It was mid-March when restaurants closed. Then they opened for takeout. In May, diners were allowed back in restaurants.
Now, the new mandate is patio-only dining, making restaurants pivot once more to another new normal.
Fortunately, many Orange County restaurants have patios. Those that don’t have made use of sidewalks and even parking lots to create ad hoc al fresco dining areas.
Some cities turned streets into giant patios. Sections of Glassell Street in Old Towne Orange have been closed to allow restaurants to move tables onto the pavement. Laguna Beach closed a section of Forest Avenue to provide a seaside oasis for diners.
Restaurants are doing whatever it takes to stay alive.
From a diner’s point of view, the al fresco dining experience is a refreshing change of pace.
A prime example is Tavern House Kitchen + Bar in Newport Beach, which celebrated its one-year anniversary last month. One section of the restaurant is already a covered patio overlooking the harbor, but leave it to restaurateur David Wilhelm to create an additional enclosed patio dining area in front of his restaurant, complete with AstroTurf, comfortable seating, umbrellas, decorative string lighting at night, and even music.
Another example is Bayside Restaurant, also in Newport Beach, which has an existing wrap-around patio. To make up for lost space, they added a large outdoor dining area by enclosing part of their parking lot, erecting a tent, and placed tables with umbrellas outside. They have live music seven days a week, with musicians set up outdoors.
The Winery Restaurant in Tustin has a small patio, expanded last month to double its capacity. I dined there late last month and am pleased to report the restaurant’s commitment to superb cuisine and service has not been impacted. It’s still a delicious experience. So too is The Winery in Newport Beach, which added tables dockside and in the parking lot, doubling its original upstairs patio capacity.
Old Vine Kitchen & Bar at The Camp in Costa Mesa went a step—make that two steps—further.
In addition to the current backyard patio, the restaurant acquired two adjoining outdoor dining spaces they have labeled The Roof and The Stairway Patio. That gives the restaurant 50 new outdoor seats with shady umbrellas, placed within a series of art installations by Orange County-based artist and industrial designer Mark Gerardi.
Old Vine proprietor and Chef Mark McDonald has added new bar and dinner menus, including a four-course cocktail pairing menu. He’s also added new vegan and vegetarian items to the menu.
Check them out at oldvinekitchenbar.com.
