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New York City's roadway dining season is officially back, as hundreds of outdoor dining sheds return to city streets starting Wednesday — but the program is a shadow of its former self.
According to Gothamist, roughly 500 roadside outdoor dining setups have been approved so far for the 2026 season under the city's "Dining Out NYC" program. That compares to more than 8,000 restaurants that once participated during the peak of the emergency outdoor dining program launched during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under current rules, roadway setups are permitted only from April 1 through November 29.
Maire McCrea, owner of B'artusi in the West Village, said the return of outdoor dining makes a major difference for her business. "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 told ABC 7 Eyewitness News.
Not every restaurant owner feels the same way. Carmen Ortiz, owner of Il Violino on the Upper West Side, told ABC 7 the costs and restrictions have become too much of a burden. "The cost is very expensive," she said, adding that licensing fees, storage costs, and strict placement rules have pushed her to opt out.
The city's own transportation commissioner has acknowledged the program's shortcomings. Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn wrote in a Daily News op-ed earlier this month that his agency will work with the City Council to bring back year-round dining sheds and cut red tape. "Outdoor dining was one of the few silver linings of a difficult chapter in our history," Flynn wrote. "With the right adjustments, it can remain a defining feature of the city's streetscape — helping small businesses flourish while creating vibrant public spaces that bring neighbors together."
The current law requires multiple reviews by local community boards, the City Council, and the DOT — a process that can take six to eight months. According to Spectrum News, around 1,800 roadway and/or sidewalk dining setups are eligible to operate, but just over 700 hold fully approved licenses. The rest are operating under conditional approvals while the city works through a growing backlog.
Andrew Rigie, executive director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance, is pushing city leaders to act fast. "Unfortunately, this season may be out of reach for many restaurants because of how long it takes for a restaurant to apply for outdoor dining to actually start setting up," Rigie said. "We just need to move quickly because time is of the essence, especially with the outdoor dining season upon us."
Rigie added that simplifying the process could have a big payoff. "Roadway dining, outdoor dining in general, is great for local small businesses," he said. "If you reduce the red tape, make the roadway cafes year-round, I think you'll definitely see more restaurants participating."
In February, City Council Speaker Julie Menin promised to overhaul Dining Out NYC and restore year-round roadway dining. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said he would support the move. When the City Council will actually vote on the proposal, however, remains unclear.
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