I’d like nothing better than to go to a restaurant–the only face covering being my beard–to settle into the simple pleasures of indoor dining.
Recently I asked a friend where we should go out to eat ( inside). Her response listed these restaurants for indoor dining: “Tuscan Table (it’s so large), Royal River Grill House, Boone’s, Scales, Fore Street, etc.” It ran the gamut of choices, leaving out some. I suggested Chaval because they offer wonderful garden seating behind the restaurant. Last Friday night I was not able to secure a spot outside but reserved a table inside, requesting the big round one at the window, far enough away from other diners. By 8 PM we were finished and only a few tables in the main dining room were occupied. But there was a steady stream of take out orders being picked up at the front door and the garden dining area was humming. Indeed Chaval has taken every precaution to abide by the city’s inside dining rules. Without the buzz of a packed restaurant, the atmosphere was subdued.
The dining room and entry at Chaval; Sole stuffed with clams in a spinach puree; ice cream roll
Bar or counter dining is basically minimal at most restaurants. I’ve even been to Moody’s and Becky’s where counter seating–once a mainstay–is off limits. Scales and Fore Street have devised plexiglass shields between seats for twosomes at the bar. If there’s a silver lining the kitchens are less stressed than they would be with crowded dining rooms and the food is more carefully prepared.
But for now I’m still enjoying eating in the open air. And if there’s a water view, all the better. I’ve yet to go hunker down under the bunker-walled enclaves on Middle Street–as though those fortifications that mark many outdoor dining rooms were devised to prevent runaway Mack trucks from plowing diners down.
The Middle Street restaurant row is the most popular in the city. Though the mass of diners seems too close for comfort.
I limit my dining out options to lunch, preferably either on the water or overlooking it. Having a table on a busy street is not appealing after sunset. One in particular whose food I like a lot is on such a busy corner and is smack dab in the path of a blinding setting sun. Sunset is earlier now (6:30 ish). Will restaurants be installing lighting when the sun sets by the late afternoon?
Top: The bar and halibut in meyer lemon sauce at Fore Street; Bottom: The patio at Scales and tuna
Solo Italiano taking reservations and setting up for the evening’s roster of outdoor dining
Here is a short list of what I like. I know, I know. There are other spots, but …
My three favorites at lunchtime include the patio at the Cumberland Food Company, in the heart of Cumberland Center’s farm country; Mr. Tuna along the Eastern Prom and EVO-X at Fore Points Marina at the end of Thames Street.
The patio at Cumberland Food Company–a day in the country!
Chef/owner Bryan Dame has quite a following at both breakfast and lunch. Most recently I had a grilled chicken sandwich served on homemade focaccia. The lightly grilled chicken breast was melt-in- your- mouth tender, but it was the bread that was the star–bursting in flavor, with a texture that was both silken and hearty. It just crumbled in your mouth like the flakiest pastry.
The chicken sandwich with flavored mayonnaise served with housemade pickle served on the patio at Cumberland Food Company
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