Poll: Will You Dine Out at Austin Restaurants That Won’t Require Masks?

Starting on Wednesday, March 10, two of the major protections designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will be rescinded, as Texas restaurants and bars will be permitted to resume operations at 100 percent capacity without any required social distancing and the state’s mask mandate is lifted.

These changes, announced by Gov. Greg Abbott in a press conference this week, put restaurant owners and operators in a difficult position. Those that want to keep their employees safe by following the guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will now be tasked with enforcing these policies themselves, which will likely prove onerous. Then there’s the issue of service workers not even being eligible for the vaccine yet in the state. Despite this, many restaurants in Austin have chosen to continue social distancing and require masks.

However, the question is: Will those diners feel comfortable about their safety and the safety of restaurant workers if they eat at a restaurant that does not require masks?

Whether you’re already dining out sans mask or haven’t eaten inside a restaurant since last year, Eater Austin wants to hear about it. Share your thoughts in our poll below, and we’ll publish the results next week.

This poll will close at midnight on Sunday, March 7.

• Texas Governor Lifts Statewide Restaurant Indoor Dining Capacity Limits and Mask Mandate [EATX]
• Reopening Austin Restaurants at Full Capacity Before Vaccinating Their Workers Is Irresponsible [EATX]