Al Fresco Dining on the Upswing

Sometimes, a middling restaurant can be where everyone wants to dine - if it has outdoor seating. Last week, WNBC's Andrew Siff had a story on the rise of al fresco dining in the city and had some interesting statistics. And we also liked that al fresco diners use their laptops during dinner.

The number of permits for sidewalk cafes has increased from 600 in 2002 to 900 in 2007. Tje Department of Consumer Affairs commissioner Jonathan Mintz told Siff that the reason why there are so many more al fresco options is because New Yorkers love 'em so much and the DCA has made it easier for restaurants to get permits. And easy has translated into green: Now small establishments pay $8,000 for a permit (up from $4,000) and large establishment pay about $26,000 (up from $13,000).

The news segment also got the sidewalk dining skeptics, mainly neighbors who don't like the noise and crowds sidewalk dining attracts. Not mentioned: How sidewalk cafes take up precious sidewalk space!

Here's a list of sidewalk cafes (PDF) from the Department of Consumer Affairs. The DCA even held a contest for restaurants to develop drinks for the outdoor dining season - here are the recipes.

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

By Jen Chung in Food, News on May 29, 2007 12:01 PM

Comments [rss]

mc

Some people will complain about anything. And everything.

nick

the city is quieted down and cleaned up: "new york isn't the same as it used to be, it's becoming disnyefied"

the city remains loud and dirty: "the city smells bad and there are bums everywhere"

seriously.. do you people just look for stuff? doesn't that get exhausting?

Robot

#8 is ridiculous.

Personally, I've never understood the appeal of sidewalk dining in NYC for all the reasons listed above (bums, exhaust, noise, etc). But I do like to sit in the garden or in a bright airy restaurant.

that much is true

Yeah, we live with it when we're walking down the street or riding the subway. It doesn't mean we want to deal with it when we're eating. That's why I eat indoors. By the way, you're an idiot.

Jeanette

i don't want to leave new york for the suburbs. i just want there to be fewer cars and less exhaust here.

i suppose you like car exhaust and that makes you a real new yorker, ck. cool.

many cities have pedestrian only zones where cafe dining is great. New York even has a couple of blocks like that, but too bad they are only in tourist areas.

overheardinny

"Who's this Al Fresco guy everyone's talkin' about?"

I think he's friends with Duane Reade

ck

The previous posters live in nyc and are complaining about panhandling, pedestrians, car exhaust, and honking??? I think it's about time you learn to live with it, or else move to the 'burbs. Or complain about everything that happens every second--your choice.

anonymass

Who's this Al Fresco guy everyone's talkin' about?

matty

i dunno about manhattan but the outdoor bistros i went to in brooklyn were phenomenal. no problems with exhaust or people or anything like that.

what a beautiful place.

KevinWalsh

It baffles me how people eat in restaurants outside by the sidewalk.

The heat; the car exhaust; the honking; the bums; the dog shit.

More room for me and my pals as we go inside and enjoy the AC.

www.forgotten-ny.com

Reality Czech

Oh it's the noise of the city the horn honking, the beggar guy bumming change, the sirens,, etc. as well as the exhaust, smell of urine and festering sewage etc which makes dining at a sidewalk cafe so nice.

Laptops should be banned from public display ASAP.

rduffy

I smell a google maps mashup.

mmm. . . car exhaust

I'm with the first poster. New York's narrow sidewalks make for lousy outdoor dining. If it isn't the car exhaust it's the pedestrians stopping and having a loud conversation one foot from your table. Or the homeless panhandling while you eat. Most "garden" dining amounts to a cramped alley space behind the restaurant.