Montclair Restaurant Let People Dine Indoors Again, Police Say

Eric Kiefer
·2 min read

MONTCLAIR, NJ — A restaurant in Montclair was cited for the second time in a month after its owner allegedly let a group of people eat inside the restaurant, violating state coronavirus orders, authorities said Tuesday.

According to the Montclair Police Department, officers responded to Cuban Pete’s on Bloomfield Avenue around 8 p.m. on Sunday after getting a noise complaint. When they arrived, officers saw about 15 people dining at several tables inside the restaurant.

Montclair police charged the owner, Dominick Restaino, with violating the executive order prohibiting indoor dining.

Due to concerns over COVID-19, New Jersey restaurants are currently prohibited from serving customers indoors. They can offer outdoor dining, takeout and delivery.

Cuban Pete’s made headlines earlier this month after authorities paid a separate visit to the restaurant on Aug. 7 at 6:56 p.m.

The Montclair Police Department stated:

“Police responded to Cuban Pete's restaurant with a representative of the Montclair Health Department after complaints were received that the restaurant was violating an executive order concerning dining. Upon arrival, it was observed that numerous outdoor dining tables were occupied by patrons, but were positioned in a manner that did not allow for adequate distancing between patrons. Upon entering the establishment, two dining areas were observed. The first area had three tables of diners, while the second area had two more tables of patrons."

Montclair police added:

“The establishment's owner, Dominick Restaino, reportedly stated that all the patrons inside the dining areas took it upon themselves to seat themselves when the weather changed to rain. Restaino was charged with violating Executive Order 150."

Restaino told NorthJersey.com that he "did the right thing" by letting about 30 customers inside his 300-seat restaurant when the weather turned ugly.

"What was I supposed to do?" he asked a reporter.

Cuban Pete's has consistently ranked among the most popular eateries in town, once making a list of the top 50 places to eat in Essex County.

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This article originally appeared on the Montclair Patch