Bundle Up for Dinner Outdoors at Par & Tackle

There aren’t many of us who can claim to find new pleasures during this seemingly endless pandemic. We’ve all suffered losses and inconveniences, felt stress and pressure. So perhaps that’s why I am finding joy in the simplest of activities, like late-autumn outdoor dining.

I visited Par & Tackle, part of the Harbor Lights golf and marina club in Warwick, for dinner in 52 degree temps recently. At any time of year, this open-air restaurant and bar, which sits on the first hole of the golf course, sports fantastic views of Warwick Cove and Greenwich Cove beyond it.

We dressed for the weather – cozy sweaters, jeans, boots, and gloves – and armed ourselves with an extra layer of cashmere blankets. The Rhode Island Hospitality Association had just announced their “BYOB” campaign – Bring Your Own Blanket – so we thought we’d give the idea a test drive.

Par & Tackle is well equipped for such a concept. It’s open-air but covered by a permanent post-and-beam structure, has a rustic stone fireplace, and can easily accommodate large standing heaters. We settled into a table just in time for the sunset, which we enjoyed over a glass of wine, and perused a small but varied farm-to-table menu. Chowder and clam cakes seemed a little too summery, so we chose pan-roasted crab cakes and a margherita flatbread pizza. The crab cakes, especially, were just as they should have been – lots of jumbo lump crab – and deliciously accented with a lemon and corn salsa. The pizza was sizable and tasty, with a not-too-thick chewy crust.

The wind off the water picked up, but the blankets and heaters did their magic, making those breezes more refreshing than bracing. Next, our entrees of fish and chips and steak frites (oh, that gorgonzola aioli!) were just right. Another glass of merlot was in order. Frankly, there was something rather chic about this, reminiscent of an apres ski mountainside cocktail.

Since that night I’ve dined outside numerous other times. Thanks to RIHA and the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, many restaurants have been outfitted with heaters and blankets, extending the season for our friends in hospitality who so desperately need it. Part of me hopes that this will be a trend that doesn’t die off when the pandemic is under control. I could get used to it.

Par & Tackle at Harbor Lights • 150 Gray Street, Warwick • 401-737-6353