The impact of Covid-19 has altered almost every aspect of our lives; from how we work, travel and socialise, to how we eat and what brings us comfort. It’s also posed one of the greatest challenges so far for the hospitality industry, but many restaurants, bars and cafes have taken impressive steps to adapt to this ‘new normal’.
The restaurant experience as we know it might be slightly different, but there is still great pleasure to be had in dining out or ordering a meal from your favourite local. Some more extreme measures like screens and temperature checks may fade away in time, but some changes are likely to stay well into next year. With this in mind, what can we expect to see from a restaurant experience in 2021 and beyond?
Al-fresco dining
Dining outdoors is nothing new, especially during the summer months, but we’re likely to see restaurants paying more attention to their outdoor spaces. Many have expanded their outside dining areas to include pavement or roadside tables, combined with pedestrianised streets and fewer cars. Cutting carbon emissions has been another serious focus over the past few years, so traffic-free streets with outdoor tables are likely to increase.
Contactless ordering and payments
Again, these systems are already in place but some restaurants may make the switch to fully contactless payments. Contactless orders through an app are also set to become more popular, to reduce face to face contact and for increased speed and efficiency.
Automated kitchen operations
Technology like kitchen display systems allows orders to be sent directly to the kitchen and displayed on a screen. This allows for greater efficiency and cuts down on the number of staff crowding into the kitchen at any one time. These display screens also make it easier for restaurants to keep on top of takeaway orders, which have become increasingly popular during the pandemic.
Smaller menus and pop-ups
Social distancing has meant that many restaurants can’t operate at their full capacity, so smaller menus and exclusive pop-up sites are likely to become popular as we enter the next year. Many customers love the intimacy of a pop-up restaurant or one-off dining night, which typically serves around 10 to 15 people. Smaller restaurants also tend to feature pared back menus, with a focus on simple, good quality ingredients and a few dishes done exceptionally well.
The restaurant experience might have changed, but they’ll always need the right facilities behind the scenes. If you’re in need of commercial refrigeration services or products for your restaurant, get in touch with the experts at Mitchell’s. We stock a full range of catering fridges, walk-in freezers, cold rooms, retail fridges and more, as well as comprehensive repair and maintenance services. For more information about our products or to discuss the refrigeration requirements of your restaurant, give us a call today or visit our website.