Owners of local restaurants are working overtime to meet provincially mandated restrictions.

“Since the code red, we’ve been surviving just like the other small restaurants here in town,” says Judy Le of Viet House Restaurant. “Luckily, we have a loyal following here, so we’ve been able to stay afloat.”

Le admits the restrictions are hurting when it comes to hosting dine-in customers.

“When you serve dishes like Pho, which is a beef noodle soup, customers want to eat in, they want to sit in and have a steaming hot bowl of soup. It’s different when it’s take-out.”

For owner of Rocco’s Pizzeria Damian Penner, the sentiment is echoed in full. “With no dine-in, that’s been completely null and void, and take out orders have started to go down a little bit,” says Penner, “but we’re transitioning over mainly to deliveries now.”

Penner says their daytime business has taken a hit as there are fewer luncheons with people distancing and working from home. He does say the lack of business during the day has been somewhat supplemented by evening orders, however, they are experiencing a higher number of smaller orders.

“We’re getting prepared to launch our online ordering," shares Penner, "that's just the way technology has moved, and thankfully we're in a situation where we can invest in the infrastructure

For owner of Steinbach’s Santa Lucia Pizza Koz Siemonidis, one of the bigger challenges has been adjusting schedules on short notice when employees exhibit flu symptoms.

“We’re trying to make it to the golf season, but we’re keeping people employed as much as we can,” says Siemonidis. “Some we have to lay off, the bartenders, the servers, the hostesses.”

The restaurant has always offered take-out and delivery options but has felt the impact of losing dine-in as well. “As soon as the golf season finished, and then the patio season, it slowed right down.”

Still, Siemonidis says they are transitioning and doing their best to make the most of this trying time.

“It’s hard,” he admits, “and we’re just adapting every day with what the day brings us.”

For a list of local businesses and their service options click here.