GEORGE TOWN: For restaurant manager YM Ooi, it’s obvious why the eatery is not open for dine-ins on Chinese New Year Eve.
“That’s because we ourselves too want to go home and celebrate with our families,” he quipped.
Ooi said that about 90% of their staff including the chefs are Chinese.
“It will not be fair for them to work while others enjoy the festivities,” he added.
For the past 25 years, the restaurant in Jalan Sri Bahari here would close from the eve to the second day of the Lunar New Year. (During the movement control order to stem the spread of Covid-19, they offered takeaways on the eve of the celebrations.)
This year, Ooi said the restaurant will make concessions once more by offering takeaways until noon on the eve.
They have two packages – for six and 10 persons – with “poon choy” (a traditional Cantonese festive stew of many layers).
“We offer add-ons such as yee sang and lap mei fun (waxed meat rice) too. Those who place their orders must come collect them by noon as my staff members need to go home,” he said.
But most other restaurants here are preparing for a busy time.
Penang Koo Soo Kwong Choon Tong Restaurant and Tea-house Association chairman Vinah Yee shared that a majority of its members are fully booked for reunion dinners.
“This year’s business has been better as more people want to dine out with their families.
“We have more than 40 Chinese restaurants under our association. According to them, business is good this season,” she said.
Some restaurants, she added, have as many as 40 to 60 tables that can seat eight to 10 diners each.
“For those with small families who aren’t able to take up an entire table, they can opt for takeaways of signature dishes.
“Or they can go to small restaurants where they can order individual dishes rather than a set package,” she said.
One restaurant in Jalan Datuk Keramat, also in the city, said it is fully booked for dine-ins on Chinese New Year Eve, for two sessions – 5.30pm and 8pm.
Its director Chong Siew Wei said they have adopted the system to cater for high demand.
“People prefer to dine out as it saves them time and they do not have to slog in the kitchen all day and then do the washing up after dinner.”
Chong said he has bookings for reunion lunches as well.
“While these are not as popular, some have big families from both sides, so they fit in both families on the same day by having a reunion lunch with one side and dinner with another,” he said.
