Santolan Town Plaza F&B Tenants Step Up Measures For Safe Dining

Right smack in San Juan City’s residential neighborhood, Santolan Town Plaza boasts of carefully selected casual restaurants, cafés and service establishments, creating a one-stop-shop lifestyle center. There’s a grocery and deli, a drugstore, hardware and furniture store.

Sprawling open spaces and lush greenery, combined with the design elements of easy pedestrian circulation and ample parking designed for convenience, is one of the hallmarks of a Rockwell development.

Even in these precarious times, the community will soon feel confident to come out for some sunlight and fresh air, assured by Rockwell’s well-thought-out safety protocols.

All shops adhere to government directives. A limit is set for the number of shoppers allowed in a store at a time. All stores must follow disinfecting routines for merchandise, and prohibit sampling of products, among others.

Dining out has been made much safer, to allay any reservation. Filipinos’ favorite pastime will be en vogue again following Rockwell’s strict safety measures.

Clear, protective barriers are in place between customers at the same table and between tables. Diners who come from the same household, will be seated diagonally from each other, one meter apart. Diners from different households will be seated 1.8 meters from each other. And flatware will be laid out only when diners are seated at their table.

Diners must fill out and submit a health declaration form before entering. The form can be accessed via QR code or may be filled out at the restaurant’s waiting area following strict safety protocols. Digital menus are available through QR code, and cashless payment options are conveniently available to minimize contact between customers and restaurant staff.

“We are thankful that SanMarkers and acrylic barriers are in place to ensure physical distancing."

Rethink strategies

Ruby Bautista, marketing director of the popular wine bar Barcino, said the biggest challenge was the lockdown itself.

“We had to rethink our business and marketing strategies to get by, with the least financial strain: Speed, presence, availability, relevance and, above all, safety. These have been the major pillars that guided us through our strategies, internally and externally,” Bautista said.

Barcino, Latin for Barcelona, first opened in 2004 as a quaint deli bar offering selected wines, premium cheeses and delectable Spanish deli. Its first restaurant concept opened in Rockwell. Today it has more than 20 branches.

Dine-in customers may safely enjoy their favorite pairings at Barcino.

“As lockdown restrictions ease, safety of our staff and customers will remain a top priority under the new normal,” Bautista said. “Santolan Town Plaza has been a good partner in this endeavor as they also provide safety protocols and service assistance for our staff.”

“Fortunately for us, our Rockwell branches have been experiencing an increase in diners,” she said. Adhering to Rockwell’s health and safety guidelines, Barcino installed markers and acrylic barriers to aid in physical distancing and ensure their customers’ and staff’s safety.