“With the latest government announcements, we can expect the worst in 2022,” remarks Olivier Bouscatel, president of the GNI31 (National Group of Independents of the Hotel and Catering Industry). Anyway, for three weeks, it is already forbidden to dance in bars and restaurants. You can imagine the spirit of celebration! This obviously does not encourage customers to go out ”. If the brasserie des Illustres on the Place du Capitole is open on the 31st, it will therefore be in strict compliance with the health protocol: verification of the vaccination pass, hydroalcoholic gel, mask for staff and for travel by customers. “The overwhelming majority of restaurateurs responsible for this protocol,” assures Benjamin Serra, vice-president of CPME 311. Verifications have also become frequent. The staff and employees of the Prima Bonheur in Victor-Hugo were checked on Wednesday by several police officers. A bit intrusive at lunchtime but everything went well. The most complicated are the terraces with the flow of perpetual movements ”.

Cascading cancellations

Despite everything, for the 31st, festive dishes remain on the menu. Hervé Bourg de la Verrière has thus planned a menu at 90 € (capon, langoustines, etc.): “For my part, I am obsessed with fake passes”, admits this restaurant owner. A € 149 menu at the Bibent which also provides a delivery service and a magical brunch in the morning on January 1st. Quite a few cancellations have also affected the sector: as in Capoul which offers its festive menu at 98 €. The star Stéphane Tournié also had to cancel a table for covid cases: “I’m calm. The customers are reasonable ”. Pierre Lambinon of Py’R is also reassuring: “I had the cancellation of a table of American customers. Otherwise it’s a 31 like the other years with a festive and optimistic menu awaiting 2022 ”.