Eat, drink and be merry is a mantra that can be dusted off each year at St. Peter's Fiesta time, but it has a special meaning for a couple of new restaurants in downtown Gloucester this week.
The Cape Ann Brewing Co. and Catch 22 are both welcoming guests this weekend at their first Fiesta in their current locations and managers would like to think that this could be one of their most profitable weekends of the summer.
"We're in a much better location now, and I think we can have a great weekend," said Dylan L'Abbe-Lindquist, manager and brewer of the Cape Ann Brewing Co. that now sits adjacent to many of Fiesta's food stands and game booths.
"If we have some good weather this weekend, this could be among our best weekends."
The Cape Ann Brewing Co. had been located several blocks away until its move in December. It had a view of the Fiesta, but not one of the water.
Now the restaurant, which has 178 seats, has a sweeping view of the harbor, and a handsome covered deck that reaches out almost to the water.
"At the old place we had to stop serving drinks at 8:30 p.m. and be closed at 9," said Kate Lynch, a bartender who has worked at both locations.
"This situation is so much better for customers, and we have some very good entertainment lined up for the weekend."
Perhaps as a sign of responsibility to the neighborhood, restaurant managers there have issued an edict that there will be "no growlers filled or sold" after 5 p.m. during Fiesta.
Growlers are half-gallon pitchers that can hold several mugs-worth of beer, and managers ostensibly want to limit drinking outside the restaurant during the festivities.
Across the street, another new establishment to the Fiesta scene is Catch 22, the seafood bistro that opened in April.
"This is our first Fiesta, and we're looking for a big weekend," said Marcy Lang, a manager of the 64-seat restaurant which opened in April.
"There's no stripper pole," Lang added, referring to the days of the Old Timer's Tavern that previously occupied the site. "But we have great food, plenty of beer and we're looking forward to our first experience with the event."
Bob Hastings, who heads the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, said that Fiesta helps many restaurants and retail stores.
"The Fiesta focuses attention on Gloucester, not just in this area but nationally," said Hastings. "Television exposure in recent years has brought much attention to Cape Ann.
"There will be a lot of people in town. Even if the weather isn't perfect, visitors will still be going into the restaurants to eat and enjoy the entertainment."
Dyke Hendrickson can be reached at 978-283-7000, x3451, or at .