American restaurants, battling for survival amid the coronavirus, are starting to ask the question: Even when the lockdown lifts, how do we lure back skittish diners? Their margin for error is very small.

¡°All of a sudden, it¡¯s like: ¡®I don¡¯t know if I want someone touching my food,¡¯¡± said Bob Goldin, a partner at consulting firm Pentallect Inc. Illustrating the scope of the challenge, he added: ¡°I think we¡¯re all learning we can live without restaurants.¡±

There¡¯s growing apprehension that restaurants have suddenly lost their appeal on a deeper level that will reverberate well after COVID-19 fades. Consumers, many of whom are cooking at home and facing dimmer economic prospects, will likely be slow to congregate again in bars and restaurants.