Dining for only the vaccinated? Upstate NY restaurant gives it a shot tonight

Pop up clinics help distribute vaccine across Syracuse

Onondaga County workers administer coronavirus vaccinations in FebruaryN. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com

ROME, NY — The Palisades Hotel in Rome is offering indoor dining on Thursday nights to only those customers who show their Covid-19 vaccine cards.

The Palisades Hotel, which seats 50 typically but can serve 25 now, also is open for indoor dining for anyone Friday and Saturday nights. But Thursday nights will be reserved for vaccinated diners.

Richard Ferrucci, one of the restaurant’s owners, said the special night launches at 5 p.m. today. The plan is for it to continue on Thursdays.

The idea came about after diners starting asking if they could reserve a table for a group of people who had been vaccinated, Ferrucci said. The owners started thinking and decided to open indoor dining on another night for those who have received the Covid-19 shot.

“It’s a choice,’' Ferrucci said. “If someone wants to come dine inside and feels more comfortable dining around others who have the shot, that’s what we are offering. Then they don’t have to worry.”

Business has been slow, and this might help kickstart it, he said.

The restaurant was open for outdoor dining over the summer, and then shut down except for takeout when the number of Covid cases began to spike. Five weeks ago, Palisades began offering inside dining two nights a week,

Ferrucci said the restaurant will still keep the reduced capacity it follows on other nights.

As for masks, Ferrucci said he’s still researching whether the CDC guidelines that say vaccinated people can gather in small groups indoors without masks applies to restaurants. At this point, he said, diners will wear masks when not seated.

Announced on social media, the decision has met with some backlash from people who say it’s discriminatory, but Ferrucci said people can come a different night if they want.

Elizabeth Doran covers education, suburban government and development, breaking news and more. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact her anytime at 315-470-3012 or email edoran@syracuse.com

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