The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has certainly changed how restauranteurs have served their clientele, and how guests have adapted to new dining customs and regulations.
Social distancing, for one, has transcended all aspects of everyday life, including how we dine, whether it’s a full course meal or just getting out to grab a bite to eat at one’s favorite eatery.
When the pandemic was initially declared, indoor dining was one of the first items on the not-to-do list as government health officials began implementing steps to curb the infection rate.
Restaurants were told to close their doors, though some were able to quickly adapt by offering takeout-only menus.
Restaurant owners then began offering outdoor dining, sometimes even incorporating decorated patios or temporary canopy coverings into their game plan. In fact, conversion of outdoor space — rethinking overlooked, overused or underutilized areas — has become a lifeline for many restaurants and businesses during the pandemic
Limited indoor dining has begun to pop up again, though that situation remains fluid.
One constant, however, is that people remain hungry and need to eat. They miss their comfort food.
Lolita’s Mexican Restaurant Inc. continues to serve the South County and other nearby communities in its quest to keep customers happy — and sated.
The key has been to remain fluid. That means adapting to the “new normal.”
Beginning in May, the Lolita’s team made some necessary updates and created some new offerings for guests to make feeding the family easier than ever. Because the restaurant is built in a fast-casual setting, only minor changes had to be made to continue to operate.
The in-store guidelines were implemented to better serve guests, employees and the surrounding community.
Things may look and feel a bit different, but the changes were made with the health and safety of guests in mind, according to the Lolita’s management team.
Those extra measures included the addition of sanitation stations at all registers, clear signage for one way in and out customer flow during business hours and floor markers in place as a guide to ensure six feet social distancing between guests.
Other protocols included a limited number of guests allowed in the building at one time, with customers asked to wait outside for their orders.
There are clearly marked signs for the phone order pick-up register and the to-go order register.
The self-serve salsa bar has been temporarily removed, though these items can be requested when an order is placed.
The restaurant also introduced family meals serving four to six individuals to better serve customers.
The family-sized meals include two proteins (carne asada, pollo asado, carnitas or abobada), rice, beans, 12 flour or 12 corn tortillas with guacamole and salsa. All is served in an easy-to-share bundle.
Lunch specials are offered daily. The breakfast menu is served until 11 a.m.
The Lolita’s management team continues to serve the community in more ways than one.
Management has provided staff members with additional supplies to take home such as paper products, dry food goods (rice and beans) and produce boxes.
Front-line meals have been crafted and delivered to hospitals, health care workers and other
community members who have been putting in extra hours to keep the community safe during these uncertain times.
Lolita’s Restaurants Inc. first opened its doors in 1984 and has since expanded to seven locations under founders Joaquin and Dolores (“Lolita”) Farfan.
Locations include Eastlake (871 Showroom Place), Chula Vista (413 Telegraph Canyon Road) and 601 East Palomar Street), Bonita (4516 Bonita Road), San Diego (202 Park Boulevard), San Diego State University (5120 College Avenue) and Kearny Mesa (7305 Clairemont Mesa Road).
The downtown San Diego location is framed by Petco Park. Online orders can be processed through Door Dash at the Lolita’s downtown San Diego and SDSU locations.
Catering trays are available at most locations.
Team management said the restaurant hopes to open for indoor dining by early next year depending on changes in CDC guidelines between now and then. In the meantime, a launch to online ordering at all locations in imminent which should save on call times or waiting by placing an order directly on the website.
Lolita’s Mexican Food Locations
Chula Vista/Bonita
- 413 Telegraph Road, phone (619) 585-0232, hours Monday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (take-out and catering only)
- 601 East Palomar Street, phone (619) 482-8008, hours Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (take-out and patio seating)
- 871 Showroom Place, phone (619) 565-2271, hours Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (take-out and patio seating)
- 4516 Bonita Road, phone (619) 479-8636, hours Monday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (take-out and patio seating)
San Diego
- 202 Park Boulevard, phone (619) 269-6055, hours Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (take-out, catering, online ordering and delivery available)
- 5120 College Avenue, San Diego State University, phone (619) 432-1310, hours Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (take-out, catering, online ordering and delivery available)
- 7305 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, phone (858) 874-7983, hours Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (take-out and patio seating)
