Meals indoors will resume in Allegheny County after an order issued by health officials Friday eased some coronavirus restrictions. It takes effect at 5 pm on Friday.
The new order rescinds the July 8 county order that prohibited indoor dining, and largely follows the state’s July 15 order. Eating indoors is allowed at 25% of its capacity. Alcoholic beverages can be served indoors, but only along with food. Customers must be seated at a table or booth; Bar service is not allowed. The previous county limit of three alcoholic beverages per customer has been lifted.
The county added three exceptions to the state order:
• Indoor and outdoor seating service must close before 11 pm. It is allowed to carry beyond those hours.
• Tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, are prohibited in all indoor and outdoor dining rooms and indoor casinos.
• Events and meetings that do not take place in restaurants or other retail food service establishments are limited in size: no more than 25 people indoors or 50 people outside.
Anthony Roman, owner of Roman Bistro in Forest Hills, said allowing indoor seating at 25% of its capacity is a good sign for restaurants.
“It is a step in the right direction, but even in that, it is difficult to keep your head above water,” Roman said.
The ever-changing restrictions have been frustrating for restaurant owners, said Joe Kolek, owner of Anchor Inn in Harrison.
“You are open, you are closed, you are inside, you are outside. It is unfair, “he said.
Kolek said the new order helps, but it is not enough.
“My taxes are 100% based,” he said. “My licenses are 100% based. If people tell me that I only have to pay my bills at 25%, that would be fine. You can’t live on a 25% salary. “
Both Kolek and Roman said their restaurants will be open for indoor seating, respecting the 25% capacity limit, tonight.
The new order “does nothing” for Matt Turbiner, owner of the Shady Grove restaurant in Shadyside. He said his restaurant will continue to focus on outdoor seating, as 25% indoor occupancy will not allow it to seat many more customers.
“All it does is relieve anxiety from bad weather,” he said, suggesting that it could bring some people out of their outdoor seats if it rains.
Sam Sieber, owner of Sam’s Tavern in the Wall in Aspinwall, said the 25% capacity limit will not help his restaurant, which has seen sales drop 85% during the pandemic.
At 25% capacity, his restaurant could only use about four tables, he said. In addition, the brief notification of such changes makes it difficult to prepare restaurants.
“The way these things change every other day is of no use to us,” he said. “We cannot order food, we cannot program people.”
Sieber said he will not be happy until his restaurant returns to full capacity.
Julia Felton is a writer for the Tribune-Review. You can contact Julia at 724-226-7724, [email protected] or via Twitter.
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