An update on outdoor dining

The city was rocking last night so it seemed like a good time to do an update on the outdoor dining scene. Curbside dining resumed on April 1 (it runs through November 29) and the city Department of Transportation has a list of the approved restaurants here. I’ve listed the Tribeca ones below. (This does not include the sidewalk cafes — that’s a separate list.)

The rules are a lot stricter since the original pandemic variations — the structures must now be mobile, accessible and “lighter,” meaning without walls and roofs. And I’ve seen some structures on the street (File Gumbo Bar for one) that are not on the list, so either some are pending approval or the list is lagging… I think we can assume this was not a simple process for restaurants.

The city is still debating alternative plans, with proposals at the City Council for a year-round program and less strict rules about sidewalk width and distance from corners and intersections. See the current regulations here.

Tiny’s
Terra
1803
Monk McGinn’s
Takahachi
Laughing Man
Puffy’s
Terroir
Benvenuto
Smith & Mills
Yves
Greenwich Street Tavern
Blue Bottle Coffee
Walker’s
Maman
One White Street

Now here was an interesting one: Little Rascal Bar is listed at 130 Franklin, which is Gotan. I sent a note — maybe there are plans there for after hours? I don’t recall a liquor license application there…

 

2 Comments

  1. Less parking. More traffic, congestion. MORE RATS MICE PIGEONS

  2. This concept still seems completely backwards to me. I’d vote for European (and probably rest of world) style cafe seating. Widen the sidewalks, put the tables and chairs directly against the restaurant building wall.

    Benefits:
    – puts table service right next to the restaurant
    – servers and customers don’t have to cross the pedestrian area
    – so it does not conflict with pedestrians
    – does not interfere with street cleaning
    – does not require any structures at all (which are expensive, invite critters to live underneath, have to be stored in off-season, become magnets for graffiti vandalism, etc.)
    – no wacky electrical wires dangling over the pedestrian areas (how is this code?) to run lighting or fans or heating etc. in the seating area
    – tables and chairs can be moved inside when the place closes
    etc.

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