By Donald Wittkowski
Come sip and savor.
Sea Isle City hopes to tempt more tourists to come to town this summer by showcasing its array of drinking and dining options – from casual, old-school taverns to gourmet waterfront restaurants.
The beach town is looking to elevate its culinary scene by reviving its Restaurant Week promotion and tweaking its outdoor dining experience that has been hugely popular since it was introduced nine years ago.
During a meeting Tuesday of the Sea Isle City Chamber of Commerce and Revitalization, restaurant owners began plotting strategy to create a more upscale ambiance that will appeal to summer vacationers.
“We all like good food, at good prices,” said Katherine Custer, the city’s public relations director.
What emerged from the lively discussion was an agreement to give the city’s Restaurant Week another try after a previous attempt fizzled out because local eateries were reluctant to participate.
“I think it should be tried again,” said Kim Gibson, owner of Braca Café, a Sea Isle landmark since 1901. “The Restaurant Week could build on itself if we do it the right way.”
The plan is to hold Restaurant Week in early June, traditionally a slow time on the calendar because it falls between the big Memorial Day weekend celebration and the start of the full-fledged summer tourism season, officials said.
Led by Gibson, the restaurant owners plan to meet later on to work out the details of the event, including whether it should be limited to dinner specials or also include breakfast and lunch.
Christopher Glancey, president of the Chamber of Commerce, suggested it might be better to offer only dinner promotions “to keep it simple” in Restaurant Week’s first year back.
The Chamber plans to promote Restaurant Week through its website, social media and more traditional forms of advertising. Chamber officials also discussed the possibility of holding the event on June 5-12 to piggyback on neighboring Avalon’s Restaurant Week at the same time.
Mike Monichetti, owner of Mike’s Seafood in Sea Isle, said the restaurant operators were looking to offer a prix-fixe promotion for a combination of dining choices. One idea was for a “Four for $34” special that would include soup or salad, an appetizer, the main course and dessert.
“We’re putting stuff out that would entice you to visit the restaurants in Sea Isle City,” Monichetti said, promising high-quality meals.
The restaurant owners also spoke Tuesday with City Councilman John Divney about ways to enhance the sidewalk café-style outdoor dining offered around town. Divney said he was eager to hear their suggestions and take them back to City Council for possible changes in the dining regulations.
Gibson credited outdoor dining for creating a more sophisticated culinary atmosphere and bringing “a better caliber person to the island.”
“They love being outside,” Gibson said in an interview. “They love listening to the concerts on Saturday night. They love people-watching. They love seeing and being seen. And they certainly love the food.”
Divney stressed that outdoor dining has been a big hit since its inception in 2008, but he wants to explore if anything can be done to make it even better for the arrival of prime-time vacation weather.
In an interview last week, Divney said he believes sidewalk dining has helped to erase Sea Isle’s reputation as a “bar town.”
“It makes the town feel nicer and warmer and more comfortable,” he said.
Gibson told Divney he would like to see the hours for outdoor dining extended to midnight instead of ending at 11 p.m., as required by the existing regulations.
“People want to be outside,” Gibson said. “There are more and more people using our outside dining. You don’t want to hamper that.”
Gibson and other restaurant owners also said the city should consider ending the requirement that all tables and chairs must be removed from the outdoor dining areas after 11 p.m.
Currently, tables and chairs must be taken inside at the end of the night and then brought back outside the next day – a cumbersome and time-consuming process, the restaurant owners said.
