Cheers, Hamilton! Patios reopen Friday. Where can I go?
Patio season is finally here, Hamilton.
Restaurants and bars got the green light to reopen outdoor dining this week as the province announced it would be entering step one of its reopening plan Friday morning - days earlier than anticipated.
Some Hamilton spots will reopen their (out)doors to customers as early as Friday, while some are hanging back and taking a gradual approach.
But there will be no shortage of places to go, according to the city.
As of Wednesday, the city had approved 167 patios for the year with more applications coming in every day," said spokesperson Michelle Shantz in an email to The Spectator. The city was unable to provide a list of all patios.
One of those patios is at Sammy's Family Restaurant in Ancaster, which will be open to patrons early Friday morning.
The Cameron Drive restaurant specializes in breakfast and lunch offerings, with Mediterranean and Greek influences, said manager Jaced Kaleci, who was putting some final touches on the patio Wednesday afternoon.
It was sad to see nobody out there ... everybody is happiest out there in the summer," said Kaleci. I'm excited to finally fire it back up."
The same goes for Mosaic on Barton Street East, said co-owner Tyler Roach. Their patio, which calls their adjacent alleyway home, has expanded this summer thanks to approval from the city, he added.
We can't wait to get going again and see our customers," said Roach, noting they'll continue to offer takeout as well as their bottle shop service.
Under the latest COVID-19 restrictions, patios can reopen and seat four people per table, with exceptions for larger households. Tables must also be physically-distanced by two metres.
In an Instagram post, Waterdown's The Royal Coachman said it must be very evident" that groups are from the same household.
This is not a backdoor to have larger groups of friends together," stated the post announcing their patio will reopen on Friday. Seatings at the restaurant will be limited to 90 minutes and contact tracing and screening will also continue.
The eatery has also asked for patience from customers, who will be returning to all Hamilton establishments after a months-long lockdown.
We want to hit the ground running but we might be a little rusty," stated the post. Trust that if we are a little slow, we don't want to be and your positive dining experience is always on our mind."
Other bars and restaurants will have a delayed start to their patio season - including Merit Brewing and Aberdeen Tavern.
In an Instagram post, the Aberdeen Avenue watering hole announced they'd be reopening their patio Monday afternoon.
Our teams will be busy in the coming days getting our kitchens and patios ready to welcome you back," stated the post. We want to ensure that we have all the necessary pieces in place to give you the best experience possible."
That same sentiment also rings true for Merit Brewing Company on James Street North. Front-of-house manager Chris Smarkala said their patio will open on June 16, allowing them time to reopen their kitchen and set up their outdoor dining.
Smarkala said their kitchen has been closed for the past seven months and their patio is not set up just yet - they had originally planned to prepare this coming weekend.
We want to take our time and make sure we get it right," said Smarkala. We don't want to rush into it."
And for coffee lovers looking forward to sipping cold brew in the sun, Detour Cafe in Dundas will be reopening their patio on Monday.
For those hoping to hit the patio this coming weekend, The Spectator has created a list of some of the establishments that are ready to welcome back patrons.
Some are by reservation only, while others are first-come, first-served, so be sure to check ahead of time.
Regardless, cheers Hamilton!
Cafes
Synonym at 328 James St. N. in Hamilton
Red Church Cafe and Gallery at 68 King St. E. in Hamilton
Bars, pubs and beer gardens
Osten Beer Hall at 1103 Cannon St. E. in Hamilton
Coach and Lantern at 384 Wilson St. E. in Ancaster
Collective Arts at 207 Burlington St. E. in Hamilton
Farside at 288 James St. N. in Hamilton
Cause and Effect at 1784 Stone Church Rd. E. in Stoney Creek
The Fool and Flagon at 2255 Barton St. E. in Hamilton
Restaurants and eateries
The Village Restaurant at 35 King St. E. in Stoney Creek
Merk Snack Bar at 189 Ottawa St. N. in Hamilton
The Binbrook Grill at 3020 Binbrook Rd. in Binbrook
Electric Diner at 96 George St. in Hamilton
Radius at 151 James St. S. in Hamilton
The Royal Coachman at 1 Main St. N. in Waterdown
Caro at 4 Ottawa St. N. in Hamilton
Nique Restaurant at 30 Vine St. in Hamilton
Thirsty Cactus at 2 King St. E. in Dundas
Born and Raised at 224 James St. N. in Hamilton
Tracie's Place at 592 Upper James St. in Hamilton
To be added to the list, please contact news@thespec.com.
Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com