RESTRICTIONS might be easing but Restaurant Mason on Newcastle's Hunter Street won't be opening any time soon.
Owner Chris Thornton switched to takeaway meals when social distancing restrictions were first introduced in March and it has been well received by customers, with most meals selling out. He has also introduced the ISO Guest Chef Series, which kicked off last weekend with chef Garreth Robbs, of Bistro Molines, and enables diners to enjoy meals prepared by hatted chefs in the comfort of their own home. The next guest chef is Tim Montgomery.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday announced a three-step plan to restore the economy. Step one allows restaurants and cafes to open but limits the number of people permitted on-site to 10. It is up to each state to decide if they will adopt the federal recommendations.
"I haven't seen the full breakdown of it but in my personal opinion restaurants shouldn't be told to open until unless they are allowed to seat at the very least 75 per cent of their venue," Mr Thornton said. "You can't expect business owners to run a venue with only 10 people allowed in there at any one time. It's not financially viable, even with Jobkeeper. It potentially raises all kind of concerns about rental expectations, loan repayments and so on. The only upside I can possibly see is that businesses already operating could have a 10-person gathering at the restaurant or cafe which would be a small supplemental revenue stream running alongside what they are are currently doing, be it takeaway or delivery. You can't expect a business owner to reopen their restaurant for 10 people though."
Newcastle restaurateur Taiyo Namba, who operates Susuru Ramen and Gyoza Restaurant on Newcastle's King Street as well as Nagisa Japanese Restaurant at Honeysuckle, says stage one "doesn't change much at all to be honest".
"I think for small cafes, it's good news," Mr Namba said. "They might be able to open for 10 people for breakfast but a restaurant or anything bigger, they'll just have to wait. Susuru will keep doing takeaways and deliveries until stage two comes into effect, and 20 people are allowed on-site."
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