How to track the status of every Seattle-area bar, eatery during the COVID-19 shutdown
Well over 70 Seattle-area restaurants have shuttered permanently in wake of the restrictions in place due to the novel coronavirus, and with a second wave of restrictions at play, the Seattle food scene still has a very, very long road ahead.
After pleads for help from the restaurant industry, a multiplicity of Seattleites have stepped up to order takeout, to pre-order Thanksgiving dinner and to nab delivery for dinner to help support the city’s small businesses.
Hop on the social media train, folks
Restaurant owners have a lot on their plate, and frequently, they don’t have quite enough time to update their websites on a daily basis.
One of the best ways to track their dine-in or delivery status is through their social media channels, given a Facebook or Instagram post takes just seconds to pull together.
If a basic Google search won’t give you the current update on your neighborhood eateries, odds are the restaurants’ Instagram, Twitter and Facebook pages have the answers. Consider following your favorite Seattle restaurants on these channels for the quickest means of daily updates. And while you’re at it, give them a social media shout-out for some encouragement and support, too.
As always, maps can lead you where you need to go
Back in the madness that was March, the city of Seattle released a new interactive map and tool to help restaurants and Seattle foodies connect.
The map is part of a larger effort Mayor Jenny Durkan’s office launched with the hashtag #SupportSeattleSmallBiz, encouraging Seattleites to post pictures and videos from their favorite restaurants, bars, and cafes still doling out delivery and takeout options.
The map is relatively simple, as users can search by restaurant name or zip code to unleash a masterpiece of pins outlining information on restaurants in the surrounding area.
Search for a particular restaurant or click on a pin and take a quick glance at what that eatery is offering, links to third-party delivery apps and updated hours. Typically, green pins point out restaurants offering takeout and delivery, orange pins offer up restaurants with just takeout, and purple pins showcase restaurants with delivery only.
Restaurants can update their information by emailing supportsmallbiz@seattle.gov.
As of late, the map highlights around 500 eateries from downtown Seattle to as far as Port Orchard, Everett, Sammamish and Olympia.
