Salem Restaurant Week - 2020

Salem Spring Restaurant Week gives customers a chance to (re)connect with their favorite restaurant or try someplace new. Spring Restaurant Week features several of Salem's best restaurants and draws guests from all over the North Shore and the greater Boston area. Like Restaurant Week on Facebook!

Why Salem Restaurant Week will go on as planned
 
There is currently no evidence of food being associated with COVID-19 transmission, according to both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). The risks are largely associated with interacting with other people. Restaurants themselves already are following stringent food safety regulations, and staff are highly trained. Restaurant customers should follow common-sense precautions, as advised by public health authorities, to avoid further spread of the virus.
 
Additional steps our local restaurants are taking:

• Removing tables creating a greater distance separating diners and increase spacing between tables. Maintaining social distancing in restaurants is critical not just for your own sake, but for others, as well. 
• Adding hand sanitizer stations at various areas of the restaurants
• Sanitize menus after every use. 
• Salt, pepper and condiment containers will be sanitized after every seating
• Additional staff sanitizing surfaces throughout the restaurants
• Curbside pickup is available at a number of Salem’s restaurants.  
• Restroom surfaces (including door handles) will be sanitized after each use

From medical and public health experts, here are best practices on how to safely dine out during the coronavirus outbreak:

• First, if you are sick or starting to feel respiratory symptoms like coughing or sneezing, you should avoid dining out.
• Hand washing is exactly as essential as every health organization, epidemiologist, and other experts say it is. Washing your hands immediately before you eat, after you’ve used the restroom, and after touching surfaces that could potentially be contaminated is essential.
• When in doubt, takeout or food delivery are good alternatives to going out to eat.  Just be sure to still wash your hands thoroughly after handling all the packaging materials (paper or plastic bag, receipt, menus, etc.) prior to eating.
• And to support your favorite restaurant, server, sous-chef and back of the house employee, consider buying gift certificates now, to be used later.

And of course, the Salem Chamber will review all policies and practices on a daily basis, and will cancel the event if needed.