Hot seat: Fireplace settings at South Shore restaurants knock off winter's chill

Baby, it's cold outside. And in the depths of this week's arctic blast, a restaurant fireplace is a good place to cozy up while having a meal or a glass of wine.

Here are some South Shore restaurants where the flames burn warm and bright:

The Red Lion Tavern

As general manager Paul Sylvia described the five wood-burning fireplaces in the Red Lion Tavern, he was just finishing his work lighting a few of them before the night's dinner service.

"We don't always have that many (on)," Sylvia said. Some of the fireplaces sit in private dining rooms that are only used for either large parties or for when the restaurant is packed.

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At the moment, he was just lighting two, one in a dining area and one near the bar.

“I’ve gotten much better at it after doing four a night some nights,” he said, joking.

The fireplaces give the tavern a stronger ambience, Sylvia said, even if you're not close to the flames.

“It's more than just the little flickering candles on the tables," he said. "It’s a whole hearth. It gives you a sense of warmth even if you're not close enough to actually feel the effects.”

He said he didn't know how old the fireplaces are, but said they are "quite old." The building dates from 1704.

The fireplaces are popular this time of year, Sylvia said, and guests sometimes call to try to reserve tables near one of the fires.

“We always tell people we can’t guarantee particular seats,” he said, but they'll make a note of the request in case there's an opening.

Sylvia said there's more to prepping the fireplaces than just having a long-handled lighter. Having a firestarter, good kindling sticks – ones that have been kiln-dried, he said – or cardboard to help the flames get started helps.

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He said the work can be a full-time job if a person tries to do it all by themselves all night.

Sometimes, guests will take it upon themselves to stoke the flames if they're sitting nearby, Sylvia said, which they don't have to do.

He said it's good to have patience when fires die down at the tavern.

“It is a live fire," Sylvia said. "Things happen, sometimes, where it sputters out.”

Scarlet Oak Tavern

The wood-burning fireplace at Hingham's Scarlet Oak Tavern is so coveted that people sometimes disagree over who gets to sit closest, general manager Ken Robicheau said.

"I've seen people get into arguments about who gets to sit near the fire," he said.

The fireplace, which adds to the restaurant's homey tavern vibe, is part of the original building, which was built in 1757, Robicheau said. A metal grate holds chunks of wood that are tended by Robicheau and, occasionally, other employees.

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"I've managed to let go a little bit," he said, joking about the task of maintaining the flames. "It's been a labor of love of mine for 11 years."

Robicheau said guests frequently ask to sit at the few tables near the roaring warmth, even in early spring.

"People do call up and request to sit there all the time," Robicheau said. "We don't even book it for reservations. They think about our fireplace like they think about our red oak lead sign."

Island Creek Oysters at Winsor House

Island Creek Oysters recently opened its newest restaurant in Duxbury's Winsor House, and the fireplaces on the first floor are already helping give the place a warm, homey feel.

From the time Island Creek bought the property last year, director of hospitality Jessica Cagle said the staff spent almost every night by the fire.

"We as a staff were in there every night," she said. "Knowing how much we enjoyed it, we're pretty confident that a whole new group of folks will feel the same way."

There are multiple fireplaces in Winsor House, which was built in 1803. The hearths are scattered across the winding first floor of the restaurant.

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The two wood-burning fireplaces sit in the restaurant's lounge area and raw bar tavern, though the one in the lounge is being updated and currently not functional, Cagle said. Two gas fireplaces reside in the main dining area.

As the staff prepared the restaurant for opening this past fall, Cagle said they worked to get the fireplaces up and running in time for the cooler weather.

The team practiced managing the fireplaces by running a massive firepit at an Island Creek location across the street, she said.

"We have a few dedicated staff members who really enjoy taking care of the fire," Cagle said. "It's definitely not a job you want to give to a new person."

The wood-burning fireplaces add coziness and charm to the inn.

"The weather's just kind of turned," Cagle said. "It's a lot colder. I think it'll be a pretty desirable place to crowd around."

Sun Tavern

An original brick fireplace greets guests at the Sun Tavern in Duxbury. The wood-burning fireplace is part of the original building, an old farmhouse built in 1741, tavern owner Gary James said.

"It's super-cozy and warm," he said.

The fireplace is between a sitting room near the front doors and part of the tavern's bar, so a few lucky visitors can snag stools near the flaming hearth.

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"It's almost a full-time job getting the fire going," he said, joking.

When temperatures start to dip below 40 degrees, that's a sign to get the flames started, he said.

Guests can wait for tables while sitting at the bar and enjoying a drink by the fire.

Even extreme weather doesn't keep people away. If anything, cold weather and snowstorms seem to increase the number of people who pop in for a warm meal, he said.

"More people come in for the fire," and guests often arrive early to make sure they can get a barstool near the hearth, James said.

Grille 151

The fireplace at Weymouth's Grille 151 is on from the minute the restaurant opens to when it closes for the night, owner Chris DiMambro said.

The gas fireplace is enclosed in a long glass hearth and is double-sided, so diners on both sides of the flames can enjoy the warmth. The fireplace is embedded in the granite stone wall that separates the bar and the dining room.

"It's just a really nice, cozy feel," DiMambro said.

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"People definitely request it when they make reservations," and the bar side is usually first-come first-serve so earlier patrons can grab a seat by the fire, he said.

"People just want to sit by the fire," DiMambro said. "As human beings, we like to be near warmth. It's definitely a really cozy, comfortable, warm place to sit."

South Shore restaurants with fireplaces:

• The Scarlet Oak Tavern, 1217 Main St., Hingham

• Winsor House at Island Creek Oysters, 390 Washington St., Duxbury

• Sun Tavern, 500 Congress St., Duxbury

• Grille 151, 151 Main St., Weymouth

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Reach Alex Weliever at aweliever@patriotledger.com.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Flames burn warm at these South Shore restaurants with fireplaces