Drinks join outdoor dining -- CITY FOCUS

Bryce Alderton

Restaurateurs Downtown are tasting the benefits of an idea that was

brewed up more than two years ago.

Five Downtown restaurants have just begun selling liqueur on their

front patios, a long two years after City Council approved the plan.

The hold up was a lengthy permit process, which involved constructing

a fence to separate the drinkers from the drivers.

The last step was the construction of the 36-inch high turquoise

fences that recently went up around the outside portions of five eateries

along Main Street.

The restaurants now serving drinks outdoors are Ibiza, Momo’s

Margarita & Taco Bar, Tuna Town, Longboard Restaurant and Pub and Luigi’s

Restaurant.

“It’s nice to finally get it done after two years,” said Ron McLin,

general manager of Longboard Restaurant and Pub.

To serve alcohol in a public right of way, businesses first needed to

apply for a conditional use permit, said Paul Da Veiga, an assistant city

planner.

Once that permit is issued, the restaurant owner needed an

encroachment permit for construction of the fence, which are the first

permits required.

Once those permits were issued the businesses needed an alcohol

license from the state’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Da

Veiga said.

Then there were teams of consultants for the design, color and

measurements of the fences, which had to be manufactured and installed,

said Rich Barnard, deputy city administrator.

“This is not just taking off the shelf and putting in,” Barnard said.

“Deciding what the ordinance should be and getting the construction and

design took time.”

Despite the tedious process, restaurant managers are thrilled to

finally have full service outdoor dinning.

“It’s a nice benefit to [serve alcohol] outdoors,” McLin said. “It

will add more of a dining scene at night, a good European kind of feel.”

Restaurants can serve alcohol outdoors from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., or

no later than the restaurant stops serving food, and can only serve

alcohol to sit-down customers, Da Veiga said. “I do not foresee [alcohol

served outdoors] will be a problem,” said Ken Vasilik, owner of Surf City

Candy on Main Street.

Although BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse has not yet applied for permits

to sell alcohol outside, it is considering it, said the manager Britt

White.

* BRYCE ALDERTON is the news assistant. He can be reached at (714)

965-7173 or by e-mail at [email protected]