National steak restaurants Gaucho and M have opened their booking lines. The company hopes to open in a month’s time, on July 4.

The restaurant group said it has been working hard to implement new safety measures and has introduced new reduced contact ‘mindful dining’ service standards across all Gaucho and M Restaurants.

Mindful Dining will see in-restaurant social distancing measures enforced, along with offering reduced contact, the brand explained.

Gaucho and M are also introducing ‘service distancing’ for guests who would like a no contact service when visiting the restaurants.

Additional measures include foot-powered hand sanitisers at the door, and temperature checks and face masks for staff, who will change into uniforms only once they arrive.

Leather-bound menus will be replaced by disposable ones and salt and pepper shakers will be available in sachets on request. All restaurants will be reduced by 30 per cent in capacity.

Despite the rigorous changes in how we dine out, CEO Martin Williams is confident people have missed the hospitality industry and that restaurants will be busy – something both Gaucho and M are prepared for and able to accommodate.