Syracuse,N.Y. ( NCC News)- Restaurants in Syracuse New York have sold out of slots for Mothers Day buffets across the city.
Pheobe’s Restaurant on Genesee Street had 200 spots available at the beggining of the week.
By Thursday morning they were all booked.
“Its great to see the support and to know that we can serve that level of buisness,” said Shift Manager Justin Bellandi
Pheobe’s had been closed for dinner service since November.
“We are lucky we have an owner that looks at us long term and that we have a great team but knowing that we have this event and can have so many customers, while we wish we had more is a sign we are getting through this and we hope to have that full service restored soon,” Bellandi said.
For Syracuse Downtown Marriot Hotel, they had 360 seats sell out for Mother’s Day, compared to over 900 seats their venue would normally accomodate prior to the pandemic.
“Its bitter sweet because of course we are happy that we sold out but I feel for those people who didn’t get their spots on time,” said Director of Sales Melissa Oliver.
The service at the Syracuse Downtown Marriot will be shifting from a buffet to an waiter service, to maintain social distancing.
“Its an elevated service because its not you serving your self your sitting with your party, but other than that its unchanged we want to give people that Mother’s Day brunch we are known for,” Oliver said.
She believes that her venue, the ball room on the 11th floor of the hotel could have accomodate more than the 3 time slots of around 100 people.
“Those guidlines never made sense for venues and you look this room could easily fit 200 socially distanced even above that with no much hassle,” she said.
Govenor Cuomo recently loosened guidlines for venues such as Syracuse Downtown Marriot.
Oliver believes this gives them the green light for greater events such as weddings in the future.
“It’s great news for all our brides and grooms who had to push back to know those types of events hear can happen.”
But for restaurants like Phoebe’s who rely on big events like Mothers day and Syracuse Downtown Marriot, those guidlines come too little too late.
“200 people would be a normal weekend service for us without Covid, and of course we hate to turn away anyone,” Bellandi said.
Larger families of 10 or more people still looking to find reservations may have to see if locations can seat them at one table.
“Unfortunaetly with the rules as they are we would have to split that table up,” Bellandi said.
