restrictions have been lifted so people are definitely eating out after lockdown in Dubai. That’s not to say lockdown has lifted in full, but there are more people out and about, BUT things could get easier or lockdown may return.
parking at hotel restaurants
Hotels we have visited all ask you to self park, so no valet anymore. Often you are directed to a basement carpark and enter via a lift to a lobby area. Temperature taken and masks to be worn of course until you get to the restaurant. Gloves didn’t seem to be compulsory, although all staff were wearing gloves and masks of course.
the menu
Menus are often presented via QR codes. See main picture. That means you point your phone camera at the code and click for the menu to download to your phone. Ask for wifi if you don’t want to use your data. And check everything on the menu is actually available too at the time you visit as there is some flexibility on what is available and what’s not.
Take an extra mask, your own gloves, some wipes, book before hand and check age restrictions too.
book before you go
Obviously we have all heard about the lower capacity for seated, dine in customers so do book before you go to ensure you get a table. And specify whether you want to sit inside or outside. The same number of tables are often in restaurants just no chairs at all of them so that’s how they socially distance diners, of course that then does impact on the ambience.
the ambience
The main difference here is how lively a restaurant will be now. Our experience of dining a couple of times at higher end hotels was a much quieter ambience all round as so few people were about. Plus 3 tables with customers in a large restaurant makes it very quiet, although we found that quite reassuring for our first foray eating out after lockdown. There were also many more staff members vs customers too.
On the other hand if you go to a beach side cafe, see video, for example Parkhouse on Kite Beach which has a dine in capacity for 16 people, it can feel nicely buzzy!
THE CROCKERY and CUTLERY maybe different too and not necessarily lend itself to eating out! Wooden forks can break easily and aren’t ideal to cut a piece of avo on toast! Note some restaurants were allowing diners to bring their own cutlery and crockery so if that’s important to you, do ask before hand.
watch the video of recent dining out experiences
The video takes you to casual, mid range and higher end places in Dubai that we have tried in the last few days.
PRICES ?
People are naturally keen to eat out again after a long time of not dining out and I am all for supporting local businesses, but Dubai can be an expensive place to eat out. Higher end hotels have always been expensive and you’re paying a premium for being in a posh place, BUT I found the prices of some dishes very hard to stomach! Especially having cooked so much good food at home. I recommend you have my healthy spring rolls with some drinks at home before you splash out on a big meal out, being kind to your waist and your wallet!
MOTIVATION
THE BEACHES ARE NOW OPEN AGAIN IN DUBAI.. SO GET UP EARLY AND HAVE A SWIM WHILE WE STILL CAN.
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