Glamorous mannequins enforce pandemic safety at a Washington restaurant

It’s not your typical Michelin-starred feast experience, dining near life-size mannequins clad in glamorous 1940’s style. It could be considered quite unconventional but then again, so is almost everything else right now.

The three-star Michelin restaurant 'The Inn' at Little Washington, has found a fun or creepy way to enforce social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic when it reopened recently: costumed mannequins seated among the breathing guests.

The theatrical, life-sized mannequins are dressed to evoke the post-war ambience of the 1940s, with pearl necklaces, checkered dresses and striped suits.

Jess Soman, director of food and beverage at The Inn at Little Washington, poses with mannequins in The Inn's dining room in Washington.

Mannequins act customers in the dining room at The Inn at Little Washington in Washington.

Patrick O'Connell, chef at The Inn at Little Washington, poses with mannequins in the inn's dining room in Washington.

Executive Assistant Jessie Dawson sits among mannequins occupying some tables.

Guests walk past mannequins to help with social distancing in the grand dining room of The Inn at Little Washington.

A waiter wears a face mask as he passes mannequins populating the dining room of The Inn at Little Washington.

The Inn at Little Washington, one of the country’s most renowned restaurants uses mannequins to help with social distancing.

Guests adjusting their masks stand next to mannequins populating the dining room of The Inn at Little Washington

Guests poses with mannequins to help with social distancing in the grand dining room of The Inn at Little Washington.

Mannequins are placed at a table to help with social distancing at The Inn at Little Washington.

FILE PHOTO: To ensure social distancing does not make diners feel isolated during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, mannequins clad in 1940s-era clothing occupy some tables at The Inn at Little Washington, a Michelin three-star restaurant, which plans to reopen soon in Washington, Virginia, U.S., May 20, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque -/File Photo