Diners rejoice as patios open
Restaurants in New Mexico can reopen for limited patio services beginning Wednesday (May 27), according to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
It was the first time in several weeks restaurants were allowed to do more than curbside or drivethrough service.
The governor released an amendment to her public health order, which will allow restaurants to operate patio and outdoor seated service for up to 50 percent of the allowed occupancy of the seating area.
“Our priority throughout this public health crisis has been the safety and health and well-being of New Mexicans, and this modification of the emergency public health order aligns with that mandate while providing an opportunity for restaurants to begin preparing for a wider reopening next week,” Lujan Grisham said in a statement.
A number of restaurants in Taos jumped on the ability to expand their service to customers and were open for lunch patio service Wednesday (May 27).
“It’s exciting and a little nervewracking,” said Marshall Thompson of Donabe Asian Kitchen. “This allows us to go back to the level of food we were cooking before.”
Donabe is currently open for patio seating along with many other restaurants along Paseo del Pueblo in Taos such as The Burger Stand and La Cueva Café.
La Cueva manager Zaide Fernandez said she made her way to work early on Wednesday along with a coworker and readied the restaurant for patio seating. According to Fernandez, the employees were consulted before opening the patio to ensure they all felt safe enough to do so.
With the open patios, customers made their way to grab a bite to eat and socialize outside for the first time in several weeks in New Mexico.
“It feels good,” said visitor Kim De Kretser. “We don’t have any concerns when we are outside. It feels good to be in the fresh air.”
Despite the governor’s amendment, some restaurants are holding back on opening the patio for a number of reasons. Bars and brew pubs must prove they are making more than 50 percent of their income from sources other than alcohol sales. Other restaurants did not have the staffing or ability to open their patio on such short notice.
“Restaurants just can’t pivot in less than 24 hours based on the staff and food supplies,” said Taos Mesa Brewing co-founder Jayson Wylie.
Wylie said the company has a plan to fully open at a later date but was not ready to open on the first day back with patio service.
“I don’t think immediately opening right now is in the best interest of Taos Mesa Brewing,” Wylie said.
Many restaurants in Taos remain open for takeout and delivery.
The amended state health order continues to prohibit indoor seating.
Under the amended order, outdoor tables must be spaced six feet apart from each other and no more than six people may be seated at a table.
No bar seating is allowed at this time and bars are not yet allowed to open.
The governor’s press release said New Mexico is on track for a June 1 opening of several businesses.
The order to open outdoor patio seating does not apply to the northwest corner of New Mexico, including the counties of Cibola, McKinley and San Juan, due to the number of coronavirus cases occurring in the region.