Restaurants Find New Ways To Safely Serve Customers During Pandemic

Business closures forced by the coronavirus pandemic have taken a tough toll on restaurants across the country. Some restaurant owners are finding new ways to safely serve their customers.

At Lady Byrd Café in Los Angeles, a unique way to dine outdoors is on the menu. Owner Misty Mansouri transformed the 5 car parking lot at her restaurant into an outdoor dining oasis. Tables are placed in small open air greenhouses to provide privacy and maximize social distancing.

"People really need a moment to just take a deep breath, relax, have an hour to enjoy themselves," Mansouri said.

With indoor dining still not allowed in LA because of COVID-19, this was the only way to keep her business alive.

“Ya know, there's a part of you that says should I just stay closed, but the reality is we don't know how long this is gonna last,” Mansouri said.

The greenhouse parking lot has become so popular with diners, Mansouri is considering making it a permanent fixture.

"I've literally had people cry to me and say I need this so bad, I needed just a day out," Mansouri said.

Restaurant owners have been looking for innovative ways to keep their businesses functioning and their customers fed.

Mediamatic ETEN in Amsterdam also turned to temporary greenhouse dining as a way to keep diners socially distanced.

"It's super cozy, it's really cozy and nice and the food is delicious," diner Janita Vermeulen said.

At Sushi Hashiri in San Francisco, 7-foot-tall translucent patio bubbles offer isolated service.

"We thought it was a great idea, we haven't seen any other restaurants do it here in the Bay Area, so might as well jump onto it," manager Kenichiro Matsuura said.