CINCINNATI — It’s a day that Dean Gregory thought would by no means come.

Gregory, the supervisor on the Montgomery Inn Boathouse, welcomed diners into his restaurant Thursday afternoon for the primary time in just below two months.

“We thought this might by no means occur, and we’re joyful this occurred so rapidly,” he mentioned.

However issues aren’t completely again to regular. There have been quite a lot of adjustments inside eating rooms to maintain prospects protected and to adjust to new rules.

Among the adjustments on the Boathouse embrace the implementation of throwaway menus, fewer tables and decreased hours. The desk service will look totally different for diners as nicely — shareable objects comparable to spices and condiments are a factor of the previous.

“They’ll have their silverware, they’ll have their serviette. That’ll be about it,” Gregory mentioned. “If they need salt and pepper, we’ll deliver it out in little packets.”

Capability is manner down on the Boathouse. Gregory mentioned usually he would seat about 550 folks for dinner, however with the restricted quantity of tables, he can solely serve 160. Even so, he and his workers are joyful to be again.

“My crew has been dying to return again to work,” he mentioned. “All of us have. We miss our prospects. We’ve got so many regulars.”

Slightly farther east, there are X’s marking the spot for folks to face at a distance at Echo in Hyde Park. The homeowners there are utilizing progressive strategies to adapt to the social distancing tips, together with touchless menus accessible by scanning a QR code with a smartphone.

“We actually utilized the barrier idea to place boundaries between all of the cubicles within the room and all of the cubicles within the different room,” mentioned proprietor Stephanie Surgeon.

Echo regulars Jim and Christine Stiegler have been ready for this present day. The couple have been consuming on the restaurant collectively for greater than 40 years and sat of their automotive throughout the road when it was carryout solely.

Their pleasure about reopening isn’t only for the meals however for the corporate, too.

“We actually missed consuming in and seeing all of the folks that we see each week,” Christine mentioned.

Down in Over-the-Rhine, arrows as an alternative of X’s direct prospects on the correct stream and correct social distancing tips at Taft’s Ale Home. The form is totally different, however the idea is similar: Keep at a protected distance so eating places can keep open.

“Gloves, cleansing, you identify it, we’re doing it,” mentioned host Nicholas Tsangaris.

Along with separating tables and paring down its menu, Taft’s Ale Home is altering desk service, too.

“All of our serving devices, the cups, the plates, the spoons, the forks, the napkins, are all paper so we don’t need to run the danger of contaminating something that would undergo in everlasting cycles,” Tsangaris mentioned.

Although Gov. Mike DeWine has allowed indoor eating to renew in Ohio, it doesn’t imply that each one eating places are in a position to reopen.

Zip’s in Mt. Lookout mentioned due to the dimensions of its house, it’s going to proceed carryout in the intervening time. Walnut Hills eating places Parkside Cafe and Fireplace Pizza are in the identical boat and can wait to reopen.