Furrowed eyebrows, phone at arm’s length. Rennais Philippe Terrade is desperately looking for the QR code on his cell phone. Next to him, a young waitress from La Table de Martine, in Draguignan, guides him step by step. “I’m not very good at it. It’s a hassle at my age”, admits the 60-year-old, before letting his daughter scan the paper version of her health pass. “We try to adapt and make things quick for the staff, but it’s a headache for me. Fortunately, we are received with a smile and patience”.
Martine Dupin, co-manager of La table de Martine, puts into perspective: “We’re all in the same boat, that’s the least of it!” On his terrace, the tables are all occupied, to his surprise. “Quite a few regulars warned us last week that we weren’t going to see them until the pass was canceled.” It is therefore the tourists who have taken over. “Most had to plan in order to go on vacation, so today they are not slowed down to eat with us!”
“20 place settings instead of 120”
After a very busy weekend, the Le Bureau brewery in Draguignan, for its part, is hit hard. In this first service with compulsory health pass, Matthieu Schneider, manager, lets out a long sigh. “This afternoon, we had 20 covers instead of 120 normally. The government has planned a week for teaching, but we don’t even need to do any. Sorting was done all by itself! ”
Even if for some, any excuse is good to have a bite to eat. “But the worst is stille the ‘I forgot it at home’. Coeven though we were back to school. ” And three weeks before the start of the school year, Matthieu Schneider admits: “It’s a little scary, this empty room”.
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