By JEANNE AZAROVITZ
The pandemic has supercharged the trend to dine al fresco on a patio or deck. Fortunately, many restaurants in Falmouth take advantage of this trend. While it used to be that oceanside dining was the only kind that took place outside, now diners on Main Street and other parts of town can enjoy outdoor seating in season.
Tiffanie Hawkins, a former Arizona Restaurant Association marketing and events manager, was quoted on the National Restaurant Association website regarding dining al fresco, saying that it “seems to make everything taste better. Whatever the reason—cozy charm, spectacular views, the balmy air—a meal under the sky delivers ‘life is good’ pleasure.”
I would agree and would add to the benefits of dining al fresco one more thing: people-watching. We are so lucky to see ocean views all around town, and some of us even get to see such views every day when we commute to work or just run about doing errands. For locals, the idea of waiting in a long line to have your meal near the ocean when you don’t have to in the off-season can be tiring. On the other hand, when you live here all year and deal with the sometimes-miserable off-season weather, you can develop the same itch to see views as the tourists. An alternative to long lines for ocean views on busy evenings is hitting the streets.
In Falmouth on Main Street, we have Añejo Mexican Bistro where diners can sit outdoors and enjoy a meal and something from the tequila bar while watching the people go by. For pizza, there is Simply Divine Pizza on Main Street. Also along Main Street, al fresco-seeking diners can choose from umbrella tables at Persey’s Place and casual tables and chairs out in front of Bean & Cod and The Pickle Jar.
In Falmouth Heights, Soprano’s offers spectacular views of the sound from their deck, and across the street is Shipwrecked where you can eat outside and enjoy some music with friends and family.
On Davis Straits, there is Casa Vallarta, which is yet another restaurant with an outdoor option. Also on Davis Straits are C Salt Wine Bar & Grill and Anchor Ale House, which have limited outdoor seating.
There are so many options to choose from that there is even a list of “Top 10 Outdoor Dining Spots in Falmouth” on the Trip Advisor app, which will let locals and tourists alike in on more options than the old favorites that have been around for years. These options are all in addition to our waterfront seafood standards that we all know and love, which include Jim’s Clam Shack, The Flying Bridge, the Falmouth Raw Bar and Pier 37 Boathouse.
Sometimes choosing the outdoor seating option can mean a shorter wait time for seating. If you are dressed for the occasion and the demand is greater for the inside tables, dining al fresco can be an advantage.
The village of Woods Hole has more to offer than the usual seaside joints. How about the Quicks Hole Taqueria? This location is convenient to the ferry and has a charming view. Watching people load up and take off for a weekend getaway can be fun; so can watching the Shining Sea Bikeway enthusiasts reach their destination. For lighter options in Wood Hole, you can grab a sandwich or a coffee at Coffee Obsession. The Landfall Restaurant has an inviting fire pit. Shuckers Raw Bar might have more outdoor seating than indoors.
Main Street in Falmouth also has activities in the park and plenty of reasons for you to duck the seaside breeze. If you are heading home to Falmouth from a morning at Old Silver Beach, you can grab lunch or an ice cream at West Falmouth Market in their growing outside seating area.
Locally owned small grocers Windfall Market and Jack in the Beanstalk have outdoor seating for customers who purchase their ready-made options.
If you do venture out, be sure to bring along another layer of clothing, and do look up at the sky. Or at least heed the warning if your server decides it is going to rain and suggests another table. Call and make sure the restaurant is open, but some have very limited seasonal hours. Pick out an area where you want to hang and have fun. Check out the sights and the people who visit our town, or hail a neighbor you drove by and waved to all winter.
Surely this list is not comprehensive. Local restaurateurs have found creative ways to extend their outdoor seating in season, so as you drive around or wait in traffic, keep an eye out for tables. They are popping up all the time, and there are some new restaurants that launched this winter or are opening this summer that have yet to show off their dining areas. With the addition of lighting, fountains and a warm gas fire, new areas have been created in our favorite places that may just make your next evening out more romantic than that last sunset on the beach. If your skin has been toasted from a little too much ocean viewing during the day, you can still enjoy the fresh air as you dine. Explore this fun way of dining, and enjoy all the sights Falmouth has to offer.