New Bedford Favorite Alianca Restaurant Just Solved Its Biggest Problem

Six years ago, Susie Amaral had a dream. She had been a server at Alianca Restaurant in New Bedford’s South End when the owner decided to retire and offered her the chance to buy the business.

“When he first asked me, I didn’t think I could do it,” Amaral recalled, “but he kept encouraging me until I decided to take the leap.”

She took the chance and never looked back.

Alianca Grows in a Big Way

Within a year, Amaral put her own touch on the restaurant and elevated it to new heights. She soon started noticing customers making the drive from Dartmouth, Westport, Marion, and Mattapoisett just to get a taste of her signature flavors. It seemed everything the restaurant touched turned to gold.

Alianca's Problem

Alianca’s dining room became consistently packed, as did their growing platter business. Large party platters were going out the door in increasing numbers, especially on Saturdays.

“We got so busy that we had to start closing the dining room for an hour or two just to prepare the platters,” she said. “I hated turning people away. They’d come in excited to sit down for a meal, and we’d have to say we couldn’t seat anyone for a while because of a big party platter order.”

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Alianca’s Solution

It became clear that something needed to change. The platter business was too profitable to walk away from, but it was beginning to overwhelm the dine-in experience, the very heart of Alianca’s identity.

Amaral began searching for a solution. After two years of looking for the right space, she’s finally found it.

Alianca Platterhouse will open this September at the former Mr. Chicken location on Bedford Street in Fall River, and Amaral is over the moon.  "We're excited and nervous at the same time. We're excited to bring that place back to life. It's a beautiful location right there in the center."

This new facility will serve as a centralized hub for all platter pickups, but it’s not just about platters. It will also feature buffet-style takeout with rotating daily items and offer grab-and-go snacks and sandwiches for customers on the move.

Amaral will soon have a new problem to solve. How to be in two places at once.