Big Island restaurants are preparing to open, in the wake of Mayor Harry Kim’s order that restaurants and food courts may open June 1, subject to coronavirus precations. Jackie Rey’s owner Paul Streiter and Foster’s Kitchen manager Aaron Garcia talked about the measures being implemented to reopen on Monday, June 1. All the measures are recommended by the National Restaurant Association guidelines, and all restaurants that are reopening will need to follow them.
Some of the changes Streiter has implemented at both Jackie Rey’s restaurants, in Kona (photos) and Hilo:
-All tables are spaced at least 6 feet apart. Streiter said they’ve arranged the tables so that they’re offset, and has installed corrugated plexiglass barriers between some of the tables.
Photo is Streiter and Bar Manager Jessica Wright in a new plexiglass-surrounded booth, which they’re calling “The Penalty Box”
Streiter said they us a 6 foot string to double check the distance and angle of every table and chair in the restaurant.
-They’ve reduced the number of tables in the restaurant to fit the 50% guideline suggested by the National Restaurant Association guidelines. At Jackie Rey’s, they removed excess tables; at Foster’s they’re leaving tables intact and seat people at every other table. Jackie Rey’s has also added decorative “spacers” such as plants or small pieces of furniture.
Streiter said he’s also changing an important policy around customer bills–each check will carry a service charge of 18%, in lieu of customers leaving tips–though customers are free to leave an additional tip for the server. Streiter said this will allow the company to give a fair wage to all his employees, now that the restaurant capacity is cut by 50% because of the new “best practices” during COVID-19 reopening. He said servers are eager to get back to “regular” work, as during the COVID shutdown, they were helping with the delivery and managing the takeout orders.
Regarding the bar area at both Jackie Rey’s restaurants in Hilo and Kona and Foster’s Kitchen in Coconut Grove Marketplace in Kona and Queen’s Marketplace in Waikoloa: their chair arrangement has changed, reducing capacity by about 50%. Photo is the Foster’s Kitchen Coconut Grove location bar:
Both restaurants are limiting the size of groups: Jackie Rey’s to 6, and Foster’s Kitchen to 6 from different households or 10 from the same household.
Both Streiter and Garcia said during the two-month shutdown, both locations of each restaurant group were cleaned and sanitized top to bottom–and in some cases painted; employees were trained in the new procedures for each of the locations. When the restaurants reopen on Monday, each one will implement additional sanitizing between guests, more extensive cleaning of the bathrooms, and frequent cleaning of flat surfaces.
Employees will wear masks except in private areas, and customers will be required to wear masks when entering the restaurant or when moving around, such as going to the restroom. Customers may remove masks at the tables. Both restaurants will have hand sanitizer available. Employees will have a temperature check and a pre-work interview to ensure they are well.
Both restaurants will still offer takeout and delivery of food. Photo is Streiter at the Jackie Rey’s takeout window.
Employees at both organizations have been certified by ServSafe, a food and beverage safety training and certificate program administered by the U.S. National Restaurant Association.
Streiter said his goal is to have customers feel safe and welcome. Garcia said he and all the employees are looking forward to having their valued customers back. Both restaurants open Monday, June 1, Foster’s from 11 a.m. til 9 p.m., and Jackie Rey’s from 4;30 until 9. It’s recommended to call or go online for reservations.
Jackie Rey’s is at www.jackierey’s.com
Foster’s Kitchen is at www.fosterskitchen.com
For a list of restaurants open on the Big Island, go to www.kwxx.com/business-directory/
Attached photo is Jackie Rey’s, Kona.
