Madison restaurants reflect on pandemic struggles ahead of city's first Restaurant Week

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) --- As Madison starts its first restaurant week, restaurant owners in the area are reflecting on the difficulties of the past year.

For the past year, most of the business for restaurants is coming from within two miles of them from people all over the city and tourism. Eat-Street, an online food ordering service, has seen a 33% boost in new clients.

"I think it was an interesting year," Osteria Papavero chef and owner Francesco Mangano said. "I just hope I don't have to go through another one like this." 

Some restaurants are keeping their dining rooms closed.

"It is all about the safety of our staff," Brasserie V and Longtable owner Matt van Nest said. "Customers can choose to dine at our restaurant. They can choose to take the risk."

Chefs from the Madison area will host a virtual discussion Tuesday night, Feb. 23.

Donations will go to "Cook it Forward", a non-profit providing restaurant-quality meals to people who otherwise couldn't afford them.