While restaurants in Massachusetts have been able to open back up for both indoor and outdoor dining, bar seating within dining and drinking spots that serve food has remained off-limits due to the pandemic, but that is about to change.
According to a tweet from WBZ News Radio, Governor Charlie Baker announced this morning that bar seating will be able to open for food service beginning Monday, September 28, though the usual social distancing protocols will need to be put in place. Up until now, people could eat and drink at tables within bar areas but not at the bars themselves, while bars that don't have food service are still not allowed to open until Phase 4 of the reopening of the Massachusetts economy.
An updated safety standards page mentions that in addition to parties being spaced at least six feet apart from other parties while seated at bars, plexiglass needs to be installed between the customers and the bar spaces as well, unless there are no active work areas or working staff behind the bar at least six feet away from the customers. (The plexiglass would have a gap/opening at the bottom that would be no more than eight inches high.)
In addition to the easing of restrictions for bar areas, Governor Baker also says that group seating at tables within restaurants and bars will expand from six to ten people.
by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]
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