Program encourages restaurant patronage

NEW HAVEN — Imagine sharing a chilled, sweet limoncello with your household for the holidays.

That’s the image Michael Piscitelli, the city’s economic development administrator, hopes to put into the minds of Greater New Haven residents. Further, he said, Brazi’s Italian Restaurant in Long Wharf is the ideal place to purchase and take home a limoncello.

Although vaccines for the COVID-19 virus have begun to be administered in the city, many local restaurants and businesses are expected to encounter a loss of revenue compared to prior Decembers because of a drop in economic activity as a result of cold weather and increasing rates of virus transmission.

In response, the city has launched its Eat New Haven campaign, to encourage residents to support local restaurants.

“We’re planning for three or four difficult months in a sector that’s very important to New Haven,” Piscitelli said Tuesday. “Arts, entertainment, tourism, the hospitality sector — is responsible for 35,000 jobs in our region.”

Piscitelli said the city’s “treasures” need support through the winter as businesses prepare to apply for another round of Paycheck Protection Program loans.

He said many restaurants are available to prepare holidays meals to take home — Piscitelli said his family, for instance, has ordered from ZINC New Haven.

“Many of our restaurants have pivoted, quite successfully and with some creativity,” he said, in adapting plated dishes to takeout meals.

Attilio Marini, owner of The Cast Iron Chop House and Oyster Bar, said in a statement that he has been happy to shift the operations of his business to send meals home with residents.

“While the pandemic has changed the way we can do business, we are ready and able to continue serving you at this time. What better way to enjoy the holidays than with a special take-out meal from any one of the many amazing restaurants we have here in New Haven,” he said.

As a means of providing additional financial support to restaurants, the city has made it easier to buy gift cards to 60 local restaurants on a city website. With offerings available from the chicken wings at Archie Moore’s to riselings at the Wine Thief, Piscitelli suggested the gift cards would make a suitable last-minute gift that would help to sustain the restaurants that give the city character.

“New Haven restaurants top the list of attractions that draw people from throughout the state and region to our city,” said Mayor Justin Elicker in a statement. “These businesses have done so much over the years to make New Haven a dining destination and fuel the local economy.”

The program is part of the Together New Haven “economic partnership to bolster New Haven small businesses” the city statement noted. “In late November, the Shop Local, Shop Small campaign promoted safe and sociallydistant shopping options.”