Are people ready to get out and eat?

That’s what local restaurateur Matt Prescott is wondering today, as restaurants and other eateries get the go-ahead to open today to outdoor dining.

Some establishments are setting up or using existing outdoor spaces, but Prescott isn’t expecting it to be an immediate boon.

He owns Candlelight Inn locations in Sterling, Rock Falls and Clinton, Iowa; Palmyra Pub and Eatery and the Brandywine Banquet and Event Center in Dixon; Brink’s in Sterling and Corner Tap in Rock Falls.

“We want to follow the rules and guidelines, but the biggest thing is – and every restaurant is fighting the same battle – we got to make sure the consumers are comfortable coming out,” he said.

“That’s going to be a struggle, because many people still don’t want to go out.”

The Clinton Candlelight will open for in-house dining on Monday, exactly 1 month after Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the reopening of that state’s restaurants. Prescott kept the place closed after the order because of restrictions that still applied.

Outdoor tables at Candlelight in Rock Falls location are not open today; Palmyra will reopen its outdoor patio the week of June 8 and Brink’s the week of June 15, Prescott said.

“Hopefully 2 weeks after that we can get partial capacity,” Prescott said. “We’re part of the community, people need to eat, we’re part of that process, and in some form we got to get going.

“Until we get our capacity back, it’s just trying to do the best you can to survive.”