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Among the changes that the pandemic brought to your life, do your workday lunch habits look different today? Do you leave the office for lunch less often than you did prior to 2020, or do you work from home exclusively now and eat there? A recent Washington Post story by reporter Taylor Telford explored the question “What Did the Pandemic Do to Lunch?”, and we thought it’d make for an interesting discussion today. Regarding the effect on restaurants, the story noted, “It used to be a vital part of doing business, but lunch is lagging in downtown areas as workers stay home.”
Readers, we're wondering: Does this story ring true for you? Has the pandemic changed where you eat your workday lunches — or how you connect with business contacts?
{related: 6 tips for saving money on lunch (even if you eat out all the time!)}
Here are a few excerpts from the Washington Post story to kick off our discussion:
Business lunch will never die, but it’s evolving as the reassessment of work continues: Professionals who consider lunch an essential part of doing their jobs are going out far less than they used to. Upscale restaurants in big business centers can’t count on commuters and are scaling back offerings and slashing their hours.
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When workers do go into offices or are working from home, many are opting for takeout. Three-quarters of restaurant traffic is currently consumed not at the actual restaurant, or off-premises, up from 61 percent before the pandemic, according to data [from] the National Restaurant Association.
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Another reason restaurants in downtown areas might find themselves lacking in lunchtime traffic is because employers are going to greater lengths to make offices attractive, tempting workers to stay on-site with high-end corporate cafeterias.
{related: our best tips for business dining etiquette}
Do tell, readers: Have your solo restaurant lunches or lunches with colleagues or people in your network switched to phone calls or Zoom/Teams calls?
If you buy lunch, are you now more likely to answer “to go” rather than “for here”?
Have restaurants near your workplace limited their hours and/or seem less busy during the lunch hour?
If you have summer associates or interns coming to your firm or company in a few weeks, have the Powers That Be changed rules on networking lunches?
And if your employer has a cafeteria, have they improved it recently?
Anon
As I went from WFH full-time to hybrid, I had to get used to packing a lunch again! That was the biggest change. When I WFH I often just kind of graze or snack all day, but when I’m in the office I like to have a proper lunch as it helps give me energy during the day and I try to take a real lunch break away from my desk. I know in my city many lunchtime meal places shut down over the pandemic, but they seem to be cropping back up again.
Ellen
Me too. My tuchus expanded by 15 pounds b/f everyone came back to the office, even tho I was in there for months b/f anyone else came back! I also ate all the time while at home b/c it was only 10 steps from the refrigerator, which I had stocked with all kinds of good food thru Fresh Direct. I am now getting great stuff delivered from Brooklyn Fare, which the Hive probably is NOT familiar with unless they live in the City. They make excellent prepared foods. I really like their tuna salad, and their egg salad is slightly better then Fairway. I recommend both egg salads b/c they are made fresh every day! Also b/c they are protein rich, I hope it will keep my tuchus in check as I exercise walking all the way to work every day! YAY!!!
Senior Attorney
Pre-pandemic, my same-level colleagues and I used to go to lunch fairly regularly — say, several times a month. Even though we are all now back in the office, the pandemic just killed that dead. I have one colleague who is new in the past year and he makes an effort (we were old friends before he got here), but other than that I never see any of them any more. It’s kind of sad.
I never go out by myself. I have a friend with whom I go out to a restaurant lunch once a month or so (she travels and calls me whenever she’s in town), and occasionally Hubby and I will have lunch at the Club if he’s in the neighborhood. Plus I have my Rotary Club lunches once a week. Other than that, it’s me in my office with my leftovers from last night’s dinner.
Anon
I made pancakes for lunch today, so…yes? Haha.
Anon
My lunches got about 300% better because I am full-time remote now and no longer relying on quickly slapping something together as I race out the door for my 80-minute commute. My company used to eat lunch together in the conference room but 90% of the men there were very poor conversationalists with no interest in improving so I don’t miss it much.
Anon
Same, except 60 minute commute.
Pep
My office building had a great cafeteria on the ground floor, which was a victim of the pandemic and hasn’t reopened. There are only a couple of options that are walkable and they’re not appealing. As a result, on those days when I’m working in the office, I pack a lunch.
I really miss that cafeteria. Fresh muffins every morning, hot out of the oven.
Anonymous and hungry
Brown bag fish, greens, quinoa-ish grains delivery in Chicago. Noting that I was able to eat lunch every day pre-pandemic during “lunch-time.” Since then, I rarely get to eat a meal during traditional lunch and often work 7-3. I miss “lunchtime.”