OUTDOOR DINING. I haven’t seen two words so beautiful in a while.

The past few months New York has been almost unrecognizable - quiet and empty streets with boarded up buildings.

We all live here to experience the big, loud, beautiful and bustling New York. Without the people, it’s different. Without the restaurants, bars, sports, concerts, rooftops - Broadway! The city is just not the same. We quarantined for months, spent so much time alone, all in order to protect each other. It was tough! But as Covid cases started to decline, and the city started to re-open, so did signs of life.

Last week, New York got to take a big and well-deserved step forward!

Outdoor dining! Retail! All in the safety of our masks :)

As someone who loved to explore the best restaurants of New York before this pandemic, you can image how excited I was. But to be honest, I wasn’t sure what it was going to be like!

It’s only been a week, but here’s my experience so far.

What you can expect from outdoor dining:

Like everyone says, wear a mask: while you’re walking to the restaurant, being seated, using the bathroom etc. In NY so far I have not seen a requirement to wear your mask while you are seated a table (whether you are eating, or just having a drink). Once you’ve got a spot, most people remove their mask. That decision is up to you! I feel comfortable sitting at the table without a mask, but if you don’t, wear one!
The staff will wear a mask & gloves: While seating you, taking your order, delivering your food, cleaning the table you use - they are protecting the restaurant, themselves, and you - by wearing a mask. I’ve had no issues communicating with the staff and have felt very comfortable in my experience so far.
Contactless Menu’s: Many restaurants either tell you to view the menu on your phone, either on their website or to scan a photo/QR code! Some places print on paper then throw it out. One restaurant wrote the menu on its glass windows - creative! In any case there are less germs this way.
Prices may be higher: Restaurants may not have the same prices you are used to. But they have been closed for months. Support a small business if you are financially able to!
Take advantage because the most coveted reservations may be easier to get - at some restaurants: Not every spot is able to accommodate outdoor tables, so some of your favorite restaurants could be closed. I’m thinking of those businesses, and hoping they get the chance to reopen soon and pay their staff. But on the bright side, there also seem to be less people vying for tables! Whether that’s because so many already left the city, are continuing to quarantine, or just don’t want to risk it. This is good news for those who are around, and I encourage you to enjoy it! I got a table at Via Carota for 5 people with only a 2 hour wait - and this may seem ridiculous. But normally they’ve told me it would take over 4 hours! I can’t wait to enjoy a few more of these top spots.
But tables maybe need to move faster: Think about it - there is still no indoor dining in NY. So businesses may need to turn over tables faster to reach their bottom line, meaning the bare minimum it takes to keep the lights on, pay the staff, and put the food on the table. If the staff is hovering after your meal, consider taking your last drink to go and give up the table for the next group if you are done.

Here’s the Run Down on the Places I’ve Been!

Murray Hill

We took advantage right on night one - Monday, June 22nd. Since it was also the night of Ryan’s 29th birthday, he got to choose the place! Unsurprisingly we chose to support our favorite local business - Gem Saloon in Murray Hill! Since the bar is right up the street from our apartment we often go there with friends after spending time at our apartment. Sometimes we just go to grab a drink and say hi to our favorite bartender. But the bar was closed for months, and all we could do recently was stop by and grab a strawberry margarita to go.

View from dining at The Gem. It’s located on 27th and the strip of restaurants on 3rd Avenue that my friends and I fondly refer to as 'Little Bourbon Street’. There are about 6 bars lining both sides of the street, and they have been working to gene… — View from dining at The Gem. It’s located on 27th and the strip of restaurants on 3rd Avenue that my friends and I fondly refer to as 'Little Bourbon Street’. There are about 6 bars lining both sides of the street, and they have been working to generate business the last few weeks by serving “to go” drinks and food. June 22nd was the first day they were able to put tables outside and serve patrons. The block has been revived!

Get the nachos - they are easy to share and since this is a bar you know they are good.

Rosé - who said you have to grab a beer here?! Tomas has been serving me white wine in little goblets for 4 years :)

Patrizia's of Manhattan

It’s not the original Brooklyn location, with the same charm, but the food is equally as delicious!

Very good Italian, and their signature family style menu and unlimited wine is still available if you’re with a larger group! Beware, you may need to be rolled out of there - it’s a lot of food. I recommend ordering a la carte and you’ll taste the e… — Very good Italian, and their *signature* family style menu and unlimited wine is still available if you’re with a larger group! Beware, you may need to be rolled out of there - it’s a lot of food. I recommend ordering a la carte and you’ll taste the extra effort put into these made to order dishes.

Wine selection was very limited when we went, but they still had a small selection of beers and cocktails.

Sorry Ryan for being my little muse - YOU’LL HATE THIS.

Crafty Cocktails at Penny Farthing

One would expect the strip of bars south of Union Square to be crawling with people again. But in my experience the bars were seating people in an organized fashion, and it did not seem overcrowded.

Well done!!! I obviously got the Cuomo Sexual and it was 10/10

East Village

Lower East Side

Omar’s Kitchen and Wine Bar - plenty of outdoor seating and JERK CHICKEN TO GO! I’ll enjoy any place that labels itself as Caribbean dining.

Dining in Soho

I love this strip of restaurants from Café Select to Osteria Morini to Jacks Wife Freda. I was feeling nostalgic and happy and even though the tables were mostly empty on a Sunday afternoon, I was glad to see the possibility of business again in fro… — I love this strip of restaurants from Café Select to Osteria Morini to Jacks Wife Freda. I was feeling nostalgic and happy and even though the tables were mostly empty on a Sunday afternoon, I was glad to see the possibility of business again in front of me.

West Village Dining

Trust me, it’s just as cute as it usually is. Tables that you could not normally get are available SO take advantage. No indoor seating does not mean you are missing out in my opinion - it just makes it even better. Charming tree lined streets, beautiful nighttime lighting, and the same appetizing menu’s that make your belly rumble just reading them.

Via Carota - Italian Dining al Fresco

Dining al fresco on Grove Street - West Village is dreamy to begin with. But add the outdoor tables, string lights, bottles of wine, and boxes of overgrowing ivy - IT MIGHT BE EUROPE?! Very happy vibes.

Getting together with my friends always means lots of giggling, hugs, dancing, singing, and sharing wine. Would outdoor dining change that? Nope! I had the best night trying different pastas and wines with the gals I lived with for so many years.

The starters were fantastic - LOOK AT THAT INSALATA! The ‘bread and olive oil’ was a little underwhelming but the burrata stole the show.

Lemon Risotto, Wild Boar Ragu Papperdelle and the Pea & Prosciutto Tagliatelle

Fiashetteria Pistoia Is one of my favorite Italian spots for food and Tuscan wine in the city. They even carry the Vernaccia I indulged on in San Gimignano! The outdoor seating area is small, so it’s not very friendly for large parties, but come wit… — Fiashetteria Pistoia Is one of my favorite Italian spots for food and Tuscan wine in the city. They even carry the Vernaccia I indulged on in San Gimignano! The outdoor seating area is small, so it’s not very friendly for large parties, but come with one and dine like you are in Italy.

Another little private oasis in the West Village under the palms and cover of umbrellas - Lola Taverna is taking reservations on Resy!

Some places are going to work with what they have: see plastic tables. Hey, they get the job done! And do you need more of an incentive to a place that has Vino & Cucina?

Here are some other great spots that are doing outdoor dining!

I Sodi - This has been on my list forever, hard to get a table normally but right now you can!
St Tropez Wine Bar - Love this spot normally, and they’re outdoor dining expansion is covered in string lights
Extra Virgin - went weeks ago for to-go drinks and food, it was delicious and very cute!
Dante - friends went earlier this week and said it was amazing - great outdoor dining set up.
Anton’s - we were originally going to dine here Tuesday, the pre fixe menu looks incredible!
Bar Pisellino - good spot to grab drinks!
GST - very loud music, its like they brought the bar to the street.
Butcher’s Daughter - more of a brunch or lunch spot in my opinion!
Bar Primi - their frosé has never let me down.
Rosie’s - I love their margarita’s. It’s the same outdoor dining experience they have always had.
Dudley’s - This LES bar has tons of tables lining the street. I found there to be less outdoor dining in the Lower East Side overall, so this is a good spot to remember!
Pastis - Legendary in the Meatpacking district - believe it or not I dined here with friends on their outdoor patio in JANUARY. They were able to add heating lamps which made it very comfortable!

Safe to Say - I’m thrilled that outdoor dining is back.

It is something we took for granted that now we can appreciate in all its glory. It really looks like this city was made for it, and I hope it lasts for a while. I haven’t seen New Yorkers so happy in quite some time! I can’t wait for more of my friends to return so we can catch up like we used to, over good food and great wine.

So Enjoy It! Stay safe. And tell me some of your favorite outdoor dining places in NYC!

Xx Gab

Outdoor Dining in 2020

Last week, New York got to take a big and well-deserved step forward!

It’s only been a week, but here’s my experience so far.