The restaurant business demands easing of COVID-related restrictions in the country. Specifically, they urge to lift the curfew and resume operating on weekends. The sector declares, that if the COVID-related restrictions are not eased, many companies will leave the market.

The founder of restaurant "Zazanova" says that she has not opened outdoor space of the restaurant neither plans to open indoor space from March 8.

According to Marina Salukvadze, it does not worth operating the restaurant with those restrictions, because the opening is related to great financial resources, whereas the income received under the existing restrictions will be meager.

"Opening in these conditions is an additional expenditure, of which we no longer have any resources. Our guest is a person who has an income, works online or at the office until 19:00. This person rests on the weekends. When a restaurant has to finish its work at 20:00, how do you imagine we will reimburse the expenses incurred in these conditions? How should we pay employees? We have no income. It does not make sense to open the restaurant until the curfew and weekend restrictions are not lifted. This is something like a game… You can open, but you cannot work, "said Marina Salukvadze, the founder of Restaurant Zazanova.

Restaurants in Tbilisi have opened outdoor spaces in accordance with the relevant regulations from February 15. Restaurants are allowed to open indoor spaces from March 8. But, COVID-related restrictions remain in place on weekends.