Freddie’s Italian Restaurant, a fixture on the Pleasure Island dining scene for 26 years, will reopen for in-house dining the week of Oct. 26.

Social distancing and 50% capacity will allow for just six tables inside the 700-square-foot dining room. Two tables can accommodate up to six guests, while the remaining four will seat up to four guests.

To best serve their guests, Freddie’s, 105 K Avenue, Kure Beach, will have three seatings nightly at 4:30 p.m., 6:15 p.m. and 8 p.m., by reservation only.

“This will allow us to control the flow of the room,” said owner Rob Gargan. “We want to avoid having a crowd of people waiting, so hopefully this approach will work. We’ll give it a try and see how it goes.”

Gargan said he knows that some of his patrons will be discouraged about not being able to dine in larger groups, particularly around the holidays.

To better accommodate families and larger at-home gatherings, Freddie’s is now offering an expanded carry-out menu with both single entrée items and family-style meals available in two sizes.

The family-style menu includes several seafood dishes, as well as veal and chicken, and all items include salad, bread and a choice of pasta.

Freddie’s also has a “finish at home” lasagna that is available in two sizes. Orders for the lasagna should be placed 24 hours in advance of pick-up, but the rest of the family-style meals are made to order.

“Along with everyone we’ve been struggling, but fortunately our menu is well suited for takeout,” Gargan said. “We were able to flow right into it last spring and the locals supported it right from the start.”

Gargan said that carry-out was also popular with visitors throughout the summer, particularly those who would not be able to dine at Freddie’s while on vacation as they normally do.

“That really helped carry us through the summer and now that fall has come the locals are starting to come back out,” Gargan said. “We’ve been hurt by a lack of outdoor seating however.”

Gargan acknowledges that his restaurant has been slower than most in resuming in-house dining, primarily because they feel very strongly about getting this right from the start and making sure everyone safe and protected.

“I feel comfortable that we’re now in that position,” Gargan said.

Gargan also noted that all of his staff has been through the Count on Me NC program for reopening and that he has purchased special commercial sanitizing equipment to spray the restaurant.

Freddie’s opens Monday through Saturday at 4 p.m. for carryout and beginning the week of Oct. 26 will open for the first dinner seating at 4:30.

The new carryout menu can be found on the restaurant's website.

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