Local Restaurants and Diners - 21 Who Made a Difference in 2021

Local Restaurants and Diners - 21 Who Made a Difference in 2021

The COVID recession damaged many sectors of the economy, but maybe none was hit harder than independently local family restaurants.

More than 100 closed in 2020 and 2021 was equally cruel.

For many of the owners, it was endless hundred-hour weeks just to keep the lights on.

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Owners fought government-forced closures, workers receiving more in government subsidies than restaurants could pay, and endless supply chain challenges.

Our local restaurants are where friends meet, families eat, and first dates happen — but too often they are becoming only memories.

Those closing Chez Pascal, Kip’s, Tommy’s Pizza in Providence and on and on. Chez Pascal's owner says it will remain open until March.

They are upscale French bistros and local diners — they are intertwined with our lives like no other business

Even those that have survived have been damaged. Brewed Awakening closed some locations for months. Pot Au Feu is now only opened Friday and Saturday nights. Others closed for lunch or limited their days of operations or hours.

Worker issues persist, food prices continue to spiral upward -- and diners to continued to wrestle with eating outside, eating inside, getting delivery -- or none of the above.

More and more small business owners are being wiped out.

The pandemic has been cruel.

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