Business & Tech

Outdoor Dining In Jefferson: Where To Eat?

After months of being closed, or relegated to delivery or pickup, local restaurants will be reopening outdoor dining areas.

After months of being closed, or relegated to delivery or pickup, local restaurants will be reopening outdoor dining areas.
After months of being closed, or relegated to delivery or pickup, local restaurants will be reopening outdoor dining areas. (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

JEFFERSON, NJ — Gov. Phil Murphy said he has his reservations already made, do you? After months of being closed, or relegated to delivery or pickup, local restaurants will be reopening outdoor dining areas and Patch wants to know what the options are.

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Restaurants will be allowed to open outdoor dining areas, with restrictions, on June 15 and we want to hear from business owners who are ready to serve and diners who have made their plans.

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Some of the changes include:

  • tables are going to have to be six feet apart
  • buffet and salad bars will be gone
  • takeout only will be offered if the weather gets bad
  • employees at the bars and restaurants will have to wear masks

And if you want to go inside, you'll have to wear a face covering, too. But you can only be there for a very short period of time. And instead of waiting for a table at the door, you may have to wait in your car.

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If they need more space, bars and restaurants can seek expand to neighboring properties and even parking lots, sidewalks and, perhaps, streets. They just need to seek local approval and, if necessary, they can get a special license from the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control to "expand their footprint."

The state Health Department emphasized that rules and guidance are "crucial" for ensuring that retail establishments "follow good personal hygiene practices and take necessary steps to promote a healthy work environment to assist in lowering the further spread of COVID-19."

The Health Department wanted to make sure employers, in particular, provide training in hand washing, cleaning/disinfection, social distancing, use of face coverings, and monitoring for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 in the workplace.

You can see the complete list in our previous coverage.

So who is going to be open and where are you planning to chow down? Let us know in the comments or shoot an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com

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