When you were sheltering in place, self-quarantining, reminiscing wistfully about your meals at restaurants pre-COVID, what was it that you longed for most? Remember spontaneously ordering off the dessert menu? When an evening to your favorite spot was an escape and the streets of Downtown Cincinnati stretched out before you with seemingly endless opportunities?

 

I’m not saying any of us are fully able to be objective right now. It seems everyday things are in flux. No one knows what the next months, weeks, or even days might bring, and it can be debilitating. Frankly, most of us are just trying to get by.

 

For more than 20 years I’ve played different roles in the service, hospitality and restaurant industries. I’ve been the frantic-on-the-inside, collected-on-the-outside waiter; the manager with an eagle eye; and, currently, a publicist who has been able to bring national attention to some of the best culinary talent in Cincinnati. I’ve seen this industry at its best and its worst.

 

When I look back at the state of our restaurants pre-COVID I feel an unmistakable tinge of sadness. Did we appreciate what we had, and even more concerning, could we have done more? The truth is, we are where we are. National forecasts say one third of restaurants will close permanently when all is said and done. For many up-and-coming restaurants and even our beloved local haunts, too high of overhead and not enough contingency funds will make bouncing back impossible.

 

I believe our role as diners is pivotal to the recovery and longevity of Cincinnati’s dining scene. Let’s put our money on the table and support the restaurants who otherwise won’t be here next year. We can use our voices to elevate and share the dining experiences that make our city special. Even without stepping foot in a restaurant’s dining room we can make choices that will keep the doors open and the kitchens running.

Think small.

 

Start where you are. Look at the restaurants in your neighborhood and think, where does your money count most. The national chains and big name restaurants will still be there a year from now, can you say the same for the locally owned restaurants that give our neighborhoods their individual charm?

 

Go curbside.

Support local businesses while enjoying the convenience of eating at home. Remember that most third-party delivery services take a major chunk out of restaurants’ bottom line. Cut out the middleman and pick up the food curbside.

 

Yelp! With love.

For better or worse Yelp! has become a major player in where diners choose to eat — often times out-weighing the perspectives of leading food critics. Be impeccable with your words. Remember that dining is a subjective experience.

 

Humility.

We’re all human, and times are strange. As we slowly transition to our new normal, remember that as we adapt things aren’t always going to be perfect. Be patient, practice empathy, and if there is a serious problem reach out to the owner not social media. Chances are you’ll walk away with a much more positive resolution without marring the restaurant’s name.