Restaurants hit by slowdown, temporary closures as Omicron bites

THE current spike in Omicron cases is curbing the appetites of diners as restaurants grapple with a dip in reservations, a rise in cancellations and even temporary closures as staff at upscale and Michelin-starred eateries including Saint Pierre and Zen come down with the virus.

Restaurants interviewed reported a drop of 10 to 30 per cent in reservations since January - a combination of the post-festive calm and the start of the Omicron wave.

At the Les Amis group, there's been "a general slowdown across the board, with business affected around 10 to 20 per cent, mainly in the mid-market segment", said a spokesman, adding that when restaurants are operating at close to breakeven point, such a drop can adversely affect the bottom line.