New York City’s first-ever Curbside Dining Week will launch this week — with nearly three dozen Big Apple eateries putting exclusive discounts and specials on the menu.
Curbside Dining Week will take place Sept. 5 through Sept. 12.
“New Yorkers love outdoor dining. We want to showcase that,” said Jackson Chabot, director of advocacy for OpenPlans, the group that organized Curbside Dining Week with the guided tour group Untapped New York .
Among the top offerings for the outdoor dining version of restaurant week include:
- 20% off the bill at The Mansion, York Avenue on the Upper East Side.
- 15% off the entire bill at Ray’s on Chrystie Street, Lower East Side.
- $35 prix fixe menu at Sean Og’s Tavern on Woodside Avenue, Woodside, Queens.
- Complimentary house-made limoncello at Osteria Radisa on Smith Street, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
Restaurateurs viewed outdoor dining as a business-saver during the COVID-19 shutdown, but they complained restrictions put in place by the City Council and subsequent rules issued by the Department of Transportation have dramatically reduced the number of participating eateries.
At the peak of the pandemic, an estimated 12,500 restaurants had an outdoor dining setup, officials estimate.
But there was some backlash to the pandemic-era Temporary Open Restaurant program, with neighbors complaining the sheds generated more trash, vermin, drug use, graffiti, noise and awful stenches throughout the boroughs.
There are now nearly 800 eateries that received conditional approval or permits for outdoor dining under new regulations that include a limit that says roadway cafes may only operate between April 1 and Nov. 29 each year., according to the DOT website.
“When I moved to Jackson Heights 20 years ago, a frequent complaint was the lack of al fresco dining in the area,” said Michael Fuquay, owner of The Queensboro on Northern Boulevard in Jackson Heights, Queens, who is offering two-for-one beers and house cocktails. “One of the silver linings of the COVID era was breaking down the administrative barriers to this popular amenity.
“The Queensboro’s outdoor dining program has been incredibly popular and made it possible for us to sustain our business through COVID, skyrocketing operating costs, and economic uncertainty. Unfortunately, the New York City Council loaded the new outdoor dining program with exactly the sort of regulatory burdens that prevented outdoor dining before COVID.”
He said a requirement to deconstruct and store the outdoor dining setups over winter added a huge hidden to participation that has kept most operators out of the program.
“It is time for the City Council to review and amend this part of the program,” Fuquay said.
Megan Rickerson, owner of Someday Bar on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn’s Boerum Hill, said the spot is offering $3 Dirty Water Hard Seltzer and $3 HOPWATER drinks.
“We look forward to demonstrating the vibrancy that outdoor dining brings to our neighborhoods and patrons,” Rickerson said. “We hope that this encourages DOT to make the process more streamlined and affordable in the future to promote more small bar and restaurant participation.”
Coffee lovers can rejoice because the scent of java can be enjoyed at tables outside The Barn Coffee Shop on Hoyt Avenue in Long Island City, Queens — with the bill discounted by 10%.
“During the pandemic, this little space became so important to keep business going and provide the community with an outdoor space, which became a staple in who we are,” said owner Maria Gonzalez.
“Unfortunately, it has become harder to maintain and keep up with all the changes, but we are hoping to keep the space alive to serve the people in the community. We are looking forward to the success of this event and continuing to provide our love for coffee and quality items in our small space with this outdoor space.”
The Postmark Cafe on Sixth Street in Brooklyn’s Park Slope is offering a 15% break off its bills to outdoor patrons.
“Since we added outdoor seating, we’ve seen more neighbors stop by, catch up over coffee, and turn our corner into a little community hub. It’s been a lifeline for us. With a stronger, easier program, we could keep that energy—and our business—thriving year-round,” said Postmark’s Brad Canning.
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