Restaurant Dining

[athena53]

I've been dating a guy for over 2 years (he's 70 so calling him a boyfriend sounds silly) and we carefully returned to in-person dining when things opened up last summer. If it's crowded we don't go there- we skipped one place after we saw the number of cars in the parking lot. A Mexican place near me is sparsely-populated when we go for an early dinner and a First Watch near him is the same when we have brunch there. We're happy with their precautions and we wear masks unless we're at the table eating or drinking. We were less-than-happy with a place where we dined in Hermann, MO last summer- they didn't really clean the tables after a large group left and the staff weren't wearing masks- but there were only 2 reported cases of COVID in the city at the time. The B&B where we stayed served all the meals outside and required masks in the common areas. We'll be returning to Hermann in August but maybe not to that restaurant.

My second vaccine dose was 2 weeks ago and his was one week ago but we're still being cautious because of the variants and the small possibility that we could get an asymptomatic case and spread it to someone else.

 

[tmm99]

Yes, two weeks after the first jab, the vaccine provides a lot of protection, so it’s way better than nothing.

Yeah, I think we get close to 70% protection with just one jab, so that's what Canada is trying to do to as many Canadians as possible. I can't fault them for doing that. I just don't know how effective the second jab is going to be, being delayed so much, but we get what we get when we get it. (As I said, it's better than nothing.)

 

[audreyh1]

US study with Modern and Pfizer showed 80% protection from infection after 2 weeks including asymptomatic infection as they were testing subjects weekly. Only 4000 participating, but still great results. Protection improved to 90% two weeks after the 2nd dose. The 2nd dose is also needed to sustain immunity.

https://www.reuters.com/article/hea...-real-world-use-u-s-study-shows-idUSKBN2BL2UW

 

[tmm99]

US study with Modern and Pfizer showed 80% protection from infection including asymptomatic infection as they were testing subjects weekly. Only 4000 participating, but still great results. Protection improved to 90% two weeks after the 2nd dose. The 2nd dose is also needed to sustain immunity.

https://www.reuters.com/article/hea...-real-world-use-u-s-study-shows-idUSKBN2BL2UW

Thank you, Audrey! I thought it was around 70%, but 80% is even better! I don't know how much the effectiveness/immunity may diminish during the 4 months we're waiting for our 2nd shot, but I believe the UK did something similar (although I don't know how delayed the 2nd shot was for some people) so that will tell us something...

 

[audreyh1]

There must be pretty good data on that by now. UK took this approach. I don’t remember the time span - looks like it was 12 weeks.

My post above meant to say that 80% is two weeks after first dose.

 

[anethum]

Although I received my 2nd dose 6 weeks ago, I would not feel comfortable eating inside a restaurant at this time. Infection rates would have to go way down from current levels. Last September, when the infection rate in my area was quite low, the county health department determined through contact tracing that 23% of the covid cases locally were attributed to indoor dining in restaurants. At this time, the infection rate locally is a bit higher than it was last September, and the B.1.1.7 (UK) variant is dominant throughout the US. It is known to spread more easily than the original form of the virus which dominated here last September. We also have the South Africa variant, and none of the current vaccines seem to be as effective against it as against the other known variants.

But I am getting together with vaccinated friends & family indoors. In fact, a friend is coming over for dinner tonight.

 

[tmm99]

There must be pretty good data on that by now. UK took this approach. I don’t remember the time span - looks like it was 12 weeks.

My post above meant to say that 80% is two weeks after first dose.

Yes, I read that about 2 weeks. And for some people (immuno-compromised people), all bets are off.

My shots will be 16 weeks apart...

 

[Chuckanut]

, most of them are too noisy with the multiple TVs blaring so loud you can't hardly talk with others at your table!

+1 on the noise and TV racket. There are a number of places I never went back to because I had to raise my voice just to talk to the person sitting across for me. That, of course, just increases the noise level more. Why in the world are concrete floors and bare walls considered OK? The places are echo chambers. Maybe its part of the social media culture to make sure everybody else knows the most insignificant details about one's life.

I do like dining out because I am being served. I don't care if it's Dennys, being served is nice. Reading the morning news while somebody else makes my breakfast is nice. Then somebody else does the cleanup.

Normally, if I go out, I do it to for socializing or to eat something that simply is not practical to make in my own kitchen. And, being served is always part of the pleasure.

 

[W2R]

I've been dating a guy for over 2 years (he's 70 so calling him a boyfriend sounds silly)

I know what you mean! Frank is pushing 67 so it just sounds silly to call him my boyfriend. But I do anyway, sometimes. I have also tried calling him my friend or companion, but those don't cover all that we are to each other. We've been together for over 21 years.

Sorry for the thread drift! But I had to just pick up on that one sentence and say, yes, I know exactly what you are saying. There just isn't a word that fits.

Back on topic, I don't like loud restaurants with TVs blaring either. So, we haven't eaten at a place like that in probably decades. OK, some have TVs but the sound is turned off so I don't mind eating there. Anyway it's a mystery to me why anyone would choose a loud, noisy restaurant if they don't like eating in a place like that. Turn around, walk out, and take your money to someplace you like.

 

[scrabbler1]

Last year's lockdown here in NY lasted from mid-March through the end of June, so it erased several times I usually go out to eat: my ladyfriend's (LF) b-day, my b-day, Memorial Day weekend, and Father's Day.

My LF and I went out to eat July 4th weekend and Labor Day weekend. She had gotten some gift cards to major chain restaurants (Applebee's and TGIFridays) early last year, before the lockdown, so we were eager to use them. We went out to eat for lunch during those holiday weekends when there are few diners in there, so limited seating was moot; the places weren't too noisy, either.

My dad and I went out to eat in September, for dinner on a midweek evening when it's not crowded or noisy. My 90-yr-old dad wasn't walking too well back then and a few weeks ago had another hip replacement surgery. I hope he will be eager to go out to eat with me again soon once fully recovered.

My LF and I went out for breakfast at an area diner the morning after Thanksgiving, again not crowded or noisy.

Now, with my LF's and my b-days occurring, we went out for hers last week (lunch) and will go out for mine later this month, probably for lunch again.

So I am getting back into the dining out swing.....

 

[NYEXPAT]

We have been eating indoors pretty regularly here in Chapel Hill ever since we arrived a few months back. I have noticed it is getting much more lax with mask wearing very recently. My Wife is working at a urgent care clinic and says the Doctors/Nurses/Administrators have really become lax after they were vaccinated.

 

[Scrapr]

I know what you mean! Frank is pushing 67 so it just sounds silly to call him my boyfriend. But I do anyway, sometimes. I have also tried calling him my friend or companion, but those don't cover all that we are to each other. We've been together for over 21 years.

Sorry for the thread drift! But I had to just pick up on that one sentence and say, yes, I know exactly what you are saying. There just isn't a word that fits.

I am using "significant other" as a way to let other people know that we are enamored with someone. It doesn't roll off the tongue yet though

 

[audreyh1]

+1 on the noise and TV racket. There are a number of places I never went back to because I had to raise my voice just to talk to the person sitting across for me. That, of course, just increases the noise level more. Why in the world are concrete floors and bare walls considered OK? The places are echo chambers. Maybe its part of the social media culture to make sure everybody else knows the most insignificant details about one's life.

I do like dining out because I am being served. I don't care if it's Dennys, being served is nice. Reading the morning news while somebody else makes my breakfast is nice. Then somebody else does the cleanup.

Normally, if I go out, I do it to for socializing or to eat something that simply is not practical to make in my own kitchen. And, being served is always part of the pleasure.

That’s a huge difference between the US and Europe dining in. Restaurants are noisy due to terrible acoustics, people talk louder to hear each other. Music is playing-sometimes loud. It’s just not pleasant.

In Europe the ambiance is much nicer, especially the more traditional restaurants. In France people speak quietly, there us not distracting music playing. People are a lot more relaxed enjoying a leisurely dining experience.

 

[jcfradio]

Yes, I read that about 2 weeks. And for some people (immuno-compromised people), all bets are off.

My shots will be 16 weeks apart...

I am also in Ontario, and am hoping that it will only be 16 weeks apart, but considering how many screw ups that we have had in the rollout, I will not be surprised if it is longer. From a glass half-full perspective, I reconcile this by saying that we are adding to the body of scientific knowledge of population wide effectiveness for longer time between doses...LOL!

I had my first AZ shot in early March as part of a trial roll out in pharmacies. We shall see if I get the second one by July.

I seem to recall reading about a study that showed immunity with the AZ shot actually increased after 2 weeks, peaking many weeks later, but like everything else with this virus, we are still on the steep part of the learning curve with the vaccines as well.

One shot is better than nothing, but it hasn't changed anything in our personal behaviours yet.

 

[W2R]

I am using "significant other" as a way to let other people know that we are enamored with someone. It doesn't roll off the tongue yet though

Doesn't for me, either. It just doesn't work for me. And "lover" sounds purely sexual to me and doesn't cover the entire breadth and depth of our relationship. I wish that "manfriend" was a word. I guess I could start using "devoted companion" but I think that would seem pretty weird to most.

 

[braumeister]

I wish that "manfriend" was a word.

Make it one.

I have coined a word. How do I get credit for it?

If you feel that you have developed or know of a word that could serve to better the English language, we can only suggest that you use the word as much as possible in your everyday discourse and see if it catches on

 

[audreyh1]

Yeah - manfriend is great! Use it!

 

[MarieIG]

"Partner" has become popular in my neck of the woods.

Oops see I wandered off topic. Before I get whipped with a wet noodle, I was not thrilled with the food on the last few restaurant forays pre-Covid, so won't be rushing back.

I'd start with grabbing a cup of coffee, off-hours, with DH, after he's fully vaccinated, and local numbers drop a bit more.

 

[braumeister]

"Partner" has become popular in my neck of the woods.

That's also a perfectly good word in German, same meaning.

 

[W2R]

That’s a huge difference between the US and Europe dining in. Restaurants are noisy due to terrible acoustics, people talk louder to hear each other. Music is playing-sometimes loud. It’s just not pleasant.

Honestly I can't even imagine why anyone would choose to patronize that type of restaurant unless they are looking for a sports bar experience. Saints fans or LSU fans here look for that sort of experience, for example. I don't begrudge them their preferences, but that doesn't mean that I have to go to that sort of restaurant. There are plenty of independent restaurants in the US that are just as quiet, or quieter, than European restaurants.

 

[W2R]

"Partner" has become popular in my neck of the woods.

Partner is a good idea, although to some people (here) that would imply a gay relationship. Maybe "My 66-year-old boyfriend" would work.

Yeah - manfriend is great! Use it!

I just might do that!

 

[MarieIG]

Partner is a good idea, although to some people (here) that would imply a gay relationship. Maybe "My 66-year-old boyfriend" would work.

 

[Midpack]

Doesn't for me, either. It just doesn't work for me. And "lover" sounds purely sexual to me and doesn't cover the entire breadth and depth of our relationship. I wish that "manfriend" was a word. I guess I could start using "devoted companion" but I think that would seem pretty weird to most.

Sweetheart or sweetie is pretty universal and innocent enough. Or paramour if you want to leave ‘em guessing what it means...

 

[REWahoo]

Doesn't for me, either. It just doesn't work for me. And "lover" sounds purely sexual to me and doesn't cover the entire breadth and depth of our relationship. I wish that "manfriend" was a word. I guess I could start using "devoted companion" but I think that would seem pretty weird to most.

I recommend you use "manfrank", or there is also the ever popular "main squeeze".

 

[W2R]

I recommend you use "manfrank", or there is also the ever popular "main squeeze".

Pooh!!! Nope, sorry, you lose.

Sweetheart or sweetie is pretty universal and innocent enough. Or paramour if you want to leave ‘em guessing what it means...

Sweetie!! Folks, WE HAVE A WINNAH!!! I like that. I sometimes use it on message boards but haven't (yet) tried it in real life.