RI restaurants welcome customers for outdoor dining

Two restaurants in Providence’s Federal Hill had just a few tables each set up outside on Monday; Opa and Nara Lounge took advantage of the first day of reopening restaurants in Rhode Island, adhering to the many restrictions.

“It’s just nice to see places opening up again, getting back to some sense normalcy,” one patron told NBC 10.

The restaurants lining Atwells Ave. are now able to welcome outside diners in this first phase of reopening. Constantino’s Venda Bar is prepping its patio space for lunch and dinner starting Thursday.

“It’s important to make sure everything is safe for our customers and also for our staff,” Venda general manager Gabriel Constantino said.

Opa started taking reservations for lunch and dinner on Monday with customers calling ahead to reserve one of their three outdoor tables.

“We do have a temperature gun that we are going to test our staff regularly with, every day, including any customers willing to do it, we have gloves, masks,” manager Francois Karam said

They have disposable menus on hand, and the staff is asking customers about their health.

“The restaurant industry is unique in that it’s high-touch by nature, the reason people go out to eat is for the experience,” Sarah Bratko told NBC 10.

Bratko is with the Rhode Island Hospitality Association, made up of hundreds of restaurants across the Ocean State. They’ve come up with a restaurant pledge.

“We need to make sure that the restaurants are following the rules, but we also need to consumer to not only come out to eat to support our local businesses but to make sure that they aren’t going out to eat if they’re not feeling well,” Bratko said.

Outside Avvio in Garden City, customers sat “socially distanced” from other tables on Monday and wore masks when they weren’t eating.

“It is fantastic,” general manager Raul Esteves said. “It’s a welcome relief to finally get back to.”

Esteves explained the steps they’re taking: using a high functioning, high heat dishwasher and fully sanitizing each spot in between parties.

“Hopefully they feel relaxed and safe, knowing we’re taking every precaution they can,” Esteves said.

Back on the hill, nine restaurants will open their outdoor space this week.

“The restaurants up here are very resilient,” Federal Hill Commerce Association Executive Director Rick Simone said. “Part of our plans are already moving forward that we’re going to close the streets Thursday through Saturday, and rotate different sections so the restaurants can spill right out into the street; so I think we’re going to make it look the best that we can, but it’s going to be a work in progress and were’ going to need people’s patience.”