Coronavirus Sydney: Restaurant owners make most of 10 capacity rule
The NSW Government’s ruling that 10 people will be allowed in a venue at a time has left some restaurant owners underwhelmed, but they are attempting to make the most of it, coming up with creative ways to get people through the door.
NSW
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Restaurant owners have met new capacity rules with bemusement, doing their best to come up with ways to make venues that fit hundreds profitable with just 10 people at a time.
As of Friday restaurants, cafes and bars will be permitted to host 10 people at a time, and while it may seem like an improvement on the current restrictions, some operators are scratching their heads.
My Kitchen Rules judge and Banksia Hotel owner Colin Fassnidge said in his venue of 150 people, he wouldn’t even begin to consider reopening the doors until at least 20 people are allowed in.
“It will work for the local cafe or sushi joint but do you want to sit in a restaurant with only 10 people?” he said.
“What government did with stimulus was good, as much as I hate to say the government did something right.
“I’m 100 per cent behind what they have to do, but it just doesn’t help us.”
In anticipation of the restrictions changing Bondi venue The Corner House put together a promotion for groups of 10 to book out the whole venue for $1000, meaning patrons pay $100 a head for a venue to themselves, a $1000 bar tab, unlimited pizzas and cheese boards.
Owner Ben Siderowitz said while he has been inundated with bookings, at first he felt amused and confused by the changes.
“My first reaction was one of amusement and confusion at the same time,” he said.
“As the owner of a venue that can fit over 150 people at one time, hearing the number 10 was a bit of a shock to the system.
“Once that initial reaction wore off I got my thinking hat on and said to myself ‘10 people is better than nothing, how can we maximise our return off these 10 people while staying true to our brand?’.”
“I thought to myself that it would be so much fun to have the whole bar to yourself and a few friends, like that dream of being locked in a toy store and having it all to yourself before security realise you’re in there.”
From there Mr Siderowitz said he fleshed out an idea that was of value to both his customers and business.
His bookings were snapped up within 30 minutes and he said felt “like Ellen DeGeneres on Oscar night when she broke the internet with that selfie,” staying up until 1am replying to queries.
Kurtis Bosley from Corretto Dee Why said their service will be first in best dressed.
“As a group we’re looking forward to relaxed restriction as of this Friday, we’ll be open for a lucky few that snag a seat for our beach house takeaway menu and will be treated to our full list of cocktails, curated by our bar team,” he said.
LIST OF OPEN VENUES
500 Degrees, Kogarah
A1 Canteen, Chippendale
Aqua Dining, Milsons Point
Avli Greek Restaurant, Penrith
Bang Tang, Potts Point
Bel & Brio, Barangaroo
Belmonte Italian Cuisine, Baulkham Hills
Black Cat White Cat Cafe, Mulgoa
Brick Lane, Darlinghurst
Bronte Road Bistro, Waverley
Buffalo Dining Club, Darlinghurst
Coogee Wine Room, Coogee
Corretto, Dee Why
Dear Sainte Eloise, Potts Point
Devon Cafe North Sydney
Don’t Tell Aunty, Surry Hills
Efendy, Balmain
Favola, Newtown
Fix Wine Bar and Restaurant, Sydney
IIKO Mazesoba, Haymarket
Kobe Jones, Darling Harbour
KOGI Korean BBQ, Haymarket
Love, Tilly Devine, Darlinghurst
Macleay St Bistro, Potts Point
Manta Restaurant and Bar, Woolloomooloo
Melo’s Italian Restaurant, Potts Point
Nakano Darling, Haymarket
Outback Steakhouse Penrith
Pendolino, Sydney
Peppe’s, Bondi
Pizza Fritta, Surry Hills
Poly, Surry Hills
Preach Cafe, Bondi Beach
Prince of York, Sydney
Rashays, All Locations
Sang, Surry Hills
Soi 25 Restaurant & Bar, Surry Hills
Spears Cafe, Richmond
Suzuya, Surry Hills
The Gantry, Sydney
The Natural Choice Cafe
Tokki, Surry Hills
Via Napoli Pizzeria, All Locations
Originally published as Coronavirus Sydney: Restaurant owners make most of 10 capacity rule