Dining In A Plastic Bubble: A Creative Idea To Keep Safe in a Pandemic Ridden World

After months of struggling, dining in a plastic bubble could be a way for customers to keep safe from the Covid-19.

You may probably feel whiplash from how frequently the coronavirus-related rules have changed. Previously, doors were shut for dine-in services and now we can finally eat in our favourite restaurants again. Reopening the restaurant could be a challenge for owners but Parisian restaurant, H.A.N.D., has  come up with a creative way to attract customers.

The plastic shields are a prototype called Plex’Eat created by French designer Christophe Gernigon. The cylinder of transparent plastic hangs from the ceiling and diners would sit underneath it while eating and drinking. A cut out at the back also allows the diner to sit and standup freely without bending right over. It is a design intended to potentially reduce the risk of airborne infection.

“We want to fill the space with fun things,” said owner Patrikas Ribas.

What is the experience of dining in a plastic cone?

It looks like a scene from a sci-fi movie and sounds futuristic! The director of H.A.N.D., Mathieu Manzoni, said he thinks the idea of plastic shields are a “pretty, more poetic” way for restaurateurs who fear the social-distancing rules will cut their capacity.

Currently, the Parisian restaurant is showcasing the design and on the way testing. However, according to The Sun, other restaurants from France, Belgium, Canada, Japan and Argentina are interested in this model and we might soon to see more of this design.

Other creative ideas are coming up from restaurants

So, you think it’s strange to have these plastic shields? There’s an even more creative, and definitely wackier, idea coming about. Restaurants are searching for a different way to resume their services without cutting their capacity. How would you feel about dining in with a pool noodle attached to your head?

Café Rothe, a German café gives customers a ‘pool noodle’ hat to maintain social distancing while enjoying the nice weather.

The Amsterdam art centre restaurant, Mediamatic ETEN, serve their diners in an individual quarantine greenhouse. “I think we prove with this dining concept that you can still experience intimacy in a special setting within what our government calls ‘anderhalvemetersamenleving’ (meaning 1.5-meter society in Dutch),” said Tobias Servaas from Mediamatic.

Fish Tales in the USA introduces a ‘giant rubber ring’ to keep drinkers safely for 6 feet apart. Customer is standing at the centre of the rubber ring and enjoy drinks from the bar.

Well, innovation becomes vital in surviving in business. One things for sure, we’re looking forward to our traditional dining experience becoming more adventurous.

Subscribe to FIB’s Weekly Alchemy Report for your weekly dose of music, fashion and pop culture news!