"It was a very unpopular decision, there were some very strong reactions," Wojtasik, 50, whose Yatta Ramen eatery specializes in Japanese cuisine, told Reuters. "But not for our usual customers. They've taken it very well."
He is one of a number of businesses in Poland taking matters into their own hands, barring all unvaccinated visitors without any state mandate to do so.
Under current rules, venues such as restaurants and bars can provide up to 30% of their capacity to unvaccinated people, and with infections soaring, the government has drawn criticism from doctors for not imposing stricter curbs on social activity.
Wojtasik said he hopes the self-imposed restrictions at his eatery will at least play a small part in limiting the harm caused by COVID-19.
"Some of my friends died, people who were younger than me. I know this (virus) is a real risk that you can't underestimate."
Poland's government has said it often had to deal with opposing opinions from various bodies, not just those of its advisers. It said the council's ways of functioning would change, without elaborating.
New daily COVID-19 infections are exceeding 30,000 amidst a relatively soft government response to the pandemic compared with many other European countries.
Only about 56% of Poles have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, well below the European Union average.
