Face Coverings Guidance, Women's Restaurant Week, Dining Design Guidelines

The Illinois Restaurant Association continues to engage with local, state, and federal officials to help our employers and employees address concerns about COVID-19.

Please see the below resources and information for your business - updated as of 7:20 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19.

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Guide on What to Do When a Guest Refuses to Wear a Mask or Follow Guidelines

The National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Law Center has provided guidance on what restaurant operators can do to handle potentially unpleasant encounters when customers refuse to follow the restaurant’s mask policy. The Q&A covers how operators might handle customers who cite their constitutional rights, claim a disability, or just forgot their masks. Tips include posting precise signage, takeout and curbside service options, and having extra masks on hand.

Click here  to read the guidance.

Recently, Governor Pritzker  signed into law a bill that protects workers in retail by adding a penalty for assaulting or battering a retail worker who is conveying public health guidance, such as requiring pa trons to wear face-coverings or promoting social distancing.

Per the state of Illinois' Phase 4 Business Guidance FAQ :

• Throughout Illinois, including in areas with regional mitigation measures, patrons are expected to wear a face covering except when seated with their party at a table and not interacting with employees at the establishments. Meaning, patrons should wear face coverings over their nose and mouth when approached and serviced by establishment employees, including but not limited to when employees take patrons orders, deliver food and beverages, and service tables.

Now Available - Design Guide for Restaurant Reopening

Over the past few months,  City Open Workshop brought together participating designers to assist IRA members as they worked to find solutions for redesigning indoor and outdoor dining. 

City Open Workshop consultants have created a restaurant resource guide for reopening for restaurants and chambers of commerce to answer common questions regarding setting up a tent, sidewalk cafe permitting, parklets, and more. Each firm worked on creating images that can be seen in the guide.

Click here  to download the full guide.

Click here  to reach out to a participating designer in the IRA Outdoor Dining Design Network for a pro bono consultation.

Sign up for Chicago Women's Restaurant Week

The Chicago JBF “Let’s Talk” Forum is proud to present  Women's Restaurant Week from Wednesday, August 26 to Monday, August 31 to kick off and celebrate Women's Equality Day.

Women-owned restaurants, bakeries, food-related and beverage businesses in Chicago are invited to participate by offering a dine-in special (any dish or tasting menu), product sale, delivery, or pick up offer to showcase your business to Chicago.

Women's Restaurant Week is led by the James Beard Foundation's "Let's Talk" Forum, comprised of seventeen Chicago women restaurateurs. Current participants include Beverly Kim (Parachute, Wherewithall), Carrie Nahabedian (Brindille), Clodagh Lawless (The Dearborn), Danielle Dang (HaiSous), Diana Davila (Mi Tocaya), Rohini Dey (Vermilion) and more. “Let's Talk” was organized with the intent to create traffic, boost visibility, and support women-owned restaurants. The IRA and Choose Chicago are happy to celebrate and support the efforts of these dynamic women in the industry.

To learn more and sign up to participate, please email  info@illinoisrestaurants.org. The deadline to register is Monday, August 24 at 5:00 p.m.

FAQ on Mitigations in Region 4: Drive-Thru, Take Out, Delivery Permitted After 11:00 p.m.

As of Tuesday, August 18,  COVID-19 mitigation efforts are now being implemented in the Metro East area - Region 4 in the Restore Illinois plan.

Measures include the closing of bars, restaurants, and casinos by 11:00 p.m., the closing of party buses and the reduction of gathering sizes to the lesser of 25 people or 25 percent of room capacity. These measures will remain in effect over a 14-day period after which time more stringent  mitigation measures, such as the closing of indoor bars and dining, can be implemented if metrics do not improve.

The state has issued  FAQs on the mitigation efforts in Region 4:

• Do the mitigation measures impact drive-thru, take-out or delivery for restaurants? 

• No. Mitigations do not restrict take-out, drive-thru, or delivery options for restaurants. The guidance only provides for additional operating restrictions for indoor dining.

• Can bars and restaurants allow walk-in patrons?

• Bars and restaurants should take reservations for all parties entering the premises for contact tracing purposes. However, bars and restaurants can accept walk-ins provided they record the contact information of at least one person in the party. 

• Do bars and restaurants need to stop accepting customers at 11:00 p.m., or do they have to clear the premises by 11:00 p.m.? 

• All patrons must be off the premises by 11:00 p.m. and may reopen at 6:00 a.m. or later. Drivethru, carry out, and delivery service is still permitted after 11:00 p.m., but customers must depart after obtaining their food and there should not be congregation of customers outside of the restaurant after closure time.

• Can restaurants still utilize plexiglass between booths as a barrier? 

• Yes, plexiglass is still a permissible method for restaurants to separate parties within a restaurant.

Click here  to view the new mitigation s for Region 4.

Sam Toia on Dining Options in Colder Weather, Federal Relief Needs, and More

This week, IRA President & CEO spoke with Fox Business about the need for Congress to pass the  Blueprint for Revival as well as outdoor dining strategies restaurants will need to implement in coming months - including tents, heaters, domes/bubbles, and more.

Click here  to watch the segment.

IDNR Asian Carp Tasting Event This Friday

The State of Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is feeding the hungry by ramping up the availability of Asian carp for the culinary industry and other users (including food pantries) during a FREE cooking demonstration and tasting  Friday, August 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at  Englewood Community Kitchens.

Join their culinary expert and taste for yourself why Asian carp should be added to your menu. While some may have a negative impression of the fish due to its name, the truth is that Asian carp is an appetizing, healthy choice for dining patrons.

From a sustainability standpoint, Asian carp was recently recommended for consumption by  Seafood Watch -- a highly respected program developed by the Monterey Bay Aquarium to assist both consumers and businesses in making healthy choices for the environment.

Registration is required as space is limited and all attendees must adhere to Illinois'  Phase 4 COVID-19 restrictions. If you have any questions, please call IDNR Director of Outreach Ted Penesis at 847-608-3108. To learn more about Asian carp, please view our  fact sheet.

Click here  to register. Click here  to learn more about Asian carp.

Deadlines Extended for Applications for Financial Assistance for State of Illinois and Suburban Cook County Renters 

The state of Illinois has extended the deadline for Illinois renters to apply for aid by one week to 12:00 p.m. on Friday, August 28 due to those impacted by the storms last Monday. 

Click here  to learn more and apply.

The application period for Cook County's COVID-19 Recovery: Rental Assistance Program has been extended to Monday, August 24 at 4:00 pm. Cook County suburbans residents that wish to apply for rental assistance can  click here to apply.