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Have You Considered Eating Out?

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By JANIS D. FROELICH

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 31, 2008

DOWNTOWN - Ramara Taylor is from Chicago, so outdoor dining is second nature.

"It can be cold there and people still sit outside," she said.

On a windy, hot spring day downtown, Taylor and Sade Smith, who both work in the U.S. Attorney's Office, wouldn't think of eating inside the nearby Lucky Dill Deli on Tampa Street, where most of the patrons were noshing.

"There are so few days you can really do this here," Smith said, as the women sat under an umbrella at a sidewalk table. "We love to be outdoors."

And that's been the feeling for decades in downtown, said Wilson Stair, the city's urban planner. But until recently there haven't been many places to have lunch or dinner outside.

As far back as 20 years ago, Stair said, city officials were hoping to lure more sidewalk diners. Outdoor cafes are listed as a goal in the draft comprehensive plan for downtown that the city council is considering.

"Anything to activate the street is welcome," Stair said.

"Outdoor dining really sets a mood, providing almost a continental look to our city."

Paul Ayres, marketing director for the Tampa Downtown Partnership, said he is happy to see outdoor dining finally happening in greater numbers. About 10 restaurants offer sidewalk tables, plus Indigo Coffee Shop.

"This really adds vitality to our city," he said.

Ayres said downtown's population growth - 2,000 residences were available in 2007 compared with 400 in 2005 - is a factor. He said the transformation of downtown into a pedestrian-friendly place is under way.

Stair said the permit process for outdoor dining is fairly routine: An establishment must ensure tables aren't blocking doors and that there's room for pedestrians.

While waiting for their food outside Sumos Thai on Twiggs Street, Tom McLinden and Christopher Heron said they enjoy the fresh air. Both men are consultants for Hillsborough County.

"You're cooped up in the office all day," McLinden said. "This makes a nice break."
Heron would like to see patio-size spaces devoted to outdoor dining.

"It's almost an afterthought the way it's arranged so close to the buildings," he said.

Both would welcome more choices in a cafe setting.

"This seems to be very popular, even on a day like today," McLinden said as the breeze picked up. "So, hopefully, other places will try it."

Andrew Sweet, who was dining recently at Paninoteca Mediterranean Cafe on Franklin Street, said he's a big fan of the 5-month-old restaurant for its menu and outdoor spots.

"This is the only chance I get to be outside all day," said Sweet, who works at Hyde Park Capital Advisors on Franklin Street.

Mary Khabbaz owns Paninoteca with her husband, Joe, who spends lunch hours handing out menus at the front door and directing diners to tables inside and out. She said the restaurant opened with four outdoor tables but that number quickly doubled.

She said the growth of outdoor dining is proof that downtown has a bright future.

"It just looks so cool to see people in a cafe setting," she said.

Christian Zavala said the sidewalk permitting was in place when he bought Lucky Dill Deli about two years ago.

"We have about six tables now," he said, "and they're always packed on nice days."

Reporter Janis D. Froelich can be reached at (813) 835-2104 or jfroelich@tampatrib.com.

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