Sidewalk showcase of NYC’s ‘in’ crowd
Who has the most creative outdoor dining setup amid the pandemic?
Fur-lined seats, beautifully lit glass cabins, miniature electric fireplaces . . .
The Big Apple’s outdoor dining scene will be a winter wonderland this year, thanks to creative restaurant owners who have been forced to adapt to ever-changing coronavirus restrictions imposed by Gov. Cuomo.
To help illustrate the amazing work being done by restaurateurs, The Post is asking its readers to take snapshots of the most imaginative setups they have seen and e-mail them to outdoordining@nypost.com. The best of the bunch will be chosen by our food critic Steve Cuozzo.
In lower Manhattan, designers for Pier 17’s The Rooftop created winterized, individual cabins that offer panoramic views that diners can enjoy while sipping on hot smoked toddys and yule ciders and feasting on cheese fondue and buttermilk fried chicken.
Each of the cabins costs $50 to reserve on weekends.
At the Meatpacking arm of Fig & Olive, which serves up Mediterranean fare, designers created a cozy retreat that includes fur throws draped across seats, plastic igloos and wood floors.
The Upper East Side’s Daniel, known for being one of the best — and most exclusive — restaurants in all of New York, has applied its Michelin-star energy to its sidewalk setup in its creation of “Boulud Sur Mer bungalows.”
The bungalows, described as a “personal doorway” to “the South of France,” are completely private with curtains that shut out the sidewalk riffraff and cabin heaters that keep diners warm.
Another impressive effort has come from Cafe Du Soleil on the Upper West Side.
Owner Alain Chevreux decked the eatery’s sidewalk setup with red, white and green Christmas decorations to go along with chic dining bubbles to bring some holiday cheer to diners. “We have the typical Christmas decorations, lighting all over, the ornaments,” Chevreux said. “The place looks magnificent at night.”
Positano in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, has made great use of its ample space by hand-creating a series of cabanas that are designed to mimic the indoor experience.
“We have heaters, lights, fresh flowers, palm trees,” general manager Valmir Krasniqi said of the southern Italian hot spot.
“We’re just trying to make a regular restaurant experience outside because there’s not much else we can do.”