NYC Restaurants Reopen Roadway Dining for Spring

Seasonal roadway dining sheds are returning to restaurants across New York City as April begins. Hundreds of these structures are appearing alongside spring blooms, offering expanded seating options for diners.

Mixed Reactions to Updated Regulations

The return of outdoor dining is met with mixed feelings from both restaurant owners and city residents. Updated rules and associated costs are creating challenges for some businesses.

A Boost for Some Businesses

Maire McCrea, owner of B’artusi’s Wine Imports, welcomes the return of outdoor dining. “For us, it doubles our footprint. We have an extra 40 seats outside versus the 40 seats inside, so it makes a significant impact on our business model,” McCrea said. She emphasized the importance of the extra seating, especially after a difficult winter impacted by tariffs.

Financial Concerns for Others

However, not all restaurant owners are eager to rebuild their roadway setups. Carmen Ortiz, owner of Il Violino on the Upper West Side, has decided not to reinstate her shed due to the high costs. “The cost is very expensive,” Ortiz stated, citing thousands of dollars in licensing and storage fees.

Strict Regulations and Limited Space

Ortiz also expressed frustration with the city’s regulations regarding shed placement. “The measure that they give us is starting from the second car all the way down to where the parking space is…That’s the part where we are allowed to build. So, it’s kind of far away from the restaurant.” She anticipates strict enforcement of the new rules.

Program Challenges and Future Outlook

Mike Flynn, the city’s transportation commissioner, acknowledges the program’s decline due to increasingly complex requirements. The approval process now involves multiple reviews by community boards, the City Council, and the Department of Transportation, potentially adding six to eight months to the timeline.

Seasonal vs. Year-Round Dining

Currently, approximately 1,800 restaurants can operate sidewalk setups year-round, but roadway dining is limited to the seasonal period between April and November. The number of restaurants permitted for year-round roadway dining is projected to decrease to around 500 by 2026. Flynn advocates for making the program year-round and streamlining the approval process. McCrea noted the challenges of navigating community concerns, stating, “Everyone’s like ‘oh, I need to be able to walk my dog.’ Someone always has something to say.”