Calgary pizzeria ordered to close dining room after serving food to laid-off staff, manager says

Alberta Health Services ordered a restaurant to close to in-person dininglast week after an inspector reported finding people from different households sitting near each other, enjoying aself-service buffet and alcohol.

But the manager ofLittle Tavern Pizza Project, in the southwest Calgary neighbourhood ofStrathcona Park, says it was actually a staff meeting.

"We never offered dine-in service to anyone from the 13th on," saidKeith Luce.

The province had ordered restaurants and pubs to close their dining rooms on Dec. 13, in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Alberta.

Luce said the buffet the health inspector witnessed was a meal served for recently laid-off staffand a chance to test new menu items.

"We were trying to make good on a bad situation," he said.

AHS has ordered the restaurant to close its dining room, and Luce said he hascomplied.