Restaurants worldwide are struggling in the coronavirus era. No cloths, no centerpieces, and limited server interaction with guests. One Tel Aviv noodle chain has even changed its serving style. Born of need, the pandemic-friendly plan is evidence of human creativity—and a reminder that everything old is new again.
Automat cafeterias once flourished in cities around the world. The first appeared in Germany in 1895. Would-be diners placed a coin into a slot and turned a knob. A small glass door opened, and patrons plucked the selected sandwich, salad, or soda.
But as the price of fast food rose, people couldn’t pay with coins. They needed a real, live worker to take checks and credit cards and to make change from bigger bills. Automats slowly disappeared.
Because of the coronavirus, meals sans human contact are again gaining popularity. The virus appears to be spread mainly through droplets expelled when people breathe, speak, or laugh. Traditional restaurants pose a significant risk because customers sit in close quarters and remove masks to eat and drink. Even takeout often involves close interaction with restaurant employees.
Globally, coronavirus lockdowns have forced many small businesses and restaurants to shut their doors. In March, Israel’s unemployment rate skyrocketed to over 25 percent. Recovery has been slow.
Now a Tel Aviv branch of Go Noodles, an Asian noodle bar, is taking a cue from Ecclesiastes 1:9: “There is nothing new under the Sun”! The restaurant is offering an experience similar to the long-ago automat—with updated technology.
Go Noodles customers order via a phone app or on touchscreen monitors at the store. When their food is ready, patrons get a text message with a code. The code unlocks a glass-paned locker.
There are no tables, no servers, and little contamination risk. Customers can pick up their takeout orders without coming within six feet of any restaurant employee.
“I came up with this concept a year ago, with no connection to the coronavirus, from a business and financial need,” says Shmulik Gal, the restaurant manager. “The coronavirus broke out a few months ago, and this thing gained major significance.”
Gal’s idea for his Asian noodle bar was intended to cut costs. But with no end in sight for the pandemic, he believes its approach to dining should be popular.
“People are looking for less contact with others, less intermingling, less touching,” Gal says. “I think this thing has a lot of strength, and people will embrace it.”
That could open new doors for dining.
1st COMMENT!!!!
this sounds really cool and i hope it helps things
noodle
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Neat!!!
Wow, this is really cool. But I mean, a person still made your food
this is Mylee
good point Gracie M. This is a good idea. Someone i know can't take their mask of at school during lunch. It is kinda nasty.
this is London
that kinda looks like subway lol. And true they still made the food but this is better then just handing someone food without gloves.
Good idea.
Good idea.
@GracieM
When handling food at restaurants and stuff they take safety precautions like they get checked for temperature questioned and not to mention masks gloves hair nets and switching out gloves after handling one product washing hands and then putting on more gloves so they are taking more safety precautions then you think
Automats
Remind me of "The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" by E. L. Konigsburg.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...
Yummy... Hungry... NOODLES...
Served safely... SOOO Yummy...
This is WORLDWIDE!!!!!!!
This is WORLDWIDE!!!!!!!
Cases
6.93M
+37,293
AND
Deaths
201K
+942
My dad is a Doctor and I know that most people who died from Covid were old and in retirement homes. We need to open up schools and restaurants and not have to were masks every where. Mask don’t help at all only N-95 help.
@Ruby D
IKR!!!!!!! MASKS DON'T HELP!!!!!!! but people don't seem to get that, so I guess they just want to keep suffocating us in them. Some of my friends go to public school and they hate having to wear a mask all day. I am so thankful I am homeschooled and don't have to wear a mask!
yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
i was worried that everyone on here was pro masking but it is good to hear that some people realize the masks do not help very much, actually i've heard of studies proving that masks are worse than the supposed threat of covid
Type America if you don’t
Type America if you don’t believe in masks
Type America if you don’t
Type America if you don’t believe in masks
@Everyone that said masks are useless
Masks won't keep you safe. They keep every one around you safe. So I wear a mask, not because I'm scared of the virus, but because I know that some people are. And I wear a mask to protect people that could DIE from the virus.
Anyone notice that in the 2nd
Anyone notice that in the 2nd slide those 2 employees aren't wearing the mask above their nose?
@Caroandtommy: Yes and the bible says to love y your neighbor so...
What’s the point of this?
What’s the point of this? They think that this is going to protect you, but think about it: Someone had to make the food that you’re going to eat.
Masks don't help
@caroandtommy I agree, but what about people that have asthma (like me) and are more likely to have asthma attacks. there is more of a chance someone to die of asthma than the corona virus.
Masks don't help
@caroandtommy I agree, but what about people that have asthma (like me) and are more likely to have asthma attacks. there is more of a chance someone to die of asthma than the corona virus.
(-;
whoops didn't mean to type that twice. :-)
@Curtis P
For people with asthma, well I don't really know what to do about that except face shields (maybe?). Very sorry if I offended you, Curtis P. :)
@Everyone that says that masks don't protect you
AlRIGHT masks may not protect YOU but they protect others. It may not be important to you at the moment, but what happens when your grandmother or grandfather dies because of COVID-19? What happens then? You would be mad at the person who didn't wear a mask right the person who transmitted it to them because they were being careless??? Oh well you may think some "people are just hospitalized” well then you probably don't quite know how much being on a ventilator costs or just being in the hospital in general. Although you might say oh BIG DEAL but you do realize you haven't loved your neighbor as yourself right? Well we all have times we dont follow it ourselves but we as christens should strive to change that as best as possible. If you don't care about your neighbor who, indeed is everyone around you, in fact you may not know them personally but who knows? maybe they risked THEIR life to protect YOU and everyone else in a war. Now they might die of covid because you can transmit it! Now, at home you don't have to wear it but in public you should! Seriously guys christens should be supportive to others, helpful, happy, welcoming, kind, and caring, but basically right now- weather you mean it or not you can be doing the opposite of that because you didn't have the decency to put on a mask because it's uncomfortable. Think about it, the government is trying to protect us not kill us by mask suffocation! not one person has died from mask suffocation not ONE! So wear a mask in public to protect your neighbor or risk the challenge of living your life knowing you could have killed someone because of your indecency- the choice is yours. oh also it never says ANYTHING in the bible of not wearing a mask one thing Paul "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment." If Jesus were on earth today I think he would be so sad to see how we as christens have manipulated our religion so that anyone who tries to contradict us is "evil"! Now I'm not saying all of us are that way but the church is seen as a body and everyone matters to our character appearance because we as humans usually look at the bad parts of groups before considering ourselves to be a part of said group. So please if you don't believe masks help just consider this for a bit before you don't wear a mask because it's uncomfortable.
Small somthing simalar
There was something like this where a police officer wrote him a ticket or something because his door was open.
I wish...
I wish that things were back to normal. I don't like the idea of having things all automated like this. I think where possible it is important to have human contact, even if you are wearing masks and social distancing.
What...The...
That's...interesting...