- WHAT’S UPLIFTING? -
Celebration Town Tavern:
Surviving the Crashing Tide of Covid-19
By Jacob Meury -
With so many small businesses
and restaurants
upended by the unexpected
ferocity of Covid-19, life as it
was ceased to feel normal.
The restaurants that many
had so dearly loved were
forced to close their doors
and call it a day for the foreseeable
future. However, the
doors to the Celebration
Town Tavern would not stay
closed for long. A true stalwart
of Celebration’s downtown,
the Town Tavern has
officially returned to pleasing
the palettes of residents
and out of towners alike.
In doing this, the restaurant has meticulously installed safeguards
to ensure the safety of guests and staff alike. For instance, one of
the most noticeable differences aside from the mandatory mask
rule is in the way guests are received. Upon walking up to the front
doors, guests will be warmly greeted by a host or hostess outside
and will be put on a wait if the restaurant’s capacity exceeds 50%.
Masks can be purchased at the front door for $2 and are required
until reaching the table and then whenever walking through the
restaurant. In addition to the masks Plexiglas dividers have been
set up all around the restaurant in high traffic areas such as near
the host stand, kitchen and expo counters.
Guests will be encouraged to practice safe social distancing and
to aid in this the tables are all separated by at least six feet. On
top of all of these safety measures, guests are given hand wipes
when seated and paper menus are offered upon request; it’s
important to note that the regular menus are all thoroughly sanitized
after each use. With all
of this in place, the Tavern is
a shining example for how
we can all do our part to help
stem the tide of Covid-19
and still enjoy beloved
vestiges of normalcy.
During the shutdown, the
Celebration Town Tavern
did not sit idle, important
renovations were underway.
Among some of the more
noticeable ones are the new
outside tables and chairs.
Their sleek new look and
feel is surely a welcome
upgrade. Inside seating has also received a facelift with new
upholstered booths. On top of the upgraded seating, carpets have
been torn up and redone as well as all surfaces receiving a fresh
coat of paint. The long anticipated restroom renovations have
also been completed and the ceilings have been given some attention.
With all these changes you might be wondering what they
haven’t changed? They haven’t changed what makes them so
loved and well renowned
among locals and tourists
alike. The Celebration Town
Tavern is pleased to
announce that they have
reopened with 100% of their
original team.
Worried that the menu has
changed? Don’t be!! The
Celebration Town Tavern
still boasts the same great
flavors with a few new exciting
additions. A few of the
new menu items include:
gator bites, buffalo cauliflower
and fish tacos.
For starters, I am not personally a fan of alligator meat, but the
Tavern’s fried gator bites are surprisingly delicious with their
homemade remoulade “Swamp sauce” and a side of lemon for
added flavor. One of my favorite additions is the buffalo cauliflower
appetizer. A healthier alternative to buffalo wings, but
without compromising any flavor. You might even think that you
are eating boneless buffalo wing bites. As far as new entrées go,
you simply can’t go wrong with the fish tacos. These tacos feature
seasoned fried grouper, island slaw and are drizzled with a
Chipolte Ranch sauce. Trust me… they are simply to die for.
So come on down, grab a bite to eat, have something to drink, and
say hello!
U.VA. 2020 GRAD
ALISHA R MALAK
University of Virginia
Bachelor of Arts in
Biology / Bioethics.
Class of 2020.
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