Manchester police cite café after report it violated orders

Manchester police cited a local bar/ restaurant owner after a complaint that he was violating Gov. Ned Lamont’s order banning restaurants from dine-in service.

Officers visited the Hungry Tiger Café & Restaurant, 120 Charter Oak St., about 4:45 p.m. Thursday and issued a summons for a misdemeanor violation to owner Donald Denley, police spokesman Lt. Ryan Shea said.

A TV station photographer had complained to police that he saw people sitting at the bar next to each other, ignoring social distancing practices, and that some had open containers of alcohol. Shea said no customers were in the establishment when officers arrived.

Denley said in a phone interview Friday evening that two customers were at the bar waiting for take-out orders, and a third person was doing some work on the place.

“To me, it’s splitting hairs,” he said of the citation.

In mid-March, Lamont closed bars completely and banned restaurants from offering dine-in service, moves meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Restaurants have been allowed to remain open and serve take-out, and Shea said Friday that the Hungry Tiger may continue take-out service.

The Dry Dock Bar & Grille in Norwalk was similarly cited last week for serving customers, according to The Hour newspaper. Norwalk police Lt. Jared Zwickler told the newspaper police found one person drinking at the bar and a bartender and the restaurant’s owner told police they had been serving customers.

On Thursday, Lamont said restaurants would be allowed to open with outdoor dining only beginning May 20, provided safety measures are in place. Bars are to remain closed.