Dining Out? Town Has Reservations

Phones went unanswered at most restaurants in Grafton today, presumably closed because owners figured patrons wouldn’t want to risk driving through the heavy rains and wind gusts of Tropical Storm Irene.

But at on Upton Street, owner’s daughter Michelle Huang said she was worried that the phone would be ringing off the hook.

“Everyone called and was like, ‘Are you guys open’ or ‘Do you guys have electricity?’” she said. “People come out because they have no electricity at home.”

The “swamped” restaurant may close early at about 5 p.m. because of the weather, but it has continued to make deliveries. Even if power goes out, the bar will most likely be open, according to Huang.

“That’s our culture, nothing stops us and we don’t really close for anything, even in the hurricane,” she said.

It wasn’t quite as busy at on Worcester Street but owner Lakis Theorharis said he was staying open unless power goes out because the restaurant has been delivering pizza to the emergency shelter at the gym.

He said he was grateful that the shelter was providing some work on an otherwise very slow day.

“In fact, I expected not to have any business because all the grocery stores were packed yesterday so I assumed everyone would stay home and cook,” he said.