The first stage of Alberta's "Open for Summer Plan" starts June 1, enabling outdoor dining to resume with a maximum of four people per table, made up of one household or two close contacts for those living alone.
Stage 2 is projected to come into effect as early as June 10 and would permit indoor dining along with a maximum of six people per table.
Many restaurants have embraced the return to in-person dining, and have been preparing patio spaces to welcome the return of patrons. According to the City of Edmonton, 125 requests for temporary patios or outdoor retail spaces have been approved and installed as of May 27 with another 19 in process.
The extended patio at Rocky Mountain Icehouse along Jasper Avenue. (Mack Male/Flickr)
But not all restaurants are so eager. NongBu Korean Eatery has chosen to remain take-out and delivery only, while Northern Chicken shared that it has made a similar decision. "We're going to put our staff and customers safety first, and stay takeout/delivery only for a while," the restaurant wrote.
Both restaurants have remained closed to in-person dining since November, even when restrictions permitting indoor dining lifted in February.