Last weekend I took my family out to a restaurant for dinner. Something that was so normal a year ago is now a special event. And you know what, it was great to experience a little bit of normal again.
With some of the pandemic-related restrictions easing, many restaurants are now offering outdoor dining or limited indoor dining. The people of King County, it’s chefs, bakers, store owners and more are all doing what they can to keep their businesses operating during this challenging time. And while each of us has our own comfort level, it’s a great time to do something nearby to support the local businesses in our community.
Copperleaf Restaurant is a hidden gem, and one of our favorites, so we were excited to see that they had outdoor dining available. It was raining that night, but we stayed warm and dry under the giant umbrellas and numerous heaters. They even offered blankets. The restaurant even had some fun with the outdoor dining experience with special “Camp Copperleaf” menus. And when the food arrived, everything seemed normal again. It really was great to dine out.
Copperleaf Restaurant recently reopened indoor dining as well, which is great to see. And from February 19 – March 27 they are offering the Puffy Jacket Pop Up dining series which will feature several Columbia Hospitality restaurants. The limited-time dining series will highlight the best of the PNW through rustic food, cocktails, and a truly unique experience.
As we walked through Cedarbrook Lodge on the way back to our car, I thought about how much had changed over the last year. My wife and I had dined at Copperleaf Restaurant for a date night just before all the pandemic closures began. At the time, the hotel and restaurant were at capacity. People were everywhere and I remember being thankful that I had made a reservation.
We decided to dine out again the following week at Miyabi Sushi, which had recently added a tent with outdoor seating. Hot tea and a bowl of miso soup warmed us up, and then the plates of sushi arrived shortly thereafter. It was another wonderful night out and it felt great to show our support to a local restaurant.
Miyabi Sushi recently reopened indoor dining, in addition to offering the outdoor dining that we experienced. Takeout orders are a popular choice as well.
The tourism and hospitality business has been severely impacted from the pandemic-related closures. Hotel occupancy is down to 38.5% (when it was at 91.7% for the same period last year). Businesses have had to make heart-wrenching decisions on how to cut costs to stay afloat.
There are plenty of things to do in Seattle and in Seattle southside. Whatever your comfort level might be, now is a great time to do something nearby to support local businesses.
