Outdoor Dining Survey Results

NYC HOSPITALITY ALLIANCE SURVEY FINDS STRICTER CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS, HIGH COST, & COMPLICATED APPLICATION, AS REASONS RESTAURANTS DID NOT APPLY FOR OUTDOOR DINING

40% of Restaurants That Didn’t Apply Said Stricter Clearance Requirements Made Outdoor Dining Not Worthwhile, 38% Said Roadway Dining is Too Expensive Due to Winter Removal Costs, 31% Said Application Process Was Too Difficult

NYC Hospitality Alliance Releases Survey Highlighting Challenges with the New Outdoor Dining Program

The NYC Hospitality Alliance today released a survey of 477 establishments that highlights the challenges faced by restaurants and bars in navigating the city’s new outdoor dining program. This program has sparked concerns among many in and out of the industry about high costs, stricter clearance requirements, and a complicated application process as barriers to restaurants applying for outdoor dining.

The survey found that of the 214 restaurants that didn’t apply, 40% reported that stricter clearance requirements would not allow them to have enough tables or seats to make outdoor dining worthwhile; 38% noted that roadway dining was too expensive because structures must be removed and stored during the winter months; and 31% said the online application process was too difficult.

Despite the City’s valiant efforts, only about 2,600 restaurants applied for the new program by August 3rd but have not yet been approved, while there were upwards of 10,000 across the city under the emergency rules established during the pandemic program. More than 6,000 restaurants still offered alfresco dining at summer’s end. Before the pandemic, about 1,400 establishments had outdoor dining. 

“While certainly an improvement from the pre-pandemic sidewalk café law, it’s disappointing that so few restaurants applied for the new program,” said Andrew Rigie, executive director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance. “It’s clear from this survey that improvements need to be made to the rules and requirements so all restaurants that want to offer alfresco dining can and are not left out. Only then can we truly achieve the city’s goal of having the biggest and best outdoor dining program around the country and globe.”

During the pandemic, restaurants, bars and cafes were allowed to expand their presence into the streets and onto sidewalks so they could continue to serve patrons as the state and city leveled emergency rules designed to keep crowds to a minimum and slow the spread of COVID-19. The pandemic-era allowances upended the pre-pandemic, limiting and costly rules for outdoor dining and were always planned to be short-term.  As the City moved past the pandemic, the NYC Hospitality Alliance worked with stakeholders, elected and city officials to design an outdoor dining program that was more accessible and vibrant than the pre-pandemic program, balanced with efforts to ensure it worked for both small businesses and the neighborhoods they serve. Those efforts were a major step in the right direction and made progress, but the survey data makes a powerful case for the city to now use the lessons learned and improve the Dining Out NYC program.