Responding to COVID-19

The following changes to public health and workplace safety measures are in effect as of March 21, 2022.

• general masking requirements will be lifted; however, masking will still be required in certain indoor settings, including:
  • public transit, including indoor areas and vehicles. This does not include businesses or organizations that provide sightseeing or touring services
  • health care settings including:
    • hospitals
    • psychiatric facilities
    • doctors’ offices
    • immunization clinics
    • laboratories
    • specimen collection centres
  • home and community care provider locations only if you are an employee or contractor
  • long-term care and retirement homes
  • shelters and other congregate care settings that provide care and services to medically and socially vulnerable individuals

For a complete list of settings and exceptions to masking requirements that may apply, please refer to O. Reg. 364/20.

Visit the face covering and masking page, for additional information including wear and fit.

Also as of March 21, 2022:

• • passive screening of individuals prior to entering a business will no longer be required
  • businesses and organizations that are open will no longer be required to prepare and make available a safety plan

As of January 5, 2022 at 12:01 a.m. the following measures will be in place for at least 21 days (until January 27) subject to trends in public health and our health system.

Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments, including those with dance floors (such as nightclubs) and strip clubs must operate under the following conditions:

• indoor service closed
• take out, drive through and delivery allowed
• outdoor areas open with restrictions including, but not limited to:
  • no more than 10 people per table
  • patrons must remain seated
  • no dancing or singing
  • active screening
  • limited hours for the sale, service and consumption of liquor

Premier Doug Ford announced the new restrictions on Friday, saying the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is so contagious it threatens to overwhelm the health-care system.

As of December 19th, 2021 Restaurants, gyms and many other indoor settings now have a 50 per cent capacity limit, with no more than 10 persons per table.

Ontario is taking a cautious approach and has announced that proof vaccinations (two doses plus 14 days) will be required when entering into areas where masks are not always permitted.

Beginning on September 22, 2021 at 12:01 AM, individuals will need to show proof of vaccination – PDF document printed or on smart phone (two doses plus 14 days) with photo ID at the following settings:

• Restaurants and Bars (excluding outdoor patios, as well as take-out and delivery)
• Nightclubs (including outdoor areas of the establishment)
• Meetings and Event Spaces (Banquet Halls, and Conference / Convention Centres) – this includes weddings
• Facilities used for sports and fitness activities (including facilities at hotels)
• Sporting events
• Casinos, Bingo Halls, and Gaming Establishments
• Strip Clubs, Bathhouses and Sex Clubs
• Racing Venues (e.g. Horse Racing)

These requirements would not apply to outdoor spaces, including patios (with the exception of nightclubs).

Exemptions:

• Unvaccinated people with medical exemptions.
• Children 12 years old and under will be permitted to enter.
• People can attend weddings and funerals with a negative COVID-19 test until October 12.

Important to Note:

• Guests coming from overseas are expected to be fully vaccinated.
• Guests from other provinces will be excepted to be fully vaccinated and processes will be outlined in the future.
• Contact tracing is still mandatory due to the passport not maintaining data due to privacy protection.
• Capacity limits are not being impacted at this time.
• A validation process and details will be brought forward.
• The province will unveil a system by October 22, 2021.

Link to Government Announcement click here

Ontario moved to Step 1 of the Roadmap to Reopen on June 11, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. based on the provincewide vaccination rate and continuing improvements in key public health and health system indicators.

Restaurants, bars, and other food or drink establishments

Restaurants, bars, food trucks, concession stands and other food or drink establishments open for:

• outdoor dining, take-out, drive through, and delivery (includes the sale of alcohol)
• four patrons per table. More than four patrons can be seated at a table if any of the following applies:
  • all patrons are members of the same household
  • one patron is a member of another household who lives alone
  • a patron is a caregiver for any member of either household
• Dine-in patrons must be seated at all times, with limited exceptions (e.g. using the washroom, paying)
• Dine-in patrons must have their contact information collected and be actively screened
• Capacity limited to permit physical distancing of 2 metres; maximum capacity must be posted
• Dining area must be configured so patrons at different tables are 2 metres apart or separated by a barrier
• Outdoor dining area must have only two sides, or one side and the roof, open and unobstructed
• Volume of music must be limited to permit a normal conversation

The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts, is imposing a provincewide emergency brake as a result of an alarming surge  in case numbers and COVID-19 hospitalizations across the province. The provincewide emergency brake will be effective Saturday, April 3, 2021, at 12:01 a.m. and the government intends to keep this in place for at least four weeks.

In regards to Pickle Barrel Restaurants – effective Saturday April 3rd, 2021 at 12:01 AM, all indoor and outdoor dining will no longer be permitted until further notice.

All locations will be available for take-out and third-party delivery.

The following changes have been made to Restaurants in the Grey-Lockdown zone:

• Indoor dining prohibited
• Outdoor dining, take out, drive through, and delivery permitted, including alcohol
• Capacity limited to allow physical distancing of 2 metres to be maintained
• No buffet style service
• Line-ups and patrons congregating outside venues managed by venue; 2 metres distance and face covering required
• Screening of patrons is required, in accordance with instructions issued by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health
• Require patrons to be seated; 2 metres minimum or impermeable barrier required between tables
• Patrons may only be seated with members of their same households, with limited exceptions for caregivers and people who live alone
• Require contact information for all seated patrons
• Face coverings required except when eating or drinking only
• Personal protective equipment, including eye protection required when is a worker must come within 2 metres of another person who is not wearing a face covering
• Establishments must be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
• Liquor sold or served only between 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• No consumption of liquor permitted between 10 p.m. to 9 a.m.
• Dancing, singing and the live performance of music is prohibited
• Limit volume of music to be low enough that a normal conversation is possible
• A safety plan is required to be prepared and made available upon request

We are happy to announce that the following Pickle Barrel locations are now permitted to have outdoor dining:

• Bramalea
• Centerpoint
• Leslie
• Sherway Gardens
• Yonge/Eglinton (TBD)
• Yorkdale (TBD)

Restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments Guidelines

Restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments Guidelines

• Indoor and outdoor service prohibited
• Take out, drive through and delivery permitted, including alcohol

As of February 1st, 2021 the following locations are under lockdown and available for take-out and delivery only:

• Bramalea City Centre
• Cambridge
• Centerpoint
• Leslie
• London
• Newmarket
• Markville
• Pickering
• Vaughan Mills
• Waterloo
• Yonge & Eglinton
• Yorkdale

The following location is temporarily closed until further notice:

• Sherway Gardens

The following locations are under lockdown and available for take-out and delivery only:

• Bramalea City Centre
• Cambridge
• Centerpoint
• Leslie
• London
• Newmarket
• Pickering
• Vaughan Mills
• Waterloo
• Yorkdale

The following locations are temporarily closed until further notice:

• Markville
• Sherway Gardens
• Yonge & Eglinton

As of Monday December 14th, 2020 at 12:01 AM the following updates have been made to our restaurants

“Lockdown” Category

• Dining rooms closed until further notice
• Outdoor dining, take out, drive thru and delivery permitted

Pickle Barrel Locations under “Lockdown” Category:

• Bramalea City Center
• Centerpoint
• Leslie
• Sherway Gardens
• Yonge & Eglinton
• Yorkdale
• Vaughan Mills
• Markville
• Newmarket

“Red/Control” Category [no additional restrictions]

• Maximum 10 person indoor capacity limit
• Limit of 4 people may be seated together
• Require screening of patrons (e.g. questionnaire)
• Require contact information for all seated patrons
• Outdoor dining, take out, drive thru and delivery permitted
• Limit operating hours, establishments to close at 10pm
• Liquor sold or served only between 9a.m. to 9p.m.

Pickle Barrel Locations under Red/Control Category:

• Pickering
• Waterloo
• Cambridge
• London

As of Monday November 23rd, 2020 at 12:01 AM the following updates have been made to our restaurants

“Lockdown” Category

• Dining rooms closed until further notice
• Outdoor dining, take out, drive thru and delivery permitted

Pickle Barrel Locations under “Lockdown” Category:

• Bramalea City Center
• Centerpoint
• Leslie
• Sherway Gardens
• Yonge & Eglinton
• Yorkdale

“Red/Control” Category [no additional restrictions]

• Maximum 10 person indoor capacity limit
• Limit of 4 people may be seated together
• Require screening of patrons (e.g. questionnaire)
• Require contact information for all seated patrons
• Outdoor dining, take out, drive thru and delivery permitted
• Limit operating hours, establishments to close at 10pm
• Liquor sold or served only between 9a.m. to 9p.m.

Pickle Barrel Locations under Red/Control Category:

• Vaughan Mills
• Markville
• Newmarket
• Pickering
• Waterloo
• Cambridge

“Orange/Restrict” Category

• 50 person indoor capacity limit
• Limit of 4 people may be seated together
• Require screening of patrons (e.g. questionnaire)
• Require contact information for all seated patrons
• Outdoor dining, take out, drive thru and delivery permitted
• Limit operating hours, establishments to close at 10pm
• Liquor sold or served only between 9a.m. to 9p.m
• No consumption of liquor between 10p.m. and 9a.m.

Pickle Barrel Locations under Orange/Restrict category:

• N/A

“Yellow/Protect” Category

• 100 person indoor capacity limit
• Limit of 6 people may be seated together
• Require contact information for all seated patrons
• Outdoor dining, take out, drive thru and delivery permitted
• Limit operating hours, establishments to close at midnight
• Liquor sold or served only between 9a.m. to 11p.m
• No consumption of liquor between 12a.m. and 9 a.m.
• Limit volume of music (e.g. to be no louder than the volumes of a normal conversation)

Pickle Barrel Locations under Yellow/Protect category:

• London

The Ford government has unveiled a new colour-coded framework for imposing COVID-19 restrictions in different parts of the province. It says that the four regions currently under a modified Stage 2 – Toronto, Ottawa, Peel and York – will be placed in the orange category with “intermediate” restrictions. That will allow indoor dining to resume at bars and restaurants and most businesses to reopen but with new, stricter rules.

Bars and restaurants

• A maximum of four people may be seated together
• Alcohol cannot be served past 9 p.m. and establishments will have to close by 10 p.m.
• An indoor capacity limit of 50 people must be maintained at all times
• Required screening of all patrons

Premier Doug Ford says that Ottawa, Peel and York will all be formally moved into the orange category as of 12:01 a.m. on Saturday November 7th, allowing gyms to reopen and bars and restaurants to resume indoor dining.

The following Pickle Barrel locations will be available for dine-in as of November 7th, 2020:

• Vaughan Mills
• Bramalea City Center
• Newmarket
• Markville
• Pickering
• Cambridge
• Waterloo
• London

The province has announced a modified Stage 2 for Toronto, Peel, and Ottawa for the next 28 days.

• Effective Saturday, October 10th, 2020 at 12:01 AM, indoor food and drink service in restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments, including nightclubs and food court areas in malls are prohibited

The following locations will be available for take-out and patio dining until further notice. Those restaurant locations with a Grab and Go will continue to provide service during mall operation hours.

• Atrium
• Yonge & Eglinton
• Sherway Gardens
• Centerpoint
• Leslie St.
• Yorkdale
• Bramalea City Centre

Effective October 8, 2020

• Limit the total number of patrons permitted to be inside at any one time to 75 (down from 100)
• Maintain a customer log for each patron, not just one person from the party
• Limit the maximum number of people able to sit at each table, both inside and outside, to 6 persons (down from 10)
• Keep background music and any other background sounds, such as from televisions or other electronic sound producing devices, no louder than the volume of normal conversation (with the exception of live performances carried out in accordance with the provincial Stage 3 regulation).

To mitigate the impact of the new bylaw amendment on food and drink establishments, Council approved Mayor Tory’s
request for City staff to explore ways the City can support the industry through winter patio options. Council has
further voiced support for the Government of Ontario extending Regulation 719 through 2021, so liquor sales licensees
can continue to sell beer, wine and spirits as part of a food order for takeout or delivery.

Existing temporary City of Toronto COVID-19 bylaws were also extended until the end of City Council’s first meeting in
2021. This includes the Physical Distancing in Public Spaces bylaws (322-2020 and 323-2020), the Mandatory Mask or Face
Covering bylaws (541-2020 and 664-2020), the Public Health Measures for Bars and Restaurant in Chapter 545

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COLLECTION OF THIS INFORMATION, YOU CAN CONTACT TORONTO PUBLIC HEALTH OR YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH UNIT:

– TORONTO PUBLIC HEALTH –
Manager, Information Management Services
277 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2L6
p. 416-338-7600 e. publichealth@toronto.ca

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WILL BE COLLECTED AT EACH OF OUR ESTABLISHMENTS AS PER THE REQUIREMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH:

• The name and contact information of each person in your party
• At least one person in the party must provide an email address with their contact information
• Date, check in and check out times
• Location of seating (e.g. table number or location on the premises)

If, in the opinion of the Medical Officer of Health, COVID-19 contact tracing or other public health purposes are required, this Customer Information shall be disclosed to the Medical Officer of Health or a public health inspector for these purposes. The Customer Information will be securely stored for 30 days and then destroyed by the premises operator, if it is not used for the purposes outlined above.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COLLECTION OF THIS INFORMATION, YOU CAN CONTACT TORONTO PUBLIC HEALTH OR YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH UNIT:

– TORONTO PUBLIC HEALTH –
Manager, Information Management Services
277 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2L6
p. 416-338-7600 e. publichealth@toronto.ca

The Customer Information is being collected under the authority of Sections 2 and 7 of the Health Protections and Promotion Act, S.2 of Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020, O. Reg. 364/20: Rules for Areas in Stage 3

The Customer Information is being collected under the authority of subsection 8(2), of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, Sections 2 and 7 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, S.2 of Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020, O. Reg. 364/20: Rules for Areas in Stage 3, and City of Toronto By-law No. 665-2020.

The health and safety of our Guests, Employees and the Communities we are a part of continues to be our highest priority.

With the opening of our patios, here is what we continue to do in our restaurants to provide a safe environment:

Our Team

• Daily temperature checks and screening
• All positions are to wear a mask on shift
• Gloves are used while preparing food items
• Hand sanitizer readily available for use

Our Four Walls

• Social distance marking throughout kitchen and staff area
• Seating done with social distancing in mind
• Plexy glass installed at take-out and host areas (in progress)

Contact Less Pick-up and Delivery

• Offering curbside pick-up
• Contact Less pick-up for all third party delivery channels

Safety and Sanitation

• Reinforcing our already rigorous standards and operating procedures for food safety and personal hygiene.
• Working closely with our delivery partners to ensure frequent hand washing, using hand sanitizer for every delivery and sanitizing their vehicles and delivery bags.
• Continual disinfecting of all high touch surfaces including payment terminals, tables, chairs, countertops etc.
• Hand sanitizer readily available for our guests and staff to use

Service

• Reservations recommended in order to avoid guest gatherings at front door
• Removal of all table top contents
• Maximum number of guests at one table: 6 persons
• Condiment caddies no longer brought to table to limit high-touch points
• Cutlery and menus brought to table as guest is being sat, no longer pre-set on tables
• Yorkdale
• Bramalea City Centre

Menus

We will be offering 3 variations of menus:

• Regular menu – disinfected between guests
• Single-use paper copy of menu
• QR codes to be put on tables so guests can “scan and view” our menu

We will continue to do everything we can, always with the goal of creating the best guest experience possible and to give you and our teams peace of mind.

The health and safety of our Guests, Employees and the Communities we are a part of is our highest priority.

Through this time, we look forward to serving you and your family through our take-out and delivery channels. In accordance to Government and Public Health Official guidelines, we have introduced further safety precautions to reduce Guest to Employee interactions during pick-up, including new pre-pay options and curbside pick-up services.

Ordering Channels

We are offering our services by phone, or through third-party delivery such as UberEats, DoorDash and Skip the Dishes. Click here to see which Pickle Barrel locations are operating, and how you can order from each location.

NEW! Curbside Pick-Up

• Order by phone and have curbside pick-up! Pre-pay your order for contactless pick-up
• When you arrive, look for our number posted on our door, call to announce your arrival and we’ll be right out.

NEW! Cashless Payment

At this time, we will not be accepting cash payment. We have pre-payment options available to reduce physical cash or payment terminals changing hands. Should a payment terminal be needed, we have increased the limit on our tap feature.

Payment Options include:

• Visa
• Mastercard
• American Express (no tap available)
• Debit/Interac®
• Ultimate Dining or Pickle Barrel Gift Card *Gift card payment can only be processed through phone orders

Packaging

We will continue to seal our take-out, pick-up, and delivery bags. Paper bags will be sealed with a sticker, and cutlery kits are prepackaged.

Safety and Sanitation

Our highest priority is the health and safety of our Guests, as well as our Teammates and those in our network including our suppliers and delivery partners. We have been in regular communication with all of our teams across our network around the following protocols that support everyone’s health and well being:

• Reinforcing our already rigorous standards and operating procedures for food safety and personal hygiene.
• Working closely with our delivery partners to ensure frequent hand washing, using hand sanitizer for every delivery and sanitizing their vehicles and delivery bags.

We will continue to do everything we can, always with the goal of creating the best guest experience possible and to give you and our teams peace of mind, regardless of how you choose to dine with us.

As we have seen in recent weeks, the global spread of COVID-19 is impacting us all. We have been carefully monitoring the actions and advice of government and health leaders.

The health and safety of our guests, employees and the communities we are a part of is our highest priority.

As the COVID-19 virus continues to spread in communities across Canada, we have made the difficult but important decision to temporarily close all of our restaurants, including our takeout and delivery effective Tuesday March 17th. Our Catering centre however, will remain open.

Although this is a difficult decision, it is one that we feel is best for our guests, our employees, our partners, and the communities we are a part of. We will continue to keep you updated with our plans to re-open as the COVID-19 situation evolves.

We are also committed to the well-being of our passionate store employees, including those who will be temporarily out of work during the closure. Our team strength and compassion have always been core to Pickle Barrel and we are sensitive to the implications this decision has on our staff and will continue to support them through this process. We will be in close contact with each of them and look forward to having them back to provide memorable experiences for our guests and communities when we reopen.

We look forward to reopening our doors to you soon. In the meantime, stay safe and take care of one another.

Frank Hennessey
CEO, Recipe Unlimited Corporation