Isabella's renovates outdoor seating ahead of better weather

Feb. 25—At the end of what's been a snowy winter, Isabella's Taverna and Tapas Bar on North Market Street has added a new feature to better utilize its outdoor seating area.

As temperatures reached 60 degrees on Wednesday, the new outdoor dining desk for the Frederick restaurant was back after being removed last week due to the snow.

Isabella's parklet — zoned-off parking spots the city gave to each downtown restaurant that wanted one — was recently covered with a wooden deck, a first for the parklets along the city's main culinary strip.

The idea of the boardwalk-style deck came from a desire for a better outdoor seating experience for both customers and staff, the restaurant's general manager, Brian Klitch, said.

"Before the boardwalk was there, it's very uneven, so it's hard to put tables there," Klitch said.

The street can also get hot on summer days, although Klitch is hopeful about the possibility of Market Street being closed certain days of the week again this summer, as it was last year.

"The guests liked it, we think the town liked it," he said. "I feel like it was good for the vibe of the city. So we're hoping that happens again, but we'll wait and see."

The city has not yet made any announcements regarding street closures for the spring.

Customers around town in recent weeks have been willing to eat outside, even in the briskest of winter days.

"Some people are comfortable to dine inside, and some people aren't and probably aren't gonna be for a while," Klitch said. "So the outdoor dining is a high priority for us to stay afloat throughout this time."

Follow Erika Riley on Twitter: @ej_riley