A pop-up patio has appeared on Pandosy Street in front of .

In an effort to adjust to the new public health orders put in place by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry RauDZ Regional Table had to pivot in order to remain open as the restaurant鈥檚 location doesn鈥檛 have space for a patio.

RauDZ Regional Table is under the umbrella of RauDZ Creative Concepts, which also owns Sunny鈥檚 a Modern Diner, Micro Bar and Bites, and The Okanagan Table. Normally, The Okanagan Table focuses on catering private events, but when the new health orders came into place, co-owner Audrey Surrao says the company had to think outside of the box.

The extension of the public health orders banning indoor dining concerned Surrao regarding the survival of RauDZ Regional Table 鈥� it鈥檚 the largest of the company鈥檚 restaurants with the most seats.

鈥滻t鈥檚 a long time to be closed with no revenue. It鈥檚 still generating expenses, like everyone else,鈥� she told Capital News.

That was when Surrao and co-owner chef Rod Butters decided to set up to serve a pop-up RauDZ patio on Pandosy.

The menu was curated by Surrao and Butters, with RauDZ fan-favourites like the garlic butter-basted Angus New York steak and the oat-crusted Arctic char. For a limited time only, they have added special menu items like thin-crust pizza. Many of the patio menu items can even be purchased inside The Okanagan Table for customers to cook at home, like the pizza dough and ingredients.

Although the menu and the patio came together quickly, it wasn鈥檛 without added costs. Surrao says the restaurant is renting out the parking spaces in front of Okanagan Table and had to get the proper equipment to put the whole patio together.

Despite the differences, Surrao says it still has that chef Butters quality 琉璃神社 has come to know and love. However, the pop-up patio and limited-time dishes will only be around until public health orders allow for RauDZ to reopen 鈥� so you might want to try that thin crust pizza ASAP.

鈥淲e try to be as positive as we can,鈥� explained Surrao. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a really challenging year. It鈥檚 scary for us.鈥�

Before the pandemic hit, RauDZ Creative Concepts employed 79 people, since the pandemic hit, it is down to 41 employees. Surrao recognizes a lot of employees rely on RauDZ for their livelihood which is something she and chef Butters take seriously and they are doing everything they can to keep their employees.

But with the support of the community, Surrao stays hopeful. The new patio space was decorated to create the same ambiance as RauDZ Regional Table with the same great service and delicious dishes 鈥� just in a different spot. Check out the full menu .

鈥淵ou鈥檝e got Rod Butters cooking in the kitchen himself, you can鈥檛 get any better than that,鈥� Surrao said.

READ MORE: AstraZeneca advice from national panel delayed by new data on COVID-19 and variants

READ MORE: West 琉璃神社 allows expanded patios, retail spaces

amandalina.letterio@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .