The San Francisco Bay Area instituted a shelter-in-place order on March 16, 2020, a move that closed restaurant dining rooms and most area bars, breweries, and wineries in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19). It would be a wild understatement to say that this has had a remarkable impact on the local food industry, as restaurants laid off scores of workers and are struggling to remain afloat, while grocery stores have been packed to overflowing with shoppers eager to stock up for the long term.
When times get tough, one important thing to remember is that Bay Area is uniquely suited to recover from a disaster: The city was nearly leveled in 1906, and the devastation wrought by the 1989 earthquake is still remembered by many residents. As soon as the shutdown occurred, restaurants started pivoting to new takeout models, bars found ways to start delivering cocktails to thirsty folks’ homes, and farmers launched new produce delivery programs to help others remain indoors. It’s become a cliché during this crisis to say “we’re all in this together,” but nowhere is this truer than in the Bay Area, where we’ve had to rely on each other through calamity after calamity. We dusted ourselves off and rose again back then, and we will again after this one.
This is Eater San Francisco’s guide on how to eat and drink during this tough time, from where to find delivery or takeout options, spots to buy pantry staples and produce, or how to help workers, restaurants, and our most vulnerable citizens.
Have specific questions? Email sf@eater.com. And come back to this space later, as we’ll keep adding more as the city battles the pandemic.