Alderman Tom Tunney’s Ann Sather Fined $2k for Allowing Indoor Dining | Eater Chicago

"Located on Belmont Avenue, the flagship Ann Sather has been a North Side breakfast institution for more than seven decades, known for its cinnamon rolls and breakfasts and supported by two additional North Side locations. The restaurant, owned by Ald. Tom Tunney, became the center of controversy after undercover photos published in December showed customers being served inside its Lakeview dining room during a period when indoor dining was banned, agitating residents and other restaurant owners who followed COVID-19 rules and prompting accusations of hypocrisy because Tunney is a City Council member and former Illinois Restaurant Association chair; Tunney said the restaurant allowed a limited number of mask-wearing indoor diners "on a sporadic basis." The city issued two citations on December 8, levied a $2,000 fine at a February 16 hearing (the restaurant faced a maximum of $10,500), and an Ann Sather spokesperson said the matter has been settled and the restaurant looks forward to easing restrictions as positivity rates fall and vaccinations increase; the restaurant also said it fully cooperated with the city's investigation. Indoor dining has since returned to Chicago with a 50-person-per-room cap, and some struggling restaurant owners have defended Tunney." - Ashok Selvam