Local restaurants happy to have indoor dining despite restrictions

PITTSBURGH — With indoor dining now allowed once again in Allegheny County, many restaurants are ready to go.

“When you are this close to another county and they’ve got looser restrictions, it’s going to make things way more difficult for you,” said James Samreny, co-owner of The Oven. “But the weather hasn’t cooperated. People are either covered in sweat or covered in rain, so no one wants to be wet when they eat.”

>>>RELATED: Allegheny Co. now allowing indoor dining at 25%

Samreny said he is happy indoor dining is allowed again, even though it is only at 25%. He said it is better than nothing.

“Well, first and foremost, how do you get your staff back? Everyone that has been furloughed or laid off, they are not on call. They can’t just show up at 5 tonight,” said Napa Prime owner Glenn Hawley.

Hawley is taking it upon himself to do temperature checks and screen staff members with COVID-19-related questions. He said getting food prepped will also be another challenge for many places.

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“I can’t quite get seafood flown in for 5 o’clock and a cow to put out back here. Your main and raw ingredients is a challenge,” Hawley said.

Dine-in services close at 11 p.m. and only takeout is allowed afterward. Alcohol sales are only allowed during sit-down meals.

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