Beginning Friday, restaurants can have outside dining with no wait service. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says all restaurants that provide outdoor patio venues must adhere to strict mitigation standards…
“The tables as they’re set up, it has to be a 10 foot distance between edge of table to edge of table to allow groups not to be comingle to each other, like you would be at a normal restaurant,” says Browning.
Also, outdoor capacity must be 25-percent of what is allowed by the State Fire Marshal. No more than 10 people to one table and there cannot be any gatherings of individuals waiting to sit outdoors.
Browning says there will also be no wait service.
“It will be counter service, so you’ll either call in and pick up your food at a counter inside the restaurant or order at a counter inside the restaurant and move outside,” says Browning.
According to the restaurant association, only four percent of restaurants in Louisiana have an existing outdoor patio. However, Browning says restaurants are allowed to create temporary structures.
“It’s just a measure to try and help in this case of getting restaurants to where they can service people but maintain a very strict capacity and very strict mitigation to control the spread of COVID-19,” says Browning.
While inside dining is forbidden, restaurants can allow patrons to use their restrooms but social distancing of six feet remains applicable. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell is not allowing outside dining
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