Dine Out Vancouver Festival less busy than usual as Omicron keeps some diners away
A popular Vancouver food and drink festival is back this weekend, but it hasn't been generating as much business for local restaurants as usual amid the Omicron wave of COVID-19.
Chambar has been participating in the Dine Out Vancouver Festival for the past 16 years. Mike Wong, the restaurant's wine director, says reservations typically fill up fast, and there's usually a wait list.
This year, that's not the case.
"This is definitely, we've noticed, the slowest uptick in reservations for Dine Out," Wong told CTV News. "There's definitely less participation, we've noticed, compared to previous years."
Festival organizers have incorporated COVID-19 restrictions into their planning for this year's event, with many restaurants offering take-out versions of their fixed-price dine out menus for those not comfortable dining in a restaurant.
Under current public health rules, restaurants are limited to a maximum of six people per table, with physical distance or barriers between tables and no mingling of guests between tables.
Those rules are scheduled to expire on Tuesday, but provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has said officials are reviewing the rules and will provide an update on any changes or extensions this week.
Wong said even though participation in the dine out festival has been lower this year, it's still going to have a positive impact on Chambar and other restaurants in the city.
"We haven't seen, obviously, the same amount of business as before, but it's definitely a good thing," he said. "We want to make sure that we do everything properly, do it right, so eventually there will be a day where we can fully open, go back to our original capacities and welcome as many people as possible."
The Dine Out Vancouver Festival runs from Jan. 14 to 31. More information on the participating restaurants and their offerings can be found on the festival website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Poilievre kicked out of Commons after calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'wacko'
Testy exchanges between the prime minister and his chief opponent ended with the Opposition leader and one of his MPs being ejected from the House of Commons on Tuesday -- and the rest of Conservative caucus walking out of the chamber in protest.
Baby, grandparents among 4 people killed in wrong-way police chase on Ontario's Hwy. 401
A police chase which started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville Monday night ended in tragedy some 20 minutes later when a suspect fleeing police entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction and caused a pileup which killed an infant and the child's grandparents, as well as the suspect, investigators say.
Man dies after suffering cardiac arrest while waiting in ER, widow wants investigation
When an ambulance took David Lippert to the hospital in March of 2023, the 68-year-old Kitchener, Ont., executive was hoping to find out why he was feeling weak and unable to walk. Some 24 hours later, he was found unresponsive in the ER.
Sword-wielding man attacks passersby in London, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring 4 others
A man wielding a sword attacked members of the public and police officers in a northeast London suburb Tuesday, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring four other people, British authorities said.
Conservatives push motion calling for Carney to testify, say it's about 'accountability'
The federal Conservatives made good on their promise to push for former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney to testify before MPs, resulting in a heated political debate in Ottawa on Tuesday.
Freeland previews omnibus budget bill, proposed capital gains tax change left out
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation will be the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
London Drugs stores remain closed, 'cybersecurity incident' may have breached personal data
London Drugs says it is working with third-party security experts as the company tries to reopen dozens of stores across Western Canada that were shuttered by a cybersecurity incident Sunday.
McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has 'requested police assistance' about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.
WATCH Arnold Schwarzenegger spotted filming in Elora, Ont.
The name of the project has not been officially released although it’s widely believed to be the Netflix series FUBAR.