Memorial’s Federal Grill Defies Harris County Orders, Plans to Reopen Friday | Eater Houston

"Planning to reopen for dine-in service on April 24 despite Harris County’s 'stay at home' order through April 30, I note that Federal Grill’s Memorial-area location at 8731 Katy Freeway — a 7,000-square-foot, brick-lined destination off I-10 with an open kitchen — will serve comfort classics like kung pao calamari, shrimp and grits, and chicken fried steak and is stocked with a long list of Scotch and Japanese whiskeys. Owner Matt Brice says he is opening 'carefully, very carefully' and acknowledges he will be directly defying the county orders after getting a green light from Hedwig Village’s mayor, though he added he would comply if law enforcement ordered a shutdown. Precautions announced include temperature checks for employees at the start of each shift; seating at 30 percent of the restaurant’s 240-seat capacity; disposable menus and condiments; sanitizing seating areas after every guest; contactless payments like Venmo and PayPal; staff wearing masks and gloves; and bathroom attendants limiting entry to one person at a time." - Tierney Plumb