San Francisco prepares to resume outdoor dining

Some restaurants in San Francisco, California, will take another step forward on Friday (June 12) when the city permits outdoor seating for the first time since ordering a shelter-in-place order back in March to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Libby Hogan has more.

EDITOR'S NOTE: THIS VIDEO HAS BEEN RE-EDITED TO CHARACTERIZE ONE OF THE SOUNDBITES MORE ACCURATELY.

San Francisco is gearing up to dine outside once again, as the city permits outdoor seating for the first time since ordering people to stay inside their homes in March.

The restrictions on restaurants will be lifted on Friday (June 12), but rules will remain in place including limiting tables to 6 customers, except for members of the same household.

Customers will have to wear face masks until they are seated and there will be limited access to entering the restaurant except for placing an order.

Head chef and owner of Canela Bistro, Mat Schuster, said he was overjoyed with the news: "We have regulars who've been emailing us, asking us when we're opening.

And they've been the first ones to make reservations.

We're in a neighborhood.

We've been here for nine years.

We have a very strong support within our network here so we're excited to see them.

They're excited to see us." The question is whether customers will feel comfortable to come out and dine in public.

(JOCELYN WICKER, NON PROFIT WORKER) "Well in conversations with my friends - we do talk - mostly via Zoom - and we're all really missing the community and gathering and socializing together, especially weekend brunch.

It's a thing.

It's a real thing for us, but none of us are comfortable going back to the restaurants." (MELANIE HOLT, RUNS A GROCERY STORE) "I would feel comfortable for outdoor seating for a couple of reasons.

One, I think the food safety integrity has always been there with restaurants.

They have to have a proven track record of food safety to be open to begin with." While it may still be some time before the buzz of full capacity returns to restaurant dining, many welcome this step forward.