Tags: survey | restaurant chains | sanitation | safety | indoor dining

Survey Reveals Best and Worst COVID-19 Safe Restaurant Chains

cracker barrel sign is shown
A Cracker Barrel Old Country Store sign is visible atop one of its restaurant stores in Naperville, Illinois. (Tim Boyle/Getty Images)

By    |   Friday, 02 October 2020 11:21 AM EDT

As major cities such as New York and San Francisco reinstate indoor dining subject to rules and restrictions to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, people are returning to their favorite eateries. However, a recent survey found that not all restaurants are adhering to coronavirus safety protocols.

According to Eat This, Not That!, despite the guidelines issued by health agencies about the importance of social distancing and wearing masks, there is a large discrepancy in how different popular chains are handling these safety measures. A recent customer survey conducted by Technomic found that in some restaurants, employees did not wear personal protective equipment, did not enforce social distancing measures, and practiced unsafe food hygiene that gave customers the overall impression that the establishments were not taking safety and sanitation seriously.

The consumer survey of 27,300 customers was conducted from July through September. The casual dining chains with the lowest marks were Red Lobster, Ruby Tuesday, and O’Charley’s, with fewer than 30% of customers approving of their safety protocols. Seasons 52, Texas Roadhouse, and Maggiano’s Little Italy scored the highest number of points.

For family dining, Denny’s and IHOP landed at the bottom, while customers gave high marks to First Watch and Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. Dairy Queen and Arby’s were voted the worst quick service eateries, and Quiznos and Dutch Bros. Coffee scored highest for safety and sanitation.

Lynn C. Allison

Lynn C. Allison, a Newsmax health reporter, is an award-winning medical journalist and author of more than 30 self-help books.

© 2025 NewsmaxHealth. All rights reserved.


Headline
As major cities such as New York and San Francisco reinstate indoor dining subject to rules and restrictions to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, people are returning to their favorite eateries. However, a recent survey found that not all restaurants are adhering to...
survey, restaurant chains, sanitation, safety, indoor dining
229
2020-21-02
Friday, 02 October 2020 11:21 AM
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