Toby and Larry Rossner, of Providence, dine outside The Capital Grille in Providence on Tuesday. Capital Grille managing partner Christopher J. Phillips says he’s seeing more families at his establishment in the early evening. The Providence Journal / Steve Szydlowski

Despite rising fuel costs and a sagging economy, Rhode Island’s food-service industry posted a 4-percent increase this June over last year, new figures from the state Department of Revenue show.

That increase followed May numbers that had declined 9 percent over the previous year.

It may be that the weak economy has been a boon for Rhode Island restaurateurs.

“Instead of people traveling, especially with the gas prices, people are staying a little closer to home, and we had a great summer at Twin Oaks,” said manager Michael Regine. “I noticed this summer I’ve seen a lot of new faces I have not seen before.”

The observation was shared by Dale J. Venturini, who, as head of the Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association, tracks the business statewide.

“I don’t think there’s any magic to this,” Venturini said. “People are staying close to home, I don’t care who you talk to.”

But while they’re trimming travel, they’re holding on to some of life’s luxuries, such as dining out, she said. “It doesn’t surprise me because, as I’ve seen the trend go, when people tend to pull back . . . they’re going to stand back and say, ‘I’m not giving it all up.’ So they might do small things.”

And the weather has cooperated, she said. “For the most part, we’ve had some great, hot, sunny days. And what better to do than go out to eat?”

Consumers pay two taxes on food and drinks sold for immediate consumption. The state collects its 7-percent sales tax plus a 1-percent meals and beverage tax, which is returned to the community in which the sale was made. The meals and beverage tax applies to food and drink sold in various establishments ranging from restaurants, delis and coffee shops to grocery stores, sports arenas and vending machines.

Providence, which makes up about a fifth of the state’s restaurant business each June, saw its 1-percent share grow 5 percent, from $335,438 last year to $352,085 this year. That indicates customers in restaurants and other establishments in Providence spent $1.7 million more this year, excluding taxes and tips.

Part of that has been driven by a trend that exploded this summer, industry insiders said.

“People are spending more time with their families,” said Venturini. “We’ve seen a real uptick with people bringing their children out to eat more than ever before, and it’s not only family restaurants they’re bringing their children to; they’re bringing them into the higher-level dinner places, what we call a white-tablecloth restaurant.”

That’s true at the Capital Grille in Providence, according to managing partner Christopher J. Phillips. “If you come in here during the week — and even the first turn on a Friday or a Saturday night — you look around the room, and it’s changed so much than what it was 10, 15 years ago. ... It’s families coming in to enjoy experiences,” he said.

As a result, even high-end restaurants are looking to cater to families.

“We try to create little flourishes for the children,” said Phillips. That includes bibs with the restaurant’s logo for infants, plastic drink cups with the logo for older children and hand-held video games for teenagers. The restaurant even does children’s birthday parties now.

Venturini said she has heard from restaurants around the state that are seeing record numbers of children.

“They’re telling me that the crayons that they buy or the little placemats that have the games on them, that they’re going through more,” she said, adding that one commented, “I can’t believe I ran out of crayons within a week that normally would last me a month.”

pparker@projo.com