ARTISTS SUPPORT RESTAURANTS

We created a mural designed to resemble a classifieds page in a newspaper. The listings featured on it promote local restaurants and eateries. Many of these places are run by friends of ours, or are simply spots we love to visit. The mural has a symbolic dimension, though — it is meant to draw attention to the difficult situation facing the restaurant market. We did this pro bono, and our goal is to encourage Poles to support the food businesses in their local area. Let's do it so that once the economy reopens, we can go back to our favourite places." — explains Karol Klepacki of Good Looking Studio.

An unexpected challenge

Almost a year has passed since the beginning of the pandemic in Poland. In the first few weeks, most of society accepted the lockdown as justified, if temporary. People counted on a swift return to the everyday life they had known. Unfortunately, reality proved more complicated. The pandemic has dragged on, its effects felt by all — but one of the industries hit hardest is the restaurant sector.

The majority of food and hospitality businesses have had to face the challenge of rapidly adapting to a new reality. "The atmosphere that comes alive when a restaurant is buzzing with people is priceless. Covid took away everything we love about it. But we didn't give up. We set up an online shop and adapted our dishes so they could be easily prepared at home. Even so, we still feel the acute absence of direct contact with our guests," says Olga Kręglicka of the Kręgliccy Group.

"Ocho has been on the Warsaw map since May 2019. We dreamed of a buzzing place, full of people. Within a matter of days, we had to completely change our approach and switch to a takeaway-only offer. The ritual of eating, meeting, sharing the best of what we have — it lost all its magic," says Iga Sekuła of Ocho.

Not everyone, however, has the option of falling back on takeaway orders. "Unlike many countries where cocktail bar culture is well established, in Poland it is not possible to sell alcohol for delivery or collection. This is governed by the Act on Sobriety and Counteracting Alcoholism, written back in the 1980s. In London, Paris or Amsterdam this is a very popular solution, but here it is simply not possible," comments Tomek Małek, bar manager at The Roots Cocktail Bar.

Values, traditions and solidarity as the strength of the restaurant industry

Hope for survival was meant to come in the form of state support. However, as restaurant owners declare, they either received no assistance at all or what they got was negligible — nowhere near enough to cover their costs. Instead of help, new restrictions and bans kept coming, continuously extended. The restaurant industry is largely left to fend for itself, and the frustration among owners is growing. For those pushed to the wall, it has recently led to opening their venues in defiance of the bans. The rest are doing their best to survive yet another closure.

"We have been in Morskie Oko park for 60 years. We feel a responsibility towards such an iconic spot on the Warsaw map. We are doing our best to keep the team together — they are the soul of this place. Three wonderful ladies who have been part of Mozaika for over forty years are still with us. We can only hope that welcoming Warsaw residents back will come sooner than the restaurant closing for good," says Krzysztof Olejnik of Cafe Mozaika, with a mix of concern and hope.

The strength of the local community made itself felt in Ochota. "Thanks to the tremendous support of our staff, neighbours, friends of Ocho and the Ochota Theatre, we managed to get through to the end of the first lockdown. During the summer we caught the wind in our sails. We managed to come back with the full team and great energy. Then we had to close again. Every day we fight for our future, and we hope to reopen for good — with the same team we started this difficult period with," says Marcin Sekuła of Ocho.

Looking to the future with optimism

"The biggest unknown is the future of relationship-based dining. Because we are certain that the restaurant industry will survive — but its model may change. We opened our restaurants because we were driven by hospitality, by taking care of people, by the energy that comes alive around a table. Food is just a medium for communication, conversation, the exchange of emotions. We believe that as soon as it becomes possible, people will come back to their favourite restaurants, bars and cafés," adds Olga Kręglicka.

A sense of optimism also comes through in the words of those behind Ocho. "We can't wait for spring and summer, when Ocho will once again fill up with people, their smiles, emotions and conversations. We want to feel again what we are missing so much right now."

Hope for a better tomorrow

The longing for gatherings with loved ones is something everyone feels. As we look forward to a return to the reality we knew just a year ago, it is important to remember to support the restaurant industry. Solidarity will help it survive — and give guests the chance to return to their favourite venues and the atmosphere they associate with their social lives before the pandemic.

The mural supporting Warsaw's restaurants and eateries is located at Jaworzyńska 7/9, near Politechnika metro station in Warsaw.

The initiative is carried out pro bono by Good Looking Studio.

The mural was designed by Norbert Strukow.

Twelve representatives of Warsaw's restaurant scene were invited to take part: Cafe Mozaika, Casa di Tuzza, Gringo Bar, Kręgliccy, Ocho, Ósma Kolonia, Relaks kawiarnia, Soul Food, The Cool Cat, The Roots Cocktail Bar, Warmut, Wege Mikser.