Five years after the pandemic forced a shutdown of restaurants, the expected transformation in the industry has not materialized in New York. Although there seemed to be an opportunity for significant change, restaurant workers are back to facing many of the same issues they confronted before COVID-19. With inflation and rising prices, the dining experience has become less affordable, and the anticipated improvements in workplace conditions have fled. Many workers, while optimistic during the reopening, now feel the momentum for change has faded and little has shifted in their experiences.
"It did feel like, We're almost starting from zero, when things reopened," says Kelly Sullivan, a Manhattan bartender and co-host of the industry podcast FOH.
"I can't even really remember what was being put on the table. I know people were sensitive to sort of the overall plight of the restaurant worker, but I don't know," says Max Eddy, a sommelier downtown.
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