As many restaurants around the world remain closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, one restaurant in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is experimenting with a new way to dine out.
Mediamatic ETEN, a vegan restaurant at the arts center Mediamatic Biotoop, set up greenhouses to test out allowing diners to follow social distancing measures while still eating out. The restaurant calls the project Serres Séparées, which mean separate greenhouses in French.
Take a look inside.
The project aims to minimize physical contact between waiters and diners.
Willem Velthoven/Anne Lakeman for Mediamatic Amsterdam
Museums, restaurants and theaters are expected to open at reduced capacity on June 1 across the Netherlands (where there are currently more than 40,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19). Mediamatic ETEN has reservations starting on May 21, but notes that it still needs to obtain permission from local and national authorities to officially open.
Diners inside Mediamatic ETEN’s greenhouses.
Willem Velthoven for Mediamatic Amsterdam
With the greenhouses, Mediamatic ETEN aims to minimize contact between waiters and diners.
A server at Mediatic ETEN uses a wooden board to serve food to diners inside a greenhouse.
Willem Velthoven for Mediamatic Amsterdam
Servers wear face shields and gloves and rely on a long wooden board to serve diners seated inside the greenhouses.
Waiters wear face shields and gloves and rely on long wooden boards to serve diners.
Willem Velthoven for Mediamatic Amsterdam
However, it’s not open to the public yet. The restaurant is currently in a trial phase only for family and friends of staff.
Mediamatic ETEN is located in Oosterdok, Amsterdam.
Anne Lakeman for Mediamatic Amsterdam