Starting today, you can go out to eat again -- starting tomorrow in New Orleans. New Orleans restaurants will also be required to take reservations, and hold on to patrons’ contact information for 21 days.
Louisiana Restaurant Association president Stan Harris says their members in New Orleans will comply with Mayor LaToya Cantrell's mandate, but he has problems with requiring restaurateurs to collect personal information
“We’ve had so many issues in our country with identity theft and other things that I think it’s a challenge when you mandate something without having a real clear system of how that information is to be used,” said Harris.
For places that haven’t taken reservations in the past, Harris said it could pose challenges to them and their clientele.
“I’m not certain that if you’re used to coming to a restaurant that doesn’t take reservations and walking into that restaurant, that every customer will be comfortable providing their name and contact information.”