Hundreds of people congregated on King Street in Toronto on Friday night trying to score a table or bar stool as the province moved into its next step of reopening.
Step three of Ontario's reopening plan went into effect on July 16 at 12:01 a.m., and indoor dining, bars and clubs were allowed to reopen after months of closures.
With people eager to return, this meant long lines and long wait times, with some businesses quoting up to two hours and popular clubs like EFS and Lavelle booked solid.
Here is what an Indoor restaurant, bar and club on or around King Street West looked like last night.
Petty Cash
Seating: Restaurant
Location: 487 Adelaide St. W., Toronto, ON
Masks: Staff were wearing masks indoors and outdoors and patrons were wearing masks when not seated at their tables.
Social distancing: All tables and barstools were generously spaced apart.
Vibe: The service was amazing, the music was pumping, and the rustic neon decor tied the vibe together. However, it felt strangely dead for opening night. A stand-out drink was the 'Polaroid,' a fun cocktail that came with a polaroid picture.
Ruby Soho
Seating: Bar
Location: 587 King St. W., Toronto, ON
Masks: All guests and staff were wearing masks when not seated.
Social Distancing: Indoor seating at the bar was not spaced out at 2 metres apart, and without masks, it did feel like a crowded environment. However, tables inside were spaced apart with plexiglass and at what appeared to be an appropriate distance.
Vibe: The service was incredible, with loud music blasting and affordable drinks — staff were even giving out free shots to the bar! The general atmosphere was lively, with fun throwback songs and a warm environment.
Call Her Juliet
Seating: Club
Location: 510 King St. W., Toronto, ON
Masks: Inside the club and on the patio, staff wore masks. However, some staff went without while dealing with lineups outside.
Social Distancing: Tables and bottle service sections were spaced apart generously in addition to plexiglass partitions. Many tables were left empty at 11:10 p.m., with only a handful of guests seated around the bar.
Vibe: With two separate lines for indoor club service and patio seating, you would be hard-pressed to get into this location without a reservation.
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