Shanghai begins the gradual climb back

The study, which polled 488 restaurateurs and diners on April 11-12, found that revenue had returned to normal levels at only 4 percent of businesses following the easing of pandemic prevention measures the previous month. The majority of respondents－63 percent－were earning 30 to 60 percent of their normal revenue.

Austin Hu, the owner of Heritage by Madison, an upscale restaurant on the Bund, described the pandemic as "brutal" for food and beverage businesses, adding that sales at his restaurant fell by 80 percent during the peak of the outbreak in February.

The situation improved by March, with sales reaching 35 percent of the usual level, and by last month the proportion had risen to 50 percent.

Hu said, "We had to do many events around town, work with supportive suppliers to come up with deals and promotions, and basically burn through a year's worth of menus and ideas just to hit these numbers."

Smaller restaurants have not been spared either. Anthony Chow, owner of Bites and Bottle-O, a cozy 20-seater tapas joint on Danshui Road, said his business had little revenue during February.

While customer numbers have improved since then, he said revenue is still only half of what it used to be.

"Business started to pick up about a month ago, but people just aren't spending like before. They are much more conservative now because of the economic uncertainty this pandemic has created," he said.

This dip in spending is also reflected in Gouk's survey, which showed that a majority 39 percent of respondents said they would cut down on outlays.