Some Toronto Patios Opened At Midnight Last Night To Kick Off Step One (PHOTOS)
They didn't waste any time!
Patios were officially allowed to reopen at 12:01 a.m., and some Toronto restaurants didn't let a moment of outdoor dining go to waste.
Despite only having a couple of hours to serve customers, a handful of spots actually opened up their patios one minute after midnight on Friday.
Hemingway's pub, known for its sprawling covered patio in Yorkville, invited customers back at 12:01 a.m. on Friday. They shared the details in an Instagram post, outlining their protocols and their plans to have as many walk-in spots as possible for those eager to hit the town.
The Fox & Fiddle on John St. opened its patio for an event called "Midnight in the Garden," complete with drinks, bites and a DJ. Beyond the Pale Brewing in Ottawa also participated with a midnight event of their own.
It seems that most patios in Toronto will be opening on Friday, and many of them have been busy booking up their tables over the last several days.
Ahead of the anticipated return to patio dining, a reminder went viral on social media for those eager to visit their favourite bars and restaurants this weekend. "We may be a little rusty; we are adjusting. Please be kind to your servers, support staff and cooks. We have all had a rough time and we are all just doing our best," it said.
There are new rules to know about patio season this year, including limits on how many people you can dine with and changes to last call times, depending on the restaurant's location.