Totally unrelated, but I visited a Zoe's in Houston for lunch this week. First time I've been there, and I was really impressed with the quality of the food and the portion size. Greek salad with falafel was very good. Back on topic, the one I visited was well-staffed at lunch too. No early closing time.

Zoe’s actually does a lot of their cooking on-site so if you find one with good cooks, they can be awesome by fast casual standards. Unfortunately that’s not the case for all their outposts.

I’ve only been in two. It’s been a couple years since I was in the one at Pier Park II in Panama City Beach. We wore out the one in Asheville last August since it was less than a mile from our AirBnB. It’s every bit as good this year but we’re in a different part of the city. I feel like the menu’s changed in a year but I couldn’t say how. Back home, we’re at least 45 minutes from the nearest. Too bad. I think it’s an excellent chain.

Cava Group acquried Zoe's Kitchen in 2018
 

Some bad news for you:Link: CNBC - Cava looks to convert Zoe's restaurants as it sets its sights on growth in suburbia (March 15, 2021)

I'm not familiar with Cava, but looked them up and it looks more like a Roti than Zoe's. Based on my experience this week, I'd choose Zoe's over Roti any day.

Shortage is so desperate in a somewhat-isolated area near me that some are organising volunteers to work as wait and restaurant staff. It is suggested restaurant operators make a in lieu of wage donation to selected charities.

https://www.coastreporter.net/local-...teries-4217398

That's pretty cool. I spent 20 years in the restaurant business earlier in life and miss it quite a bit. I'm in Hawaii about to open an unrelated business but am on hold due to returning to the mainland in a few weeks. Instead of drinking at noon maybe I should go serve a few :) Something tells me I'm not as good at 50 as I was at 30. Can a volunteer be fired? :) :)

Dairy Queen capitola on saturday was so understaffed that it was drive-through only. The car in front of us had a single ice cream cone.

That's the rub. I can imagine a warning sign saying, "Our Staff are volunteers: Any rudeness or attitude towards them may result is a plate of food dumped over your head" or "Rudeness may result in a pie in our face"

"You've been served!"

David

They get duct taped to their chair. Put a sign around their neck explaining their poor behavior.

Yesterday we stopped at Asheville Pizza and Brewing, one of three locations. This was our third attempt. My recollection of years past was that they were open 7 days a week. That is no longer the case. In past years, there has been table service. That is no longer the case. There is now a line that ends at 2 bartender who take orders for food and drinks. They pour drinks and you carry them back to your table. Pizzas and other food are delivered to a counter where you pick them up. I would guess that they’re operating 4-5 employees shy of what I recall.

Also first day of the return of the indoor mask mandate in NC. Retail and hospitality outlets we visited yesterday all appeared ready. Lots of signage that must have been tucked away last year until needed again.

We dined at Vinnies in AVL last night. Tables were filled immediately upon opening. There was no apparent server or kitchen staff shortage and service was outstanding at my table. My server did mention having only worked there for the last week. Hmmm.

We've eaten out 4 times in the last 9 days, and each time was very normal, as you've described. I'm wondering if people are starting to figure out the free ride is ending soon (and has in some states already). The smart ones will get a job before the benefits end and they're competing against everyone else. Also probably helps employers now that people have to pay their rent too. Our new state indoor mask mandate went into effect today, so we'll probably be cutting back on restaurants again soon as the weather cools down. It doesn't appear, at least for now, that restaurants will have capacity limits this time, so hopefully it's a better situation than last year.

I'm jealous. It's still FAR from normal here in northern CA.