It was news many restaurateurs were hoping for: After Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday that the state was rescinding its stay-at-home order, Los Angeles County officials declared that outdoor dining could resume by the end of the week.
Within minutes, restaurants across the county opened their reservations for the first time in two months. This weekend, Élephante in Santa Monica, Saddle Peak Lodge in Calabasas, Employees Only in West Hollywood, the Old Place in Cornell, Madre in Palms, Torrance and Fairfax and many other restaurants plan to welcome diners who can’t wait to sit down and order outside.
Pasadena, which maintains a health department separate from L.A. County’s, will allow restaurants to seat guests outdoors immediately.
Say hello to the carhop an old friend who makes it easier to stay sheltered by dining in your vehicle
From inside their car, Heather Turgeon and Ben Hansford take a look at their pizza ordered through carhop service at L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele in Hollywood.
(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
By Dakota Kim
At dusk on a recent Saturday, a dozen cars cruised into the parking lot at L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele in Hollywood, reversing into spots under strings of white lights. Within 30 seconds, several masked young men had approached the cars, taking pizza orders from a distance. As the sky darkened, an indie romantic comedy called “Better Days” started to play on a screen erected at the edge of the parking lot.
Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images
California has once again implemented a sweeping stay-at-home order for much of the state to help curb the soaring COVID-19 infection rate. The lockdown means no on-site outdoor dining in over a dozen area counties, at least through December 28.
On-site dining has been a major factor in keeping restaurants, bars, cafes, and wineries afloat throughout this devastating pandemic, and in keeping thousands of workers employed during one of the greatest economic crises the country has ever faced. For now, that option is gone. And with no formal federal financial package confirmed yet for the more than 31,000 restaurants and small food businesses in LA County alone, the future is as bleak as it has been at any point during the pandemic. Some eateries (and even local government officials) have even taken to openly defying the order, which usually results in a visit from the health department to revoke health permits or enact fines.