Casinos may not be able to open because of the pandemic, but casino restaurants are reopening.
On Tuesday, Atlas Steak+Fish will reopen its restaurant and patio for dine-in customers at Cascades Casino in Kamloops.
"We are very excited to have both our signature restaurants open as Cascades Casino Kamloops," said Todd Pollock, vice-president of food and beverage at Gateway Casinos, the parent company of Cascades Kamloops, Playtime Kelowna, Lake City Vernon and Cascades Penticton.
Match Eatery & Public House reopened at Cascades Kamloops on March 16.
Match reopened in Penticton on March 16, as well, and in Vernon on March 18.
Match at Playtime Casino in Kelowna will not reopen until the casino reopens because access to the restaurant is via the gaming floor.
While Gateway Casinos & Entertainment is thrilled to be reopening restaurants after long closures due to COVID, it is dismayed casinos remain shuttered.
"We have not been given a timeline for our (casinos) reopening," said Gateway's director of public relations Tanya Gabara.
"Public health officials continue to prove the statement that our industry is 'too risky.' We disagree. We are ready to reopen and confident we can operate our facilities in a safe and responsible manner."
BC remains the only jurisdiction in North America that has refused casino reopenings, even in a restricted manner, during the pandemic.
Gateway reopened its casinos in Ontario and Alberta in February with capacity restrictions, physical distancing and barriers and have not seen any instances of the spread of the virus within these facilities.
Meantime, Atlas Steak+Fish is planning an awesome spring.
There's a new seasonal menu by chef Jason Durig and new cocktail list that features an Atlas Old Fashioned that will be smoked to order right at your table.
People can sit in the indoor dining room or on the fireside patio.
Atlas has teamed up with Black Hills Winery in Oliver to put on spring, four-course, wine-paired dinners April 20-24.
Atlas will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 4:30-10 pm.
Chef's Happy Hour is every day of opening from 4:30-6 pm.
Reservations can be made on Open Table.
