We did a couple of times back in July but my kids (preschoolers) kept claiming to need to go to the bathroom and it was just annoying and a little bit stressful to be going back and forth to the restroom (stopping eating, getting masks back on, trying to use the bathroom as quickly and safely as possible). Largely a behavioral issue, clearly - but I wasn't going to tell them no and risk another public health issue in the form of an accident, so back and forth to the bathroom we went.

I'd consider dining outside with just my spouse, but it's been so hot that there's little appeal.

We are not eating out. Our kids are 4 and 5. We do get take-out occasionally, but right now, I don’t see the need to go to a restaurant (with or without children).

According to Maryland contact tracing, 23% of people who contracted COVID-19 dined outdoors at a restaurant. https://patch.com/maryland/baltimore/md-adds-1k-new-coronavirus-cases-one-day-over-89k-have-virus

I don't think they're saying they've definitely isolated instances of transmission at outdoor dining in MD, just that it's statistically one of the higher-risk locations.

We've taken our 13yo out to dinner on a patio a couple of times, but only at places we know and trust, and are comfortable with their protocols. We're more likely to do takeout.

Just dono't eat out. Eat at home. TAke out/curbside pick up is fine. Too much opportunity for masks to come off, and your waitstaff is interacting ith lots of people

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not going out to restaurants. My children are 5 and 7.

+1

No way.

Therapy time!

Oh, definitely anyone who refuses to dine out needs therapy.

A number of case clusters have been traced back to restaurants, bars and barbecues. Even if the risk is low, lots of people aren't all that motivated to dine out in general. Like the risk of death from skydiving is even lower, but lots of people have very little interest in skydiving anyway, so it's a big "no way" for them. They don't need therapy.

The risk is, like, non-existent. Get help before you destroy this country.

Anonymous wrote:Nope. And we used to eat out all the time.

We have eaten on our boat and done dockside service though. We had to go into the restaurant once to use the bathroom and it freaked me out. Just not worth it for us.

Not everyone can do that!

Yup. We have eaten at places with outdoor seating mostly, but have also eaten a few times with indoor seating. All the places have been great with distancing (at every visit we have been way more than 10 feet from someone else) and have eliminated heavy touch items like salt, pepper or condiments. Everything is single serve upon request.

I’m in NYS and in a few weeks all the kids will be back at school. That’s far more risky than dining out, so for those not are you homeschooling?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not going out to restaurants. My children are 5 and 7.

+1

No way.

Therapy time!

Oh, definitely anyone who refuses to dine out needs therapy.

A number of case clusters have been traced back to restaurants, bars and barbecues. Even if the risk is low, lots of people aren't all that motivated to dine out in general. Like the risk of death from skydiving is even lower, but lots of people have very little interest in skydiving anyway, so it's a big "no way" for them. They don't need therapy.

Those cases involve people going in and out, staying inside and socializing inside. Outside, socially distanced tables is fine. Even Fauci said that but he would not dine indoors. No problem if you are so risk adverse and can’t handle it.

It’s been great for our family to enjoy outdoor dining in the early evenings.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not going out to restaurants. My children are 5 and 7.

+1

No way.

Therapy time!

Oh, definitely anyone who refuses to dine out needs therapy.

A number of case clusters have been traced back to restaurants, bars and barbecues. Even if the risk is low, lots of people aren't all that motivated to dine out in general. Like the risk of death from skydiving is even lower, but lots of people have very little interest in skydiving anyway, so it's a big "no way" for them. They don't need therapy.

Restaurants with kids (2 and 5 years old) wasn't ideal in non-covid times.

We get take out and eat outside or take picnics to a park. I feel like we're missing nothing by skipping the dine-in experience.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not going out to restaurants. My children are 5 and 7.

+1

No way.

Therapy time!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every saturday and sunday with our 2.5 year old. I have yet to encounter a restaurant that wasn't going above and beyond to follow all of the rules.

This question/some of these responses about the anxiety spiral of analyzing every tiny facet of the exercise of eating outdoors is a perfect example of why sheltering at home for too long is going to be detrimental to the mental health of so many people. As someone who suffers from anxiety, I know very well once you unlock that spiraling thought it's very, very hard to claw your way back to reality.

This. People are losing their sense of perspective.

+1. People's mental health is really being negatively affected by overly quarantining. I was just at the dr today getting an antibody test. He said a semblance of normalcy has to return. Eating out on a patio is fine with socially distanced tables, wearing masks as you walk in, walk out and go to the restroom. Going to a house party with 50 people not wearing masks is not fine.

+1

Anonymous wrote:We are not going out to restaurants. My children are 5 and 7.

+1

No way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every saturday and sunday with our 2.5 year old. I have yet to encounter a restaurant that wasn't going above and beyond to follow all of the rules.

This question/some of these responses about the anxiety spiral of analyzing every tiny facet of the exercise of eating outdoors is a perfect example of why sheltering at home for too long is going to be detrimental to the mental health of so many people. As someone who suffers from anxiety, I know very well once you unlock that spiraling thought it's very, very hard to claw your way back to reality.

This. People are losing their sense of perspective.

+1000