- Palin dined inside Elio's on Saturday, and tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.
- NYC requires vaccination proof for indoor dining but Elio's didn't ask Palin, who is unvaccinated, for it.
It was the same restaurant she dined inside on Saturday, two days before her positive COVID-19 test on Monday. That visit by Palin, who is unvaccinated, was in violation of New York City's requirement that all indoor-dining guests show proof of vaccination before entering.
Mediaite published photos showing the former Alaska governor dining outdoors at Elio's in Manhattan's Upper East Side on Wednesday.
It was not clear whether Palin was still infectious as of Wednesday. Insider was unable to contact Elio's before opening hours.
Colleen Croft, one of the restaurant's owners, told Insider on Thursday that Palin had come back to the restaurant to apologize over the attention the restaurant was getting. She said that the restaurant had made a "mistake" by not checking Palin's vaccine status on Saturday, but that the restaurant had complied with the state's rules by seating Palin outside on Wednesday.
Proof of vaccination is only needed for indoor dining, and Croft noted that businesses are not asked to check whether diners have tested positive for COVID-19 or not.
She said the restaurant was "doing our best."
Luca Guaitolini, Elio's manager, also Mediaite in a Wednesday statement issued via a spokesperson that Palin had come back to apologize.
"Tonight Sarah Palin returned to the restaurant to apologize for the fracas around her previous visit."
"In accordance with the vaccine mandate and to protect our staff, we seated her outdoors. We are a restaurant open to the public, and we treat all civilians the same."
Guaitolini also told The New York Times that the restaurant had made a "mistake" in not checking Palin's vaccine status when he confirmed her Saturday visit. He said she dined inside with an unnamed longtime guest.
"She probably just walked in and strolled over [to the table]. We are trying to get to the bottom of this."
A spokesman for New York City told The Times on Tuesday that Elio's would not be investigated for not checking Palin's vaccination status on Saturday.
He told The Times that many of the city agencies that enforce vaccination rules only issue violations in cases where an inspector personally witnesses it.