![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/goldenplains\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2020\/06\/The-Shared-Table-300x217.jpg\")
\u201cWe were able to have 20 in Housey Housey and 20 in The Forge restaurant. Our staff want to be serving, our customers want to be in there, and it was good to just make it all happen for the first time in ages,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve missed everyone out enjoying themselves together.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a few challenges, but heading in a direction near to what the team is used to was a positive step from Mr Matthews\u2019 perspective.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are a few guidelines to work with, but overall, we\u2019d much rather be open as we are, than stuck at home in COVID-19 restrictions.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone\u2019s really patient. It\u2019s good to have the customers working together, understanding and respecting the restrictions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Sam Anstis, manager of Drummond street caf\u00e9, Johnny Alloo could also accommodate 40 people, split between inside and outside space.<\/p>\n
Saturday traffic was constant, but respectful, and always at capacity with a waitlist.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s been a big mental effort to remind ourselves where we were at, but the transition has been a period to reflect and implement changes,\u201d Mr Anstis said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve branched into casual dining on Thursday to Saturday nights, with a modern Italian menu, and it\u2019s started well. We\u2019ve brought on some more regulars and we\u2019re in a better position for it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat sense of community is back, more so than before.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Turret caf\u00e9 owner, Carmel West was exhausted but happy after a busy and \u201cwonderful\u201d long weekend, able to accommodate 20 patrons inside, and 20 outside, at once.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had lots of bookings from regulars. We had to turn a few people away, but they\u2019ll be back next weekend,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s time consuming and challenging to sanitise everything, document every name and phone number, but worthwhile. There were no negative comments.\u201d<\/p>\n Carboni’s chef, Dona Pietrantuono didn\u2019t know what to expect, only able to put out 38 of 120 chairs, with 20 patrons allowed in his main dining area and 18 in a separate spot.<\/p>\n But he said custom was positive, hosting close to 80 customers in the space on Friday and Saturday evenings, with two sittings on the weekend.<\/p>\n \u201cThe majority were our regulars that couldn\u2019t wait to come back. There\u2019s been lots of comments about happy faces. It has been fulfilling, really, to feel the community back in the restaurant,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cGiven the long weekend, we had a few new faces, probably from Melbourne. It wasn\u2019t bad at all, considering the situation, and takeaway maintained as much as the last 10 weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Pietrantuono shared his appreciation for the hospitality industry in Ballarat and their work over the last few months.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve been pivoting and trying to do different things in this situation, giving service to the community which probably wasn\u2019t available 10 weeks ago, so I might sound crazy, but thanks to COVID,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" AS The Shared Table\u2019s chef, Dianne Ray reopened her restaurant last week, she had a quiet first couple of days. But as Saturday rolled around and residents headed to enjoy their first weekend dinner out in three months, her Buninyong venue received a \u201clovely response.\u201d \u201cSaturday night, we were booked out at 20 for our […]<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/goldenplains\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2020\/06\/A02I8524-300x200.jpg\")