COVID-19: Patios permitted to reopen as Toronto moves to Stage 2

Photo courtesy of The Pilot.

🕒 3. 5 min read

In addition to getting a hair cut and walking the mall, residents can finally dine out on a patio when Toronto and Peel Region enter Stage 2 on Wednesday June 24 at 12:01 am.

Following the order issued by Premier Doug Ford on Monday June 22, the second phase of the province’s reopening includes restaurant, bar and café patios, as well as outdoor areas at wineries, breweries and distilleries. Additional permitted outdoor spaces include curbside, parking lots and adjacent premises.

Establishments must take numerous measures, including: limiting the number of customers in the outdoor space at one time, and ensuring physical distancing of at least two metres between diners from different households. 

Malls, breweries + drive-thrus 

As for dining at shopping malls, “Food services and restaurants with mall-only entrances may open for outdoor dining spaces, delivery and takeout.” Dining in food courts however, is still not permitted.

Indoor and outdoor tastings/tours at wineries, breweries and distilleries are back on, as are drive-ins and drive-thru venues.

The rush is on

Toronto is one of the last regions to enter Stage 2 (Windsor-Essex remains in Stage 1). With just two days to figure out the logistics of reopening while adhering to public safety measures, restaurant and other hospitality owners are scrambling to get everything up and running. Here’s what life on the patio will look like at a few establishments around town:

-  Allen’s back patio launches Thursday with newly implemented safety measures including reservations by phone and seating limit of two hours.

- The Pilot returns Thursday at 4pm with two coveted patios. Reservations are required for a spot on the Flight Deck or downstairs patio.

- Seating on the spacious Score on King patio will be capped at 50 per cent when it reopens Wednesday at 11am. Upon entry, guests will be informed of the new safety measures in place.

- Steam Whistle Biergarten, opening Friday, has installed partitions between tables, and as per current Toronto Public Health guidelines, is allowing the maximum of six guests per table.

Is it enough? 

After three months of dwindling sales due to emergency orders to either shutter or offer strictly takeout and delivery, the addition of patios is a step in the right direction for recovery within the industry, but with such strict restrictions on seating capacities - and the CaféTO program still waiting to be approved - is it enough?

One thing is for certain: Despite concerns about health and safety, many residents will flock to grab a bite and drink on the patio, a welcome respite from being housebound for months, and a glimpse of the ‘new normal’ for summertime dining.

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