Not many of us would want to be a restaurateur or be
involved in the bar industry right now.
Happily, some people have a powerful belief that things will work out and they are actively planning new places in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Here are a handful to look forward to.
We will start in Glasgow where the Mowgli group of restaurants is eyeing up sites.
The Indian street food company started off in Liverpool in 2014 and now has eleven branches in England and Wales.
Two more are planned before the end of the year with a Glasgow branch pencilled in for 2021.
Mowgli founder told Big Hospitality mag that every opening creates 60 jobs so roll on Mowgli Glasgow.
The main pic, taken from Mowgli's Facebook page, shows their Ma’s lamb chops, Mowgli sticky wings and fenugreek-kissed fries.
@pizza raises the dough
On the other side of the M8, @pizza are planning to expand their Edinburgh operation and open a second branch on the Royal Mile.
After a successful crowdfunding campaign, the new, three-floor restaurant aims to open in December.
There is already an @pizza in the city's West End and a third is planned for the St James Quarter in 2021.
@pizza's USP is they can cook a pizza in 90 seconds.
Amsterdam in Edinburgh
Sticking with Edinburgh, The Scotsman has reported that the Amsterdam café Greenwoods has applied to open their first overseas branch on the former Wee Restaurant site on Frederick Street.
Big breakfasts are a speciality along with a lunch menu of melts, bagels and burgers.
They also offer cream teas and high teas.
As you might expect, both Amsterdam branches of Greenwoods aim to use local suppliers and environmentally friendly, bio-degradable products as much as possible.
All being well, Greenwoods hopes to welcome its first customers in March next year.
Wan to watch
The Real Wan is gearing up to launch. Pic: Facebook.
Finally, we'll shout a cheery 'Hiya!' to a new Chinese street food café and takeaway on Glasgow's Newlands Road in Cathcart.
Glasgow Live reports that the new place, specialising in street food from south western China, will sport the puntastic name The Real Wan.
On their Facebook page, Chef Lea promises that 'This will be like no Chinese food you’ve tried before; not one dish from my menu is available in a Chinese takeaway. I’m very happy to have the chance to introduce you to “The Real Wan”!'
As with every new food and drink venture, the 5pm Food blog salutes them all.