NORFOLK, Va.— New Year’s Eve plans are looking different for a lot of people during the pandemic; many are staying home to stay safe.
Hamadi Jett says his plan is to play “Drake on vinyl” and “be at home doing a whole lot of nothing.”
Richard Valdez says he would like to be traveling, but this year he’s going to stay home and have a nice dinner.
Meanwhile, LeAnn Splitter says “doing absolutely nothing” is the only thing she has planned.
Bars and restaurants will surely be a lot less busy this New Year’s Eve, that’s why they’re trying to serve customers at home.
The Restaurant at Four Eleven York in Norfolk is typically closed December 31, but this year they’re opening their kitchen so customers don’t have to.
“This actually will be our first New Year’s Eve dinner that we’ll be doing,” said co-owner Malia McGee.
They’re doing a four-course New Year’s Eve Feast to-go that’s ready to eat at home.
“We wanted to be able to offer a fancy meal for takeout so that we can serve more people than we would in a normal night with four tables.
Many restaurants are choosing to cater to the crowd at home and thanks to a year spent social distancing they’ve had practice.
“We definitely learned how to package things to go so that they were still beautiful and had a wonderful presentation just like they would here at the restaurant,” said McGee.
They’ve noticed people are looking for different ways to celebrate. The Inn at Four Eleven York is all booked up for the holiday as some people turn to stay-cations to get away without going too far.
“They’re trying not to travel so they’ve been making a compromise and booking a night here to feel like they’re getting out of town but still at home,” she explained.
Many places are taking pre-orders now for meals you can pick up on New Year’s Eve. Check with your favorite local restaurants to see what your options are for the holiday.
