[All photos in this post where taken by Huong Nguyen of Velvet Media and Marketing in Downtown Los Angeles, prior to COVID]

Back in the day, reviewing restaurants was easy.

We would drive to the location, be seated, take pictures, tip, and toodles – go home. Those were the days where we could invite a friend to come along as our plus one and linger in a restaurant for more hours than necessary. They were great, right? If that feels like it was ages ago, remember it’s only August and those good ol days happened in February. What changed five months ago has only led us to days where there’s no end in sight for the pandemic and we may be diving further into it. I would love to say that I’m comfortable dining out in Los Angeles like it was first quarter 2020, but I’m not. I follow the news too closely and I work in a hospital, neither of those are quelling any fear about being in public. The challenge is that I still want to review restaurants because it makes me happy. At a point, I realized that I missed photographing food and being in the creative culinary space. While COVID isn’t changing just yet, how I’m reviewing restaurant has.

If you’re looking for a way to review restaurants while staying safe, here are few tips to do.

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Working with a PR Agent
If you’re reviewing a restaurant through an invitation from a public relations (PR) agent, be upfront with them. Whether you’re talking to them through email or over the phone be honest with how you’re feeling about dining in restaurants during COVID. Let them know you’re a bit uneasy about being around strangers, that you would like to know about the safety measures the restaurant is taking, or whatever is on your mind. Be communicative with them so they get why you’re being particular with visiting the restaurant. They’re living in the pandemic too so they should be understanding. If they don’t take your concerns into consideration, do you really want to dine there?

The answer might be no.

Go When They Aren’t Busy
Ask if you can visit the restaurant during their slow hours and/or on their least busy days. The fewer the people, the better. In the time this post has published, I’ve visited three restaurants for reviews all within my schedule and when the restaurant was less busy. That way I don’t have to be around others, feel uneasy, or question what’s happening around me.

“Was that a cough? Was that a damn cough? I gotta get the hell out of here.”

I don’t want to be that girl.

No PR Agent? Call the restaurant and ask when they’re less busy. Take note of that date and time and go as close to then as you can.

Submit Your Order in Advance
This one might sound crazy, but I promise it’s not. If you plan to visit a restaurant then you can always communicate to the PR agent that in an effort to visit the restaurant when it’s less busy that you’re also looking to spend as little time at the restaurant. To best do that you can ask to submit your order in advance. Ask if the restaurant has their full menu or if COVID has reduced certain items or ingredients. Then order with your contact based on the response they give you.

This is the most important part: ask that they plate the food as if you’re dining in so you can photograph the food in its original environment (the restaurant). Snap images of the plate set on the table, and of course get images of the restaurant’s interior. Once you’re done get to-go boxes and pack it to go. I’ve done it this way and have been in and out of the restaurant in 30 minutes flat. Take that parking meter.

No PR Agent? Call the restaurant before you go. Ask if they have their menu or if it’s been reduced. Order with the hostess and let them know when you’re on your way. Be specific with why you’re ordering the way you are and still ask to have the food plated on the table.

You Still Gotta Tip
Just because you’re not in the restaurant for your usual length of time, you should still tip an acceptable amount based on the total cost of your order. Tip the same way you would have in February. Heck, maybe more. You know that times are hard so be considerate that the staff helping you to review restaurants like normal, would like to be paid like normal.

Eat at Home
If you caught that I didn’t mention eating in the restaurant, you would be right! I suggested that you photograph the plated food, box it up, tip, and that was it. Yep, after you tip you bounce with your food, head home, and eat it there. Since this post is for the person who doesn’t want to be around others long, consider eating at home. Maybe grab a few bites as you box it up just to get an overall taste of it as it’s warm. You can jot a few notes of the texture, taste, and the overall feeling. But if you’re apprehensive about eating while out, take it home and enjoy it comfortably there.

Reviewing restaurants in this way is not for everyone and that’s fine. Some people miss being out in restaurants and they really want to feel those moments they had when brunch with friends was how they started the day. That’s fine, but if you’re like me and you’re not there yet, but you still want to photograph food then try some of these tips. There’s no harm in altering how you do things if it means it keeps you and others safe, while still doing what you enjoy.

If you have tips on how you’re dining out during COVID drop them below. I’ll gladly include great ones to this list!