La Veranda still striving to serve the Clayton community

Even though La Veranda Café in Clayton has had to “shrink our staff, unfortunately, to the bare minimum” in recent weeks, the restaurant owners say the workers are still “like family.”

“Everyone who is eligible for unemployment is doing so. But anyone who needs anything, they know they can come to us,” said Claire Maamari, a member of the family that owns the Italian restaurant in Clayton’s historic downtown.

La Veranda is offering delivery and curbside pickup from noon to 8 p.m. daily, with Happy Hour appetizers 4-6 p.m. But without the option of tableside dining, business is down.

“Our business, fortunately, was booming before,” Maamari said. “Now, we’re still accommodating our community, and that’s what we are here to do at this time.”

The restaurant is planning a special menu for Easter Sunday. “We’re going to do a choice of salmon, ribeye steak, lasagna or capellini if anyone’s a vegetarian, with a prawn scampi appetizer, Caesar salad and cheesecake.”

The four-course Easter meals are $32 per person, with orders accepted through April 11.

Maamari said there hasn’t been any problems with their supply chain, and the restaurant’s full menu is available – plus drinks to go under the state’s temporary guidelines for alcohol sales. To place an order, call 925-524-0011. You can visit their website at laverandacafe.com.

This article is part of a Pioneer series on how local restaurants are adapting to the new reality.