Above / Meson Sabika, located in a lovely historic setting at 1025 Aurora Avenue, features a take-out menu with delicious daily specials and an efficient safe social-distancing procedure for curbside pick up during Stay-at-Home through May 30.
Last we noticed, eating was essential. We find we eat most every day!
Yet, for some reason, restaurateurs, chefs, cooks, bakers and servers that help prepare and provide food and beverage for patrons who choose to dine out have not been considered essential, even when practicing protocols in place at local eateries.
Let us rant first…
For several months, citizens around the world have been learning the best practices to fight the horrific pandemic that has closed business communities and local economies. During these uncertain times, new data, science, models and counts are changing every day.
Our heart goes out to friends, neighbors and families that have been been infected by coronavirus or have experienced unfortunate loss of life. Life is precious. We appreciate frontline responders, working to cure and reduce coronavirus, making a difference through education, too.
Folks are washing their hands often and keeping 6′ social distance. Folks are wearing face masks inside public places and big stores. Best practices and precautions are being used to help keep other individuals safe and healthy. No one aims to spread coronavirus.
Wash hands often, but don’t wash away common sense
But in our mind, some orders of continuance are without common sense. More and more, government orders continue to hurt small businesses the most, as well as the livelihoods and well-being of their dedicated employees. Many of those small businesses are local restaurants that already adhere to strict protocols for health and food safety while they employ your/our friends, family and neighbors. Those local restaurants, bakeries and sweet shops also pride themselves with pleasures to serve the community.
Have you ever attended a fundraising event when the food and beverages were provided by one or many of Naperville’s 260-plus restaurants?
Have you ever requested a gift certificate donation from a restaurant for an auction at your child’s school?
Have you ever asked a local restaurateur to participate in a “tasting” event to benefit a local nonprofit business you support? Or perhaps the benefit was hosted at a local venue that gave the nonprofit organization a heavy discount to raise funds for the unmet needs of a worthy cause?
Choose to order out at least once a week
If you’ve experienced Naperville’s generous restaurant community, one that offers tastes from around the world as well as farm to table and steaks to seafood, consider how you might help them stay in business so they’ll be ready to serve again when the dine-in restrictions are lifted.
Simply put, choose to order take-out at least once a week from a local eatery that offers more than nationally-advertised fast-food.
Naperville’s unique restaurant community has been growing on the hospitality map since its early beginnings in the 1970s when the city’s population was about 23,000. Back then, only a few handfuls of eateries dotted the landscape along Ogden, throughout downtown and along Route 59.
Help keep local hospitality thriving whenever possible
Today, Dine Naperville features more than 260 restaurants at DineNaperville.com, a listing that serves a community of 150,000 residents and visiting guests. Since mid-March 2020, as ordered by the Illinois Governor, J.B. Pritzker, dine-in services at all Illinois restaurants have been closed to patrons through May 30, 2020. Due to those recent restrictions created by coronavirus (aka COVID-19), Dine Naperville has continued to work closely with the Naperville restaurant community.
During this time, more than half of restaurants in Naperville have been offering customers curbside pick-up, drive-thru and delivery options.
Since March 17, the Dine Naperville website also has featured special offers from participating restaurants, ice cream stores and sweet shops, according to Christine Jeffries, president of the Naperville Development Partnership / Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Visit Dine Naperville dot com to see what restaurants are offering. The website will continue to be updated regularly, working directly with restaurants that wish to serve.
“Just click on the image of the girl riding the scooter on our home page. We’ll be adding additional restaurants to the list as we hear from them,” Jeffries said.
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with tacos from Quigley’s Irish Pub
For instance, for 20 years guests have found Irish fare and delicious burgers on the menu at Quigley’s Irish Pub. Yet, to adapt for the fun of Cinco de Mayo, the cooks in Quigley’s kitchen have conjured up a delicious taco menu for Tues., May 5. Order at (630) 428-4774 for curbside pickup between 4 and 7:30PM.
While the pub has been taking a break from indoor dining, a few members of its dedicated staff have been working inside on design and painting projects to better serve its many loyal patrons who look to return to enjoy Every Day at Quigley’s, aka EDAQ. Check out the regular menu and other details at Quigley’s Irish Pub. To place an order, call (630) 428-4774.
Currently, Quigley’s Irish Pub is open Tuesday through Saturday. Order early for dinners to be ready at designated times. Orders will be spaced to try to accommodate the line of vehicles waiting for curbside pickup at 43 E. Jefferson Ave.
Order for Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10
Note also that local bakeries and restaurants have planned special family-size menus for Mother’s Day. Consider DeEtta’s Bakery, Che Figata, CityGate Grille, Cooper’s Hawk, Meson Sabika, Naper Nuts & Sweets, Sweet Home Gelato, to name just a few. Try to place orders before Fri., May 8.
For instance, Meson Sabika, located at 1025 Aurora Ave., has created another tapas menu that will give every family member a chance to add favorite “small plates of delicious tastes” to Mother’s special dinner.
Jeffries continued, “Our team at Dine Naperville cares deeply about ensuring the health of our community members while also supporting our local restaurants.
“We appreciate the loyal support shown to our restaurants during this difficult time. We’ve been hearing that residents are enjoying discovering different restaurants… even though they’re surprised this stay-at-home order has lasted longer than anticipated.”
Jeffries added, “Please stay safe and stay tuned for any additional updates to our Naperville restaurant community.”
For more information, email dine@naper.org or visit Dine Naperville in time for breakfast, lunch or dinner. All support is appreciated. Plus, it’s essential.
—PN
