Rain threatens outdoor dining

MONTEREY, Calif (KION) The forecast shows chances of rain this afternoon in Monterey and other parts of the Central Coast, which could pose a threat to outdoor dining.

Only outdoor dining, takeout and delivery are allowed for restaurants in Monterey County right now because they are in the purple tier.

San Benito and Santa Cruz counties were also recently bumped down to the purple tier after an announcement by Governor Gavin Newsom this week.

“Outdoor dining saved us for the spring and summer,” Julia’s Vegetarian Restaurant Owner/Head Chef Anthony Gerbino said. “But now, we’re going into the winter and it’s bad.”

When it comes to outdoor dining, the weather can either make or break restaurants. Sunshine and blue skies means customers can enjoy a meal out on the patio, but wind and rain brings an extra set of challenges for local restaurants during an already difficult year.

Staff at Tarpy’s Roadhouse in Monterey started covering some of their tables and heaters outside after hearing of rain in the forecast.

“It’s really hard to prepare short of tents which the county allows but you have to have three sides up so even if you got big, large tents, you can’t put heaters in them because it’s a fire hazard and sides up, meaning the cold air and drizzle comes in,” Tarpy’s Roadhouse Co-owner Mona Calis said.

Tarpy’s has some patio covered spaces so they’ll still be able to seat some customers, but Calis estimates they can only use about 50 percent of their outdoor dining when it rains. Tents can also be expensive.

“Revenue is at 25 percent dining or 50 percent if you were full every single night on the patios, it’s a really big stretch, so you’re really weighing a couple of rainy days and a lot of money,” Calis said.

Over in Pacific Grove, staff at Julia’s Vegetarian Restaurant is hoping customers will be able to pull them through the winter.

Gusty winds recently knocked down one of their tents; it's a sign of the challenges of outdoor dining when the elements are not on your side.

“You never know which direction the rain is going to come from. I think everyone is really struggling right now so the big thing is just keep pushing the take out and that’s the way we’re really going to get through is by the online ordering,” Gerbino said.

As the cold weather comes in, some restaurant owners told KION they also face another challenge: finding propane to power their outdoor heaters.

Monterey County will have to wait until the red tier before limited indoor dining will be allowed.