With the state moving us into Phase2 this week we’re about to see something we haven’t seen in a long time – people eating at restaurants.
I bumped into my neighbor today and he told me that he saw on Facebook that Dunn Gaherins, our local restaurant/pub, was asking neighbors for unused patio tables and/or chairs. They’re planning to switch from “take-out only” to “outdoor only seating plus take-out”.
I threw our unused patio table in my car and headed down. It was a beehive of activity in the Dunn Gaherins parking lot. They’re planning to begin serving dinner there starting on Tuesday.
What other signs of new life can you report from other restaurants around Newton?
Anyone see/hear what Waltham is doing? They’re closing off a portion of Moody Street so that restaurants and small businesses can serve customers outdoors (including dining) until November. Pretty bold step. Hope it works out.
More here:
https://www.city.waltham.ma.us/home/news/support-our-downtown-small-businesses-moody-st-outdoor-dining-announced-from-june-8th
I heard that O’Hara’s is opening and may be using the parking area in front of what used to be Highland Service in some way.
Newton needs to go big or go home like Waltham. Sticking picnic tables in Newton Centre Triangle parking lot isn’t going to cut it. Union Street is a great prospect for a dining garden. I’d also like to see Cafe St Petersburg make use of their amazing outdoor space
#Clair. I agree completely with your comments about Union Street and Cafe St. Petersburg and am pleased that O’Hara’s will be offering outdoor dining service service here in the Highlands.
I second (no third) Claire about Union St.
My wife and I had dinner at O’Hara’s last night, hoping to use the tables across Walnut St but the restaurant did not have approval to open that space. We had ordered take-out which, was ready when we got there, and we were able to eat at one of the sidewalk tables which offer wait service. It was very nice to eat somewhere not at home and run into someone we knew from the city clerk’s office to chat, at a distance. By the time we finished Carl told us that they got approval for the new tables. The table they built themselves where pretty comfortable, for good picnic tables.
I’m not sure I’ve ever enjoyed the simple pleasure of having a burger and a pint as much as this evening. It was a lovely summer evening. Dunn Gaherins parking lot made for a surprisingly pleasant dining room now that there are no cars in it. Added bonus – the next safely spaced table over were some friends we haven’t seen in a while that we got to catch up with.
Its all small gradual steps, but it sure feels good.
Boca Bella’s in Auburndale is slated to open tonight (Wed) with a new back patio for outdoor dining as well as tables in the front of the restaurant. Baramor in Newton Centre opened on Monday with a bunch of new custom-made picnic tables, and Union Street in Newton Centre has outdoor dining as well. I think it’s necessary to close down some of the streets to give restaurants without the luxury of outdoor space a fighting chance for survival. Union Street and part of Langley seem like naturals. Perhaps a parking lot in W. Newton Square. Live music would be a great addition, too!
Lauren, I applaud the idea of live music in some of the settings you mentioned. I know quite a number of musicians who lost a lot of work thanks to the pandemic.