BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — For many Western New York restaurants, the lifting of some restrictions last week created a good few days of dining.
"People coming out for birthdays or birthday dinners of 10 people," Brandon Carr, owner of The Quarter said.
"From four (people) to ten (people) was in itself very impactful to the whole industry," Jimmy Butera, owner of Butera's said.
Both Butera's in Hamburg and The Quarter in Buffalo noticed the removal of zones across the state made people feel better about dining out.
"I think people are becoming more comfortable and safe," Carr said.
While tables can now hold up to 10, the capacity limits and 10pm curfew still remain.
"Eight to ten people tend to sit longer and linger, it makes getting them out for the 10pm curfew even more challenging," Butera said.
That's why Butera's, The Quarter, and the New York State Restaurant Association are still asking the state to extend the curfew to midnight.
"Try to bring more revenue is all we're trying to do, that extra revenue is so important right now," Butera said.
Many Western New York restaurants are currently suing the state to have that curfew lifted, with restaurants hoping that last week's lifted restrictions were just the beginning.
"A lot of businesses out there are struggling, on their last legs praying that a miracle happens," Butera said, "so they don't have to close their doors and that miracle could be the curfew or adding capacity to our restaurants."
