Restaurant and businesses owners woke up Saturday morning, excited to be able to allow more customers inside.

But Gov. Jared Polis’s easing COVID-19 restrictions produced mixed results in Denver Saturday as far as the turnout of customers was concerned. 

At the West of Surrender Saloon & Kitchen, on the corner of 16th Street and Glenarm Place, every available table – per COVID-19 guidelines – on the lower level was filled with onion rings, burgers, water and beer around 2 p.m. 

Leah Mantelli, the owner of West of Surrender, said that some customers who live downtown told her on Saturday due to the decrease in COVID cases and the number of people getting vaccinated, they feel safe to come outside and to her restaurant again.

“A customer who lives across the street walked over today and told me that he hadn’t been really out in public since March,” Mantelli said. 

While places like West of Surrender were near the 50% capacity Saturday afternoon, others like the Cheesecake Factory were at capacity and had customers waiting outside for a table. 

Restrictions on capacity limits at businesses across the Denver metro were eased on Saturday as the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s COVID “Dial 2.0” went into affect at 9 a.m. 

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Others restaurants weren’t as lucky.

Just a few blocks down at Giordano’s – which serves Chicago deep-dish pizza – they were experiencing a slower Saturday than normal, said Manager Serena Scott. 

“Usually Saturday’s are a little busier, but we weren’t expecting too much of a change right away because of the restriction changes,” Scott said. 

Scott said that the cooler weather that struck Denver on Saturday tends to drive traffic down immensely, so they  had expected for a slower day for dining in.

Although Giordano’s and West of Surrender didn’t have to make many changes to be able to accommodate 50% capacity or 150 customers, Brooklyn’s Finest, a New York Style pizza restaurant, didn’t even have time to adjust their arrangements, said a worker who declined to give their name. 

Despite not being able to prepare for extra clientele, some businesses have high hopes for Sunday.

“With the weather supposed to warm up a little tomorrow and the Super Bowl, we’re expecting a lot more people tomorrow,” Scott said. 

But not at West of Surrender, because the Mantelli family closes to allow their employees to relax and watch the Super Bowl. 

“We are always closed on Super Bowl Sunday, but this year will be a little different because we’re not gathering together,” Mantelli said. 

“It’s normally a fun day, but we still felt the need to give our employees the day off to relax and watch the big game.”

Every restaurant official The Denver Gazette spoke to was just thankful to be able to operate later and have more customers inside.

“We are just really excited that we are able to get a little closer to normal operating levels,” Scott said.

“While 50% isn’t perfect, it’s sure better then being closed.”