Longer Sidewalk Dining Season To Come

Ooh, the Department of Consumer Affairs is going to allow "unenclosed cafes" to place nonpropane heaters - think sidewalk cafes! The Post gets confirmation from the DCA that they're looking to make the heaters legal, and this is good news, especially after reading the Steve Cuozzo's suggestions for sidewalk dining the other week and how restaurants jump at installing them, because they are the "cheapest real estate in Manhattan." Gothamist loves sidewalk dining - great people watching, the din of the street is sometimes preferable to too-loud restaurants, and sometimes dogs will eat our scraps! One of our favorite stretches of sidewalk dining is West Broadway in Tribeca, where you can try your luck at getting seats at Odeon, Petite Abeille (we live for their rich macaroni and cheese with ham as it's the ultimate in comfort food), and Edwards. What about you?

On the downside, you could get pinned by an NYPD truck that's racing to a crime scene.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on May 2, 2006 10:19 AM

Comments [rss]

Constant Dater

I hate the idea of outdoor heaters for sidewalk cafés. It's a waste of energy, and it defeats the purpose of being outside-- if you can't take the cold, that's what inside is for, buddy!

Adam

Havermeyer street and South 2nd in Williamsburg is perhaps the best spot because you can stare at hipsters spending their parents money while you eat organic mush.

Tom

I love restaurants, and I love being outside, but for my money, New York is a terrible sidewalk cafe town.

Mountains of garbage, traffic noise, exhaust and homeless people make a it pain for the diner, and narrow sidewalks, self-important waiters pushing through, noise and crowds waiting to get in make it a misery for pedestrians and neighbors.

Sorry, Jen.

Trilby

Hm... Not a fan of the sidewalk dining. I guess because I like to WALK and when a restaurant appropriates my walking space, well, not a happy camper... Add to that, I never could quite see the charm in stuff floating into my food and passersby passing inches away from my plate, etc. etc. Not a fan...