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Dublin Deck Tiki Bar and Grill in Patchogue, New York, apologized on Sunday after Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office criticized the restaurant for allegedly easing restrictions on masks and social distancing for its customers because of rainy weather on Friday.
“From what I understand, it was raining on Friday evening and so the bar allowed patrons to come inside to pick up their food,” said Melissa DeRosa, secretary to the governor, adding that was the explanation given to Suffolk County police, who broke up the crowd.
Restaurants in New York state are currently limited to take-out and delivery.
Photos from inside the bar at the time showed people not wearing masks, DeRosa said.
“That’s stupid — stupid for you, it’s stupid for your surrounding patrons, it’s stupid for the bar,” she said. “I take them at their word that that’s what happened, but moving forward, they should be on notice and again, the enforcement is up to the locals.”
The restaurant later posted an apology on its Instagram story, saying “quick rainfall sent guests inside to the bar area.”
“There are no excuses when it comes to public safety. We should not have allowed anybody inside whatsoever,” the statement said.
“We apologize to anybody who may have been offended by the videos that surfaced,” it said.
The Suffolk County Police Department confirmed it responded after “multiple 911 calls” regarding noncompliance at the restaurant. The department is “taking reports of noncompliance very seriously,” it said in a statement.
