This summer was like no other. Across the country, sections of cities and towns were transformed into terraces and piazzas where restaurant tables migrated onto sidewalks and streets. There were – and are – plenty of people to occupy those tables. The restaurant community is showing its resilience by taking it outside.
East Greenwich began closing Main Street to car traffic on Sundays, giving restaurants such as La Masseria and PB Bistro & Bar space to arrange tables in the street for social distancing and to increase dining capacity. According to R.I. Department of Business Regulation guidelines, restaurants may seat diners outdoors up to their original capacity, and extra seating may be permitted by local authorities. The plan debuted on Labor Day weekend. It was a cooperative effort between the town and the East Greenwich Chamber of Commerce, which had to ensure that there would be space for emergency vehicles to pass. The idea came from the success of Federal Hill’s “Al Fresco On The Hill” that redefined the landscape of Atwells Avenue in Providence when the Federal Hill Commerce Association undertook the effort with local and state civic, transportation and first-response leaders in the spring. Rick Simone, association executive director, said at the time that the plan was to keep tables outdoors well into the fall.
Would the al fresco phenomenon have happened without the pandemic? In Portsmouth, savvy owner-operators Sean and Carly Smith might have decided on their own to outfit the scenic deck of their 15 Point Road restaurant on the Sakonnet River with extra heaters to extend their outdoor season. Sam Glynn might have thought out of the box and placed tables in his Chomp parking lot in Warren or on the sidewalk outside his new East Side eatery. But these innovations would have become smothered under a blanket of bureaucracy.
Other outdoor options are enjoying success. The original “take-it-outside” restaurant concept – the food truck – is back this fall with a flurry of activity. In the first week of September, multiple Food Truck Nights were organized in Providence, Warwick and Portsmouth for eager groups of socially distanced clientele. The Newport Mansions Wine and Food Festival, scheduled for Sept. 17-20, has reformed into a series of smaller tastings and seminars for no more than 50 people – the state maximum for a catered event – on the terrace of the Rosecliff mansion with wine experts, food purveyors and local chefs. It’s almost sold out.
Despite the carnage caused by the pandemic, Rhode Island’s restaurant industry is ahead of neighboring states in recovery and averting wholesale closings. Some observers say this can be attributed to an early and ongoing dialogue with state commerce and health officials. This has been facilitated by industry leaders such as trade and commerce associations. There has been no public outcry for restaurants to do anything but remain open any way they can to meet demand. Quite the opposite impression is being created. The news of the opening of four restaurants in two weeks was drowned out by multiple media reports of a single restaurant closing. Speculation without evidence on the dire future of the industry is being reported as fact, as are statistics comparing present day with six months ago, rather than year-over-year figures that show signs of rebounding. The direction the restaurant industry will take will be determined by customer demand. That said, trust must be paramount. No economic news will take the place of us placing our trust in the owners and restaurateurs on whom we have depended in the past to uphold high standards. n
Bruce Newbury’s radio show and podcast, “Dining Out with Bruce Newbury,” now in its 25th year, is broadcast on WADK 1540 AM and several radio stations throughout New England. Email him at Bruce@BruceNewbury.com.
