Dining as affordable entertainment

EATING WELL: With the economy yet to fully recover, Pot au Feu and Federal Reserve owner Bob Burke sees restaurants as a viable entertainment option. /
EATING WELL: With the economy yet to fully recover, Pot au Feu and Federal Reserve owner Bob Burke sees restaurants as a viable entertainment option. /

“Hospitality as entertainment is one of the big trends that will strongly continue in 2010,” said Bob Burke, owner and operator of two successful downtown restaurants in Providence, Pot au Feu and Federal Reserve.
“More than ever, dining out has become an inexpensive way for people to spend a night out,” he said. “People have learned to compact that [relief from a busy week] into four or five hours.
“In 2010, Ocean House in Watch Hill will open,” he said, referring to the $130 million, year-round resort with hotel and condominiums now being rebuilt on the waterfront in Westerly. “And that will awaken the New York and metro market and bring some real high-end potential tourism to Rhode Island. Over the next five years, that area of Westerly will be competing with places like Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard and the Hamptons on Long Island.
“Those in the tourism industry are realizing more and more that Rhode Island is well-positioned to take advantage of those major centers of wealth toward Boston and New York that are less than three hours away,” he said.
To lure tourists, Burke created a walk through historic Providence known as the Independence Trail. He leads visitors to historic sites in the city and provides colorful commentaries on the significance of each place. He has been in the restaurant business since he was 15 years old and opened Pot au Feu in 1986.
“We are innovators,” said Burke, referring to business owners in the hospitality field, particularly tourism and restaurants. “We are well-positioned for 2010 to stay the course.” &#8226

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