RELIVE YOUR FAVORITE DINING EXPERIENCE IN THE NEW NORMAL
MANY times you can’t help but reminisce about the moments where you can share meals, make memories with friends, or enjoy a romantic date. Now you can finally relive your favorite dining experience with a little extra space.
The current health crisis is far from over, but you don’t have to feel scared about savoring meals and making memories in the new normal. As restaurants reopen, Rockwell ensures the safety of its staff and customers by implementing proper health and safety protocols.
DINING THE ‘ROCKWELL WAY’
Making your favorite dining experience in the new normal happen starts with the employees. Kitchen staff, waiters, and cashiers observe social distancing within restaurant premises. At the same time, they’re dressed in complete protective gear to maintain food safety.
To avoid long lines, table reservations with pre-allocated time slots are encouraged among restaurants. Customers must fill out and submit a health declaration form, which can be accessed via QR code or at the waiting area before they’re allowed to enter.
Physical distancing measures are properly observed since restaurant markers and clear protective barriers are installed. In addition, customers can order through digital menus and settle payments through cashless options. Customers can dine with ease since health and safety are a priority.
Curious about the “Rockwell way” of dining? This is what your well-loved restaurants have to say:
REDEFINING ‘WHOLESOME’ EATING
Organic restaurant The Wholesome Table at Power Plant Mall currently operates on a 30 percent capacity to maintain safety among dine-in customers. Plexiglass partitions in between tables are installed to establish social distancing.
“We’ve always been vigilant about food safety and sanitation, which is why I feel the new health and safety protocols actually didn’t have a big impact on our ability to maintain the quality of our food and service,” shares restaurant owner Bianca Elizalde. “We just had to follow added guidelines such as wearing masks and temperature checks to safeguard the health of our customers and employees.”
According to Elizalde, the restaurant adjusted its menu by providing travel-friendly and bigger servings to satisfy customers who are staying at home.
“We’re known as the place for delicious and organic food and I think, more than ever, people are realizing the importance of good health and a strong immune system, and how it’s directly affected by food choices,” says Elizalde. “I really feel that the concept and food we serve will be even more relevant in a post-COVID-19 society.”
Elizalde shared that Power Plant Mall remained understanding by not charging rent during ECQ. She added it has also extended rental concessions and assisted in marketing during its reopening.
REINTERPRETING CASUAL DINING
At present, casual restaurant Elbert’s Diner complied with the government and Power Plant Mall’s health protocols during its reopening.
“To be honest, a casual restaurant doesn’t have to do much to adjust to the changes. We simply have to ensure that our facilities are regularly disinfected with adequate spacing between guests,” admits restaurant owner Elbert Cuenca.
As the restaurant resumes its operations, Cuenca noted that its current setting is more applicable during the new normal.
“Being positioned in the middle of the spectrum of fast food and fine dining helps ease any customer apprehensions about large crowds or high prices. It also helps that our dishes are designed for solo eating and not necessarily for sharing,” adds Cuenca.
According to Cuenca, Power Plant Mall has provided proactive approaches on how businesses can operate during the pandemic.
“We appreciate having a Zoom meeting with the leasing and operations team, which included all food and beverage (F&B) tenants of the mall,” shares Cuenca. “In addition to rental concessions, initiatives like Rockwell On Demand, Rockwell In&Out, and the Power Plant Mall Viber community group all help drive business to our store, even for just a little bit.”
A ‘FOOD MARKET’ IN THE NEW NORMAL
The Grid fast-tracked its pre-pandemic plan of putting up a delivery service during quarantine. As it reopened, restaurant owner Charles Paw noted that extra safety measures such as installing barriers, conducting temperature checks and contactless menus and payments are established.
“Since The Grid works with many tenants, all changes in operations have to be aligned with them,” says Paw. “We constantly communicate with our tenants to keep them updated on any changes and new protocols set in place. Open and transparent communication is key.”
According to Paw, the restaurant focused on its takeout and delivery services, and launched new dining concepts like Take Home Kits and Potluck Selections in preparation for the new normal.
“Our operations have completely changed. Aside from the extra health and sanitation precautions, we’ve accepted that less people will really be dining out now,” adds Paw. “We plan to expand our free delivery service to include more areas. Right now, we cater to Makati, BGC, and selected areas in Quezon City such as Greenmeadows, Acropolis, Corinthian Hills, and Corinthian Gardens.”
FACING AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE
During this time, selecting a business location is crucial for many owners, especially in the food business. Elizalde, Cuenca and Paw remained confident about Rockwell’s Power Plant Mall as a restaurant location.
“It has a great market, a good mix of F&B and retail outlets, and is centrally located,” says Elizalde. “The management has also been extremely accommodating, helpful and proactive with their tenants during this time, which we feel is so important to business owners and we appreciate it very much.”
“Power Plant Mall is very unique,” states Cuenca. “I recommend it because of its size, location, and the tenant mix brings in a quality market. The best part about Power Plant Mall is that the management that runs the mall feels more like a partnership rather than just a business arrangement.”
Shares Paw, “This crisis has been a difficult time for all business owners so we’re grateful to have the support of Rockwell during this time. Not only did they understand our difficulties as a business owner but also extended help and support to us.”
The future remains uncertain, but bringing back your favorite dining experience can ease your worries. Celebrating important milestones, making memories with your loved ones, and savoring your favorite meals doesn’t have to be difficult as we enter the new normal. Rockwell restaurants ensure that every customer can dine with ease with a little extra space.
For more updates, visit TheRockwellist.com or check out Power Plant Mall on its official Facebook and Instagram accounts.