Restaurateurs from across Connecticut joined Sen. Chris Murphy on Friday for a roundtable discussion on all the challenges their businesses face amid the pandemic.

Owners say federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans were a big help at the start of the pandemic – but that money dried up months ago.

They say they are losing money with restaurants back down to 50% capacity and cold weather about to seriously restrict outdoor dining.

Sen. Murphy and the roundtable participants agreed – restaurants will close if the government doesn't step in.

"After listening to you today, I'm more sure than ever that we've got to turn up the heat on our colleagues in Washington to pass additional business assistance and additional individual assistance," he said.

The state recently offered qualifying small businesses $5,000. They say those payouts are expected to come sometime in the next month.