Is the never-ending crisis coming back in full force to restaurants?

Statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show the ebb and flow of retail and foodservice sales for the last 20 years.

Of course, the most dramatic numbers in the data series are found in 2020.

In charts below, check out the growth of grocery spending compared with foodservice spending during the first pandemic year.

While foodservice has been making a solid comeback this year, recent headlines about the COVID variants are worrisome.

Will restaurants again be subject to more restrictions in the days and weeks ahead? Here are a few headlines that suggest that is the case:

With COVID-19 rates high should fully vaccinated people be eating indoors in restaurants?

State of Hawaii reports 20 COVID clusters linked to restaurants, food service employees

Bar patrons, restaurant diners will need to show proof of COVID-19 vaccinations starting Saturday

Is it safe to go to restaurants as COVID-19 delta variant spreads? How to assess the risk

Pandemic still poses mortal threat to Michigan restaurants | Opinion

The National Restaurant Association has said the coronavirus variants threaten hard-won foodservice gains.

A National Restaurant Association survey of 1,000 adults, conducted Aug. 13-15, reveals:

• 6 in 10 adults changed their restaurant use due to the rise in the delta variant;
• 1 in 5 adults chose to sit outdoors if they did dine at a restaurant;
• 37% said they ordered delivery or takeout instead of dining in a restaurant; and
• 9% cancelled restaurant plans and 19% stopped dining in restaurants altogether.

The survey found that patrons, if asked to wear masks to dine indoors again:

• 32% of adults surveyed said this mandate would make them less likely to dine in a restaurant;
• 25% said it would make them more likely to; and
• 43% said it wouldn’t impact their restaurant use either way.

If asked to show proof of vaccination to dine indoors, those surveyed said:

• 32% of adults surveyed said this mandate would make them less likely to dine in a restaurant;
• 33% said it would make them more likely to; and 
• 35% said it wouldn’t impact their restaurant use either way.

As reflected by the divided opinions of Americans on mask/vaccine mandates, "rock and hard place" is where restaurants live for the foreseeable future.

Check out the multistate COVID-19 policy tracker here and a dashboard view here.