Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2020
SECTION ONE
Larchmont Chronicle
2020 Fall Dining Guide Dining out is changing in the era of COVID-19 By Rachel Olivier
In the new normal experienced by most people this year, dining out has either ceased or significantly decreased, depending on local public health guidelines and individual choice. Terms such as “PPE,” “positivity rate” and “physical distancing” have entered common parlance as diners and restaurants consider how to continue functioning in the midst of a pandemic. At this writing, Los Angeles County allows “al fresco” or outdoor dining for most eateries and some wineries and breweries with established protocols for implementation, such as wearing face coverings except when seated at a table, hand sanitizing stations, and advanced reservations suggested. This is in addition to pickup
and delivery services (many through companies such as DoorDash, Grubhub Postmates and Uber Eats) that also are offered by most restaurants. While we may miss the ritual of dining inside a restaurant or visiting a favorite pub, we are fortunate to live in a city that has a more temperate climate. Even as we enter the fall and winter months, if restaurants cannot resume indoor dining, the addition of an outdoor heater and an umbrella could mitigate any discomfort while dining al fresco, and still allow for compliance with County of Los Angeles Dept. of Public Health guidance and protocols (visit tinyurl.com/y6e7m84b). As most of us have learned this year, however, guidance from the public health
officer can change with the increase or decrease in COVID-19 positivity rates. To allow for that, in vetting our Annual Dining Guide list of restaurants this year, we’ve added descriptors for what types of services they may provide — “P” for pickup, “D” for delivery and “A” for al fresco dining. Most restaurants have changed their operating hours and sometimes their menu offerings, so check websites or call the business to inquire about any changes in services. In the Guide (in the centerfold pages of this section) we also have included restaurants that have decided to close temporarily or permanently because of the pandemic. Guide begins on page 16.
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