Sacramento restaurants hope for boost from ‘Dine Downtown’ after being hit hard by storms

Dine Downtown kicks off on Friday to help boost business for restaurants during what is typically a slow time for them after the holidays. The recent series of storms has made things especially tough for some places that experienced power outages and slow days as the rain and wind kept most people at home, even on New Year’s Eve.”New Year’s Eve is normally pretty busy because people are getting ready to go out. People are getting ready to go out to the bars down the street from us and this year, that was the day we had 30 canceled reservations in one night,” said Shelby Davis, general manager at The Porch Restaurant & Bar in midtown Sacramento. That was just the first of several storms that have hit the region so far this year.”With all the trees and branches coming down, it’s just… I get nervous,” Francia Warstler said. “So, I’d much rather stay home.”However, with the break in the rain on Thursday, she and her sisters decided to stop at The Porch Restaurant & Bar for brunch.”We’re taking advantage. We knew it was not rain, not wind, kinda sunny, so we’re like, ‘Let’s get together and come out and enjoy the day,'” Warstler said. Enjoy it because more rain could be on the way.”But with Dine Downtown coming in , it’s gonna really boost us this month. It always has,” Davis said. The annual dining experience starts on Friday and continues through Sunday, Jan. 22. There are 34 restaurants participating this year with the option to serve up three-course meals for $45.”It means a lot to be part of the community and have the community support us through the slowest time of the year,” Davis said. She is hopeful the rain will not spoil it.”Fingers crossed that this weekend will be, not so bad that people won’t be against going out and adventuring,” she said.You can find more information about the restaurants participating and their menus at godowntownsac.com.

Dine Downtown kicks off on Friday to help boost business for restaurants during what is typically a slow time for them after the holidays.

The recent series of storms has made things especially tough for some places that experienced power outages and slow days as the rain and wind kept most people at home, even on New Year’s Eve.

“New Year’s Eve is normally pretty busy because people are getting ready to go out. People are getting ready to go out to the bars down the street from us and this year, that was the day we had 30 canceled reservations in one night,” said Shelby Davis, general manager at The Porch Restaurant & Bar in midtown Sacramento.

That was just the first of several storms that have hit the region so far this year.

“With all the trees and branches coming down, it’s just… I get nervous,” Francia Warstler said. “So, I’d much rather stay home.”

However, with the break in the rain on Thursday, she and her sisters decided to stop at The Porch Restaurant & Bar for brunch.

“We’re taking advantage. We knew it was not rain, not wind, kinda sunny, so we’re like, ‘Let’s get together and come out and enjoy the day,'” Warstler said.

Enjoy it because more rain could be on the way.

“But with Dine Downtown coming in, it’s gonna really boost us this month. It always has,” Davis said.

The annual dining experience starts on Friday and continues through Sunday, Jan. 22. There are 34 restaurants participating this year with the option to serve up three-course meals for $45.

“It means a lot to be part of the community and have the community support us through the slowest time of the year,” Davis said.

She is hopeful the rain will not spoil it.

“Fingers crossed that this weekend will be, not so bad that people won’t be against going out and adventuring,” she said.

You can find more information about the restaurants participating and their menus at godowntownsac.com.