NEW YORK - Food, foodie, foodies of Instagram. The global food and drink scene was at a frenzied peak, and New York City was at its epicenter - until the coronavirus emerged.

Since then, many city mainstays have closed for good, including Lucky Strike, La Caridad 78, Uncle Boons, Coogans and Gem Spa.

"Pre-pandemic there were more than 25,000 eating and drinking establishments throughout the five borougs employing about 300,000 people. Now, we don’t know how many of our places have shuttered yet. We estimate it’s at least in the thousands. We do know there are about 200,000 people who were working at food and drink places that are still out of work," said NYC Hospital Alliance Executive Director Andrew Rigie.

New Yorkers have been heartbroken by the closure of beloved dining spots.

"I think as New Yorkers we're almost compelled to be in love with restaurants. Part of it is the fact that our apartments are so small and especially when you live alone like I do, I think it's just part of one's natural community to live and exist in restaurants in the evening," said Eater New York Chief Critic Ryan Sutton.

Many restaurants initially pivoted to serving frontline workers and added takeout and outdoor dining. But these are businesses that typically operate on slim margins and without indoor dining most have struggled.

The NYC Hospitality Alliance is pushing the state to allow indoor dining. It's also seeking a $120 billion federal aid package for restaurants nationwide.

"To cover payroll, rent, help pay your suppliers. The upstate farmer, the vineyard on Long Island that supply them wine," Rigie explained.

These are definitely tough times, but don’t write the obituary for the city’s vibrant food scene just yet. 

"I think when you walk through certain neighborhoods Little Italy, SoHo, even Murray Hill, you’re seeing street life like you’ve never seen before because of the outdoor restaurants. We’re still New York. When we come back we’re going to be New York. When ishkibibble, Ohio comes back it's going to be ishkibibble, Ohio," said journalist and nightlife observer Michael Musto.

Chef Oscar Lorenzzi planned to open a new fusion restaurant in East Harlem in May. Everything is on hold. Still, he’s optimistic.

"After the 1918 pandemic came the 20’s, the roaring 20’s, and everybody go party and everybody hang out and it was a booming economy and I think we will go back to it eventually," Lorenzzi said.

It's a hope for the future as the grim parade of beloved restaurants closing marches on.