The pandemic will have a seismic impact on society, and restaurants of all stripes will be affected.
Global catastrophes can profoundly change a dining culture. The French Revolution is said to have kickstarted the modern restaurant movement, as chefs, no longer privately cooking for their (guillotined or exiled) masters, began to open public dining spots. The Great Depression helped usher in an age of fast food, while the 2008 recession is partly responsible for the rise of supper clubs and, in this country at least, the proliferation of small plates and street food.
What shift will Covid-19 bring? Because, though too early to tell, it will be seismic effect. Hard times force creativity, and creativity leads to change.
Does this mean that every high-end, fine dining, haute cuisine, expensive restaurant will start serving burgers? Probably not. Yet that is what Noma began to do last month, relaunching as a wine bar/burger joint….