Vancouver has issued 85 patio permits in the three weeks since the launch of its expedited application process.

The citys Temporary Expedited Patio Program, which allows restaurants and bars to set up temporary patios on sidewalks and streets, opened at the beginning of June. Close to 150 applications have already been received and with summer patio season in full swing and little time to waste, more than half have already been approved.

In recent months, the city has prioritized freeing up additional space for temporary patios, so that physical distancing requirements can be followed at Vancouver businesses, and 73 of the newly issued permits are for patios on public lands, such as roads, on-street parking areas and sidewalks.

We realized right away that in order for our businesses to continue, they would need some extra space for physical distancing, said Neil Wyles, executive director of the Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Area. We have been working closely with city staff as they navigate the new issues and realities of this pandemic and it has been rewarding to see applications make their way through the approval process.

On June 11, council also approved bylaw amendments to include patios on private property. Twelve private patios have already been approved, and another 16 private patio applicants are working with the city to complete their applications.

Ciy staff expect permits for private patios to be available by the end of the month. Patios that do not require construction can be approved within five business days.

As co-owner of three restaurants and a brewery in Vancouver, I can attest to the incredible hardship all restaurants in the city have endured during COVID-19 closures, said David Nicolay, co-owner of the Cascade Group and Main Street Brewing Co.

With the expansion of patio options in line with the provinces recommendations of safer outdoor space to gather, restaurants will have an amazing opportunity to capitalize on the summer patio season.

The city is also working to approve patios for breweries, wineries and distillers, and will be holding a public hearing on a proposed bylaw amendment on June 30.

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Summer patio season gets boost as Vancouver issues 85 new permits - The Province

Downtown pub owner says downtown businesses 'are dying down here' because the city doesn't 'seem to be able to react or respond quickly'

Downtown business owners wanting to create patios or expand into parking spots will get some financial relief from the city.

At a special council meeting Thursday, a motion from the Economic Recovery Task Force was passed that will see more than $50,000 put toward helping businesses expand into the public realm.

To offset the cost of patios, the city will take $30,000 from the Downtown Tomorrow Community Improvement Plan (DTCIP) Reserve and put it toward the 2020 DTCIP building improvement grant program for patios.

Another $20,000 will come from the citys Social Assistance and Economic Recovery COVID-19 Emergency Relief Reserve, to help cover the costs of permit and application fees as well the fees businesses are charged for using parking spaces.

Also from that reserve, the city will use $7,000 for signage and marketing.

Laura Thompson, the citys senior manager of business development, called it a made-in-Orillia approach that was created following consultation with more than 80 businesses both restaurants and retail operations.

Businesses will have to apply to the city to have the fees waived. That process typically takes four to six weeks, but council is creating a patio task force in an effort to expedite the application process.

One part of the motion that concerned some on council was temporarily taking the authority away from the Downtown Orillia Management Board (DOMB) when it comes to approving tables and chairs on sidewalks.

The board had previously stated it wanted to maintain that authority. However, Coun. Ted Emond, who chairs the Economic Recovery Task Force, noted it is a very, very minor part of the DOMBs role in authorizing intrusions into public space.

If theres an issue with tables and chairs being on the sidewalk, the DOMB can only have them removed; its the city that would have to make a decision on expanding into a parking space. So, givingthe city that temporary authority wouldmake that process go faster, Emond said.

The motion passed unanimously. Coun. Rob Kloostra wasnt at the meeting and Mayor Steve Clarke declared a conflict of interest because he owns a restaurant downtown.

Paul Raymond, who owns the Hog N' Penny pub, said waiving the fees for the use of parking spaces makes sense given the situation.

Im just asking for a little break here this summer, he said, adding many businesses are dying down here because of the blow theyve taken during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Raymond was critical of the hoops businesses typically have to jump through to get a patio. When he put his in last year, it had to be approved by officials in various departments, and the patio didnt get put in until late August.

Its just incredibly difficult. They dont seem to be able to react or respond quickly, he said. Theres no efficient process. You cant do anything until those volunteer committees sign off on them.

Susan Willsey, who runs Apple Annies Caf, has also been critical of the citys response to supporting businesses during the pandemic, but she said the decision Thursday to provide relief is great.

She would like to see parts of downtown closed to traffic on Saturdays, during the day. The Economic Recovery Task Force is working on a follow-up report on street closures.

During a recent meeting, the DOMB said it would support, should it be deemed necessary, street closures on Fridays and Saturdays from 4 to 11 p.m., from July 3 to Sept. 5, to accommodate the expansion of patios and retail establishments in select sections of Mississaga Street East and West and Peter Street South based on participation.

That doesnt make any sense at all. That just looks like a sop, Willsey said. We have very few businesses open in the evenings on Friday and Saturday.

Its mainly bars and restaurants that are open during those times, but many people who come downtown want to both eat and shop, she said, which is why a closure during the day would make more sense.

The task force is hoping to have its next report ready within a few weeks.

The following summary of DOMB survey results was included in Thursdays report:

There are approximately four patio lease approvals downtown on an annual basis. It is not likely, but if all respondents who noted interest proceed through the approval process, this would constitute an increase of 600 per cent or 24 patio/retail expansions.

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Council OKs more than $50K to help businesses expand patios - OrilliaMatters

Could Richmond turn streets into open dining spaces like herein Alexandria? Image by Joe Flood licensed under Creative Commons.

With demand for parking down 90% across America, business leaders and city officials alike have begun repurposing empty streets and vacant parking stalls into outdoor seating and public parklets. Except in Richmond. Over the three years of the citys parklet permitting program, not a single application has even been submitted.

But with COVID-19 related closures in full swing and restaurants desperate for revenue, could now be the perfect moment for Richmond to refashion its car-centric public space into patios and parklets?

Everywhere to park, nowhere to go

With the number of American lives lost to the novel coronavirus fast approaching 120,000, the need for strict social distancing to prevent its further spread has become painfully clear. While the pandemic has taken a toll on nearly all aspects of normal life, the experience of dining out has been particularly pressed to adapt to these challenging times.

In Virginias current Phase 2 of managing the virus, restaurants may allow patrons to sit inside but in limited numbers and unprecedented circumstances. Interior dining rooms may not exceed half their capacity while parties must remain six feet or more away from each other. The food industry turns a notoriously tight profit margin as is, so with inside seating cut by half how is a restaurateur supposed to get ahead?

For thousands of business owners across the country, the answer to this conundrum has been to look outside. Eight decades of car-centric city planning has gifted (or cursed) nearly every establishment in America with an overabundance of parking right out front, whether on the street or in a dedicated lot. With nowhere to safely go during the pandemic, the vast majority of those spots have been left empty for months.

To help their food scenes survive these hard times, cities across the world have closed their streets to cars and opened them for people to sit, dine, and enjoy the fresh air. One might expect vibrant metropolises like Miami or New York City to be leading the way, but many of the most ambitious cities have included more modest candidates such as Cincinnati which released plans to convert 25 streets into outdoor seating. Even suburban Maryland has gotten in on the action with a streamlined streatery program.

Its exciting to see other cities spring to action to provide more outdoor space for dining and recreation during the pandemic, especially cities you wouldnt expect like Cincinnati and Tampa, said Max Hepp-Buchanon, Venture Richmonds Director of Riverfront & Downtown Placemaking. Theyve converted parking to spaces for people so that residents can continue to enjoy their city during a time of crisis by eating outside.

As Richmonds eclectic food scene has powered the citys rise onto tourism to-do lists, one has to wonder why local government has yet to make space for one of our top assets. With some area restaurant owners worried they may have to close up shop permanently in two months time if they cant seat more customers, could now be the perfect moment to copy other cities plans and open Richmonds streets to its restaurants?

A survey question about open spaces from the Richmond 300. Image by Richmond 300.

Cafs over cars

According to 1st District City Councilmember Andreas Addison, the demand from the food industry is there. Business owners have been reaching out to me to help them add patios or sidewalk seating, but the challenge we have in Richmond is that parking requirements cause people to become possessive. If we take parking away, some worry that itll be hard for people to get to businesses even if new patios create more space for the actual business, he said in an interview.

Despite the familiar tetchiness any attempt to rework parking for private vehicles into more public spaces habitually triggers, 9th District City Councilmember Dr. Mike Jones believes it would be worth it if the move helps save Richmonds beloved restaurants.

Business owners livelihoods are locked into the health of our communities, he said. As someone who drives a very big car, I would give up on street parking to help out our restaurants. Can we give up some of our on street parking to make sure they have the space they need to function? I would support a resolution to make that happen!

Addisons office has been working behind the scenes to try and streamline the Citys parklet permitting process through which such parking to patio conversions would happen; however, currently the city charter requires each application be reviewed by the City Planning Commission as well as the Urban Design Committee before any changes can take place.

We wanted to introduce an ordinance to eliminate the reviews on parklets and waive the $350 permitting and $150 renewal fees, but we had to push pause on that unfortunately, said Daniel Wagner, Addisons Liaison.

With vocal support from Richmonds Director of Economic Development who has asked interested businesses to submit their request for more patio seating through the Citys RVA Strong assistance platform, Addison hopes much of the process can be fast-tracked, including the Department of Public Works formal application.

With many restaurants terrified by the prospect of permanent closure within two months time, Councilmember Jones is calling for fast action: If were truly pro-business, then we need to explore some of these things that may make us uncomfortable but will help keep our restaurant scene alive. This cant be a 60-90 day affair. This needs to happen quickly within the next 30-45 days. Speed and government arent usually synonymous, but this is something weve got to get done as soon as possible.

If Petersburg can do it

Nearly perfect proof that a quick remedy to the current dining crisis is possible lies just a half an hour south of Richmond in Petersburg the much-panned crown jewel of Virginias Tri-Cities. Within a matter of weeks, the Cockade Citys administration, city council, and business community came together to open historic Old Towns Sycamore Street as an outdoor dining promenade.

With charming string lights and more than 40 socially-distanced tables available to patrons, this stretch of town between Bank Street and Bollingbrook has come alive with an energy as close to pre-pandemic life as possible. Twenty tables are reserved for three restaurants along the corridor (Alibi, DJs Rajun Cajun and Longstreets) while the other half are open for diners to sit at as they see fit. By placing all tables 10 feet away from one another, the City hopes to provide a safe space for local businesses to flourish.

After facing a complete shutdown for two months, local business owner DJ Payne appreciates the reprieve. This has drawn a lot of people down here and helped our business come back quicker and faster, he said. Im now doing the same level of sales I did last summer.

To keep up with his freshly booming business, Payne has had to hire three servers, a bartender, and two more kitchen staff essentially a doubling of his workforce. Despite the summer sun, he says Old Towns 40 tables stay full from 11 am to 11 pm.

I havent spoken with one person yet who has said anything negative about this, said Payne in an interview. Everyones excited that Petersburg has brought back space in which we can hang out, grab a drink or a meal, and enjoy the fresh air. We should have done this a long time ago. Were working with the mayor and city council to make this permanent. Nobody misses driving down that block of the street anyway.

Can Richmond replicate the success?

Addison for one believes Richmond can catch up to its southerly sister city. People are starting to realize there may be an opportunity here, and its my hope that we can take this chance to become a more walkable, bikeable city, he said. The biggest thing we need to do is to get the proof of concept on this idea out there so we can help people to better understand the advantages and hurdles of these changes.

A mural in front of Brewer's Cafe in Richmond. Image by Hamilton Glass.

With his experience organizing Richmonds 2019 Park(ing) Day in which 20 parking spaces were converted into temporary parklets by some of the citys top architecture and engineering firms, Hepp-Buchanon hopes he can help. Last Septembers celebrations were a good demonstration of how businesses can expand the space for their customers to sit outside and eat, he said. We need to do everything we can to lower the barrier to entry on the implementation of parklets. Id like to partner with local businesses to shepherd the first parklet through so we can work with local officials to figure out how we can make it as easy as possible to expand this program.

If the City can work with business owners to restore parking for private vehicles back to public space, Jones bets the move could prove a boon to Richmonds restaurant scene, regular residents quality of life, and even to the towns artsy reputation. I would love to see the creativity that would result from this, he said. We could have projects like the mural AJ Brewer put in front of his caf all over the city. People are going to transform spaces with art and furniture, and I think the city could actually become more alive than its ever been.

Wyatt Gordon is Greater Greater Washington's Virginia Correspondent. He's a born-and-raised Richmonder with a master's in Urban Planning from the University of Hawaii at Mnoa and a bachelor's in International Political Economy from American University. Previously he's written for the Times of India, Nairobi News, Civil Beat, Style Weekly, andRVA Magazine. You can find him on Richmond's Northside.

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Could Richmond transform parking into patio seating to save its food scene? - Greater Greater Washington

Council agrees to waive the $1,200 encroachment fee so restaurants can set up patios to comply with social-distancing measures

The Town of Midland is hoping patios will be a way for both the public and restaurants to findsome joy during the pandemic.

Council opted to approve the move this week after staff presented a report created onthe province guidelines around phase two of reopening. The move will see the town waive the $1,200 encroachment feeas well as fees related to building and fire inspections. This provision is available to local food and beverage businessuntil October 15.

During discussions at Wednesday's meeting, Coun. Bill Gordon said he wondered if the same provision could be made available to retailers around town.

"This program is awesome," he said."I just request one modification that I want this made available to every business in Midland. This is a short program and it ends in October."

But that suggestion was quickly nixed by staff.

"Unfortunately, the regulation is pretty clear that it must be adjacent to the restaurant so that will not be feasible at this point," said municipal law enforcement officer Jim Reichheld.

Gordon, however, persisted.

"I just want to make sure we level the playing field," he said."I know this is in suggestion to the province's opening of patios for restaurants. Can we not just add on this and open it up to everybody and let sidewalk sales and whatnot happen?This could be the difference between them giving up and keeping going through the summer."

Coun. Cody Oschefski said he could see that being of benefit to some retailers downtown.

"I support the motion and I like councillor Gordon's idea as well," he said."I had a business owner reach out to me with their business next to a restaurant and they were wondering if they could offer their space to their next door neighbour for a patio.I'm just wondering if we canmake an avenue available to downtown businesses to offer their space."

From there, town solicitor Amanpreet Sidhu spoke up to explain the legalities of the matter.

"It's a really great suggestion," he said, addingperhaps council could give administrative staffa bit more time to take another look at the regulation.

"This policy is in direct response to phase two. We don't see similar changes to the retail side and we want to be cautious in trying to make changes so we don't run afoul of any other provisions."

Sidhu said that while he can understand that councilwants businesses to be successful and survive, he would bea little hesitant to say yes or no.

"When your admin looked at drafting this bylaw, it was specifically considering the provincial provisions," he said."We haven't considered other options. We don't wantto provide advice to council that may come back and harm us. (But) we will certainly look into it."

Mayor Stewart Strathearn agreed with staff.

"We could have a special meeting to allow for that if we can," he said. "Right now, we would be remiss to having put in all this effort and then go against the province and health unit."

Glen Canning, owner of The Elegant Gourmet, said he welcomed the move.

"I support that wholeheartedly," he said."I'm happy to see this change. It is a good move and it should make the town more enojyable regardless of circumstances."

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Patios coming to Midland just in time for summer - OrilliaMatters.Com

After what seems to have been a lifetime in quarantine, Chicago is ready for Recess! Today, the West Loop restaurant and bar officially kicks off summer with the debut of an expansive 14,500-square-foot patio. Who would like a little fresh air, a whole lot of sunshine and an ice-cold cocktail?

Recess, located at 838 W. Kinzie in the West Loop, features multi-level outdoor space comprised of shipping containers turned into bars, cabanas and food stations.The patio opens this week as Mayor Lori Lightfoot begins the process of re-opening businesses in Chicago.

The menu includes elevated pub fare, a wide selection of frozen drinks, craft cocktails, beer and wine. The bars signature water cooler drinks are offered table-side, as well as classics like the Southside and original cocktails such as The Aldermans Choice, made with tequila, peppered watermelon syrup and lime. Recess also offers fros, available in new flavors rotating weekly. On weekends, brunch service includes bottomless mimosas, a killer Bloody Mary and delicious fare featuring locally sourced ingredients.

Recess opens at 4 p.m. on weekdays, and at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Reservations are recommended, but not required.

All safety guidelines and procedures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will be strictly followed by Recess staff and enforced for all guests. Those guidelines include proper 6-foot distancing between tables (maximum of 6 guests) and a choice between single-use or digital menus available via QR code. Masks must be worn at all times except while seated at the table. Staff are following rigorous sanitation practices and will have their temperature checked before and after every shift.

More info: https://chicagoinrecess.com/

About Recess

Recess serves good times and zero red tape in Chicagos West Loop. The casual bar is home to the neighborhoods largest outdoor patio, offering guests a lively, communal atmosphere complemented by live music, delicious drinks and craveable bar food. Recess and City Hall are a joint venture between Atomic Hospitality, creator of six-time Michelin Bib Gourmand honoree Untitled Supper Club and event venues Morgan MFG and Artifact Events, HAM Hospitality and 8 Hospitality Group.

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New bar Recess claims to have largest patio in Chicago - WGN-TV

Restaurants around Seattle are beginning to reopen during phase 1.5, which allows for 25 percent capacity indoors and 50 percent outdoors, in addition to other COVID-19-related safety guidelines from Washington state. Now, Eastlake Bar & Grill is attempting to take things a step further by introducing enclosed tents on its patio.

The plastic greenhouse-like structures, which debuted last week, are open at both ends and come outfitted with some lights. They arrive a few weeks after the grill along with sibling restaurants Greenlake Grill and Lake Forest Bar & Grill opened for curbside takeout. According to the restaurant, the staff is still asking guests to take proper safety precautions when walking through common areas, waiting for their table, and using the bathrooms.

In Washington, all tables and chairs both indoors and outdoors must be separated by six feet of distance. Guests arent required by law to wear a mask, but Gov. Jay Insee has said restaurants can refuse service to diners who dont wear face coverings. Even though Seattle did not reopen dining rooms as early as some other cities, COVID-19 is still a continuing threat. To date, there have been 8,722 confirmed cases in King County alone and 591 deaths.

As restaurants around the country and the world reopen, some have implemented unusual efforts to create more separation between diners, like the Eastlake Bar & Grill enclosures. In Columbia City, Hawaiian-Korean restaurant Super Six also set up an outdoor tent separate from its regular patio for seating. And Eastlake Bar & Grills director of operations Brendon Cook said the tents were inspired by something they saw happening in Norway via social media.

We are considering ordering a larger, taller tent for larger parties, says Cook. This would be a year round option for our guests.

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Eastlake Bar & Grill Sets Up Two-Person Tents on Its Patio - Eater Seattle

Massachusetts restaurants have been closed for dine-in service since mid-March in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. Reopening day is almost here and it comes with a lot of restrictions. Gov. Charlie Baker will announce on June 6 whether phase two of the states reopening plan will begin as hoped on June 8. If so, restaurants will be among the businesses that can reopen, but only outdoor dining will be allowed to start. Indoor dining will resume at a later date within phase two, to be announced. With each phase slated to last for at least three weeks, depending on how the coronavirus numbers are trending, that could mean that indoor dining returns in mid-to-late June.

Note: In addition to restaurants, phase two includes some bars, breweries, wineries, distilleries, and beer gardens the ones that provide seated food service. The rest will have to wait for phase four, along with nightclubs. (An earlier announcement of the reopening plan included these businesses in phase three, not four.) Phase four will start in late July, at the earliest.

Here is a sampling of local restaurants that have already announced their intention to open outdoor seating areas as soon as possible. Stay tuned for continuing coverage of reopenings as phase two proceeds, and reach out to boston@eater.com with any information that should be on our radar.

Bostons licensing board has introduced an expedited process to help restaurants that are not yet set up for outdoor dining get approved quickly, with the board meeting weekly to make decisions on applications. Before the pandemic, restaurants would have to go through a lengthy process involving public hearings and meetings with neighborhood groups. The city is also looking into blocking cars from certain streets to allow more space for outdoor dining.

Here are some Boston restaurants planning to open their patios as soon as they can.

75 on Liberty Wharf220 Northern Ave., Seaport District

The restaurant will open its waterfront patio as soon as allowed.

Ariana384 Western Ave., Brighton

The Afghan restaurant is planning to resume dine-in service when allowed (including indoor service later in phase two). We are very lucky to have a large main dining room with a private room that could accommodate several tables that are socially distanced, says co-owner Baheja Rostami. We also have an outdoor seating permit from the city of Boston that we were granted last summer. Currently we are working with the landlord to place outdoor seating in the back and also in the front of our restaurant, and we think we have a good chance. The restaurant is also continuing to offer takeout and delivery. Call (617) 208-8072 for takeout and local delivery orders; delivery is also available via Caviar, DoorDash, and Grubhub.

Barcelona Wine Bar525 Tremont St., South End

The Spanish restaurant is opening the patios at its Boston and Brookline locations as soon as allowed.

B&G Oysters550 Tremont St., South End

B&G, which is reopening for takeout as of June 6 (Wednesday through Sunday, lunch and dinner) and serving un-shucked oysters, fried oysters, clam chowder, lobster rolls, and other seafood dishes, plans to open its patio once allowed.

Blackmoor Bar & Kitchen1 Chelsea St., Charlestown

Blackmoor and its Medford sibling, LongCross, will reopen with outdoor seating as soon as allowed.

Bostonia Public House131 State St., downtown Boston

Located in the heart of the Financial District, Bostonia Public House will open its patio as soon as allowed.

Buttermilk & Bourbon160 Commonwealth Ave., Back Bay

The New Orleans-inspired restaurant will open its patio as soon as allowed, and it will operate daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Cunard Tavern24 Orleans St., East Boston

The Ducali and Lucia sibling plans to open up its roof deck right away, with distanced seating for 24. Cunard Tavern is also in the final stages of approval for sidewalk seating, according to owner Philip Frattaroli. (He has also applied for sidewalk seating for Ducali and Lucia in the North End, as well as Lucias Winchester location, so stay tuned for those to open soon. Plus, the restaurant groups espresso truck, Caffe Pellicano, will be used to support the sidewalk cafes where possible.)

Dorchester Brewing Company and M&M BBQ1250 Massachusetts Ave., Dorchester

The local brewery and its in-house barbecue restaurant plan to reopen their outdoor dining areas as soon as possible.

Itadaki269 Newbury St., Back Bay

Newbury Street is full of patios, and there will likely be quite a few opening as soon as possible. Japanese izakaya Itadaki plans to open on the first day allowed. We already have a patio but we are also asking the city to extend it to the sidewalk and onto the parking areas of Newbury Street, says a representative for the restaurant. Hopefully the city will allow Newbury Street to be closed off to vehicular traffic so we can use as much space as possible. The restaurant will also continue to offer takeout and delivery; customers can order takeout directly from the restaurants website, and delivery is available via Caviar, DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates, and Uber Eats. Itadaki also plans to continue offering groceries and bottled beer, wine, and sake with takeout and delivery orders as long as allowed.

Lola 42 and Lola Burger22 Liberty Dr. and 11 Fan Pier Blvd., Seaport District

Sibling to Nantuckets Lola 41, Lola 42 serves a menu with global inspiration everything from Italian to sushi. Its 48-seat waterfront patio will open as soon as allowed, with reservations recommended but not required. And sibling Lola Burger will be serving its full menu on an outdoor patio that seats 30-50 people, spanning the length of the block in front of the former Babbo space. No reservations. At both restaurants, customers will be instructed to download the Toast app on their phone to view the menu, order, and pay. (Disposable menus and credit card payment are available upon request, but no cash will be accepted.) Each will serve lunch and dinner daily, and curbside takeout and delivery options will remain available.

Mare223 Hanover St., North End

The North End seafood restaurant is planning to open its patio as soon as allowed, with indoor dining following once allowed later in phase two. The patio will be open daily from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sibling restaurant Trattoria Il Panino (see below) is also reopening its patio right away, while siblings without patios, such as Bricco and Quattro, will continue to offer takeout and delivery options.

Mida782 Tremont St., South End

The South End Italian restaurant will open its patio as soon as allowed, offering bistro-style seating on Tremont Street and space for larger parties (as large as the states guidelines allow) on Massachusetts Avenue. An exact reservation policy is to be determined, but the restaurant is leaning towards call-ahead seating (day of) rather than walk-ins. Mida is also considering adding express lunch service on the patio stay tuned.

Mother Juice291 Newbury St., Back Bay

The juice shops Newbury Street location is setting up a lemonade stand-style takeout window on its patio. Pre-order on the Mother Juice website, and keep an eye out for new smoothies and smoothie bowls.

Serafina237 Newbury St., Back Bay

Serafina plans to open the patio at its Newbury Street location for lunch and dinner starting on June 10, featuring a revamped menu of pizza, pasta, and more. (Theres also a Nutella focaccia.) Outdoor dining will be paramount for us, says owner Seth Greenberg, via a press release. The potential for temporary patio expansion through the City of Boston is an exciting opportunity and great way to celebrate Newbury Street.

Stillwater120 Kingston St., downtown Boston

Stillwater, which opened last year, will debut its outdoor dining for the first time this year June 8 if possible with reservations available via Resy. Stay tuned for food specials and fros.

Trattoria Il Panino11 Parmenter St., North End

Like sibling Mare (see above), this North End Italian restaurant part of the DePasquale Ventures group will open its patio right away, followed by indoor dining when allowed. The patio will be open daily from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Here are some Cambridge restaurants planning to open their patios as soon as they can.

Lily Ps Fried Chicken & Oysters50 Binney St., Kendall Square, Cambridge

This will be Lily Ps first patio season; the restaurant opened in late 2019. The plan is to open the patio as soon as allowed, serving fried chicken dinners, cookies, buckets of beer, screw-top wines by the bottle, and mason-jar cocktails, with all items packaged in to-go containers. The seating will be distanced and cafe-style, first come, first served. The restaurant is still figuring out hours and other details; keep an eye on Instagram for up-to-date information.

Moona243 Hampshire St., Inman Square, Cambridge

Moona, an intimate Eastern Mediterranean restaurant in Inman Square, has obtained permission from its landlord and the city to build a new patio that seats up to 20 people. Dubbed the Moona Oasis Patio, its a tribute to now-closed neighbor Oasis, a longtime spa that closed earlier this year. Moonas new plant-bedecked patio will open right on June 8 (if allowed), operating from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily, and itll have a bar cart. No reservations in advance, but you can call ahead when youre already on the way over to hold a table. The eight to 10 tables will be spaced six feet apart, with social distancing decals acting as reminders. Stay tuned for new dishes, especially seafood, as well as new seasonal cocktails. There will also be seasonal ice cream and sorbet flavors from Cambridges own Honeycomb Creamery.

The Smoke Shop BBQ1 Kendall Sq., Kendall Square, Cambridge

The Smoke Shop will open its newly expanded patios at the Cambridge and Somerville locations as soon as allowed and hopes to reopen for indoor dine-in service on the first allowable day later in phase two as well, but that will depend on how fast the restaurants are able to make some changes, such as adding plexiglass barriers between booths since the booths cant be moved to be spaced six feet apart. To start, the restaurants will be using disposable paper menus but plan to switch as soon as possible to Bbot, technology that allows for online ordering and paying. The Smoke Shop also plans to continue its weekly pop-up collaboration with Flour Bakery as long as customers remain interested in it.

Talulla377 Walden St., Cambridge (patio around the corner at Built, 281 Concord Ave.)

The cozy-but-upscale Cambridge restaurant is creating a summer terrace outside of nearby coworking space Built; it will open on June 11 and will host regular outdoor dining, cooking demos, and other events. Limited seating; reservations required. Book at Resy or on Talullas website, or call (617) 714-5584.

Za350 Third St., Kendall Square, Cambridge

Za isnt offering full table service right away, but customers can order inside and eat outside on the patio starting on Tuesday, June 9, if allowed (and weather permitting). Takeout is also available via the Ritual app, and delivery is available via Caviar and DoorDash.

Many Boston-area cities and towns are trying to find ways to maximize outdoor dining opportunities. In Newton, for example, restaurant owners like Karen Masterson (Johnnys Luncheonette) are working with the city to create a program called Newton Al Fresco, placing picnic tables in parks near restaurants and utilizing more sidewalk space, parking areas, and other spaces for outdoor dining. Needham has similarly set up picnic tables in several common areas; Brockton is allowing outdoor seating at its restaurants for the first time ever; North Attleboro is considering rerouting traffic during certain hours to make room for outdoor dining on several streets; Waltham is shutting down traffic on several blocks of restaurant-packed Moody Street to make room for tables; and Quincy is issuing temporary permits for restaurants to create sidewalk dining areas, patio expansions, dining areas in private parking lots, and such.

Here are some Boston-area restaurants planning to open their patios as soon as they can.

Alma Nove22 Shipyard Dr., Hingham

The Wahlberg brothers waterfront Mediterranean restaurant plans to reopen for outdoor dining and, later, indoor dining as soon as the state allows. Alma Nove will resume normal business hours (lunch and dinner daily) and offer a limited menu that includes some of the restaurants bestsellers. We are lucky to have a beautiful patio at Alma Nove that has always been a great spot for dining, says chef and co-owner Paul Wahlberg. We hope that we have a perfect summer weather-wise, but if a guest has made a reservation and we experience inclement weather, well always have the option for our guests who have made reservations to pick up or grab delivery so that they can still enjoy a meal from us.

Barcelona Wine Bar1700 Beacon St., Brookline

The Spanish restaurant is opening the patios at its Boston and Brookline locations as soon as allowed.

Dryft500 Ocean Ave., Revere

The waterfront restaurant, which opened late last year and serves an Italian and seafood-heavy menu, is reopening as soon as allowed, featuring a 100-seat patio with tables spaced at least eight feet apart. Later in the summer, Dryft will add an outdoor bar area, subject to the states guidelines.

LongCross Bar & KitchenStation Landing, 501 Fellsway, Medford

LongCross and its Charlestown sibling, Blackmoor, are reopening with outdoor dining as soon as possible.

Moldova Restaurant344 Watertown St., Newton

The Moldovan restaurant will open sidewalk dining as soon as allowed and dine-in, too, once thats allowed later in phase two. The new outdoor seating will be as much of a contact-free experience as possible, with customers viewing menus and placing orders on their own phone or on one of the restaurants sanitized tablets. Payment will also be contactless.

Semolina Kitchen & Bar572 Boston Ave., Medford

While Daves Fresh Pasta sibling Semolina wont be returning to full table service right away, it will continue to offer takeout and, when allowed, permit patrons to eat their food at 20 or so distanced tables on the restaurants spacious patio. Staff will be stationed on the patio to take drink orders, and Semolina requests that customers keep masks on whenever interacting with staff. The restaurant will likely be open for dinner only, six days a week (closed Sundays). Takeout orders can be placed directly on the Semolina website, and delivery is available via Caviar, Grubhub, and Uber Eats.

The Smoke Shop BBQ325 Assembly Row, Somerville

See details in Cambridge section above; both the Cambridge and the Somerville locations are opening their patios right away.

Union Street Restaurant107R Union St., Newton

The restaurant is opening its invitingly spacious patio on the earliest allowable day. Union Street is also offering takeout and delivery for dinner daily; call (617) 964-6684 to order. Delivery is also available via DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats.

Wahlburgers19 Shipyard Dr., Hingham

The original Wahlburgers location will open its patio seating as soon as allowed and is working with the town of Hingham to see if its possible to add any additional seating in and around the existing area. A limited menu is available to start. Takeout and delivery continue to be available, too.

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These Boston Restaurant Patios Are Tentatively Reopening on June 8 - Eater Boston

Recesss outdoor patio in the West Loop looks like it was made to serve customers during a pandemic. The 14,500-square-foot space debuted Wednesday as patios across the city opened, allowing restaurants to serve customers on premises for the first time since mid-March. Surrounded like a childrens fortress with 30 shipping containers, the restaurant and bar has plenty of space to place tables within six feet of each other.

Management is touting the patio as the largest in Chicago. That fact isnt readily verified, but its massive space with a center structure and covering that should keep customers dry from rain. Go up either of two flights of stairs on opposite sides of the venue to additional seating on the perimeter. Theres a unique view of the city that especially looks good during sunset.

The city and state are allowing some indoor dining, provided a window or wall can open up a wall by at least 50 percent. There are a few indoor tables at Recess which are kept eight feet away from garage door windows. This is a space that has the resources to actually adhere to the citys and states novel coronavirus safety guidelines.

Staff from Atomic Hospitality (Morgan Street Manufacturing, Untitled) carefully thought out ways to reduce customer and staff anxieties. Staff wear masks, there are stations full of hand sanitizer, and the venues name is stenciled on the sidewalk marking where customers could queue. Under the current social distance-friendly configuration with tables wide apart they can fit a little under 300 customers. The spaces standing capacity normally would be around 600.

Its no longer about spreading the disease, its about liability, says Toula Georgakopoulos, Recesss event sales manager.

Large-format cocktails are available in water coolers.

Recess is booked with reservations for the weekend. For now, itll serve a bar menu. It will eventually add entrees, says Atomics COO Joe Manna. An outdoor bar will be in operation over the weekend.

Recess is keeping the government theme; the space was originally named City Hall (the event space is still using the moniker). There was a cut-out of Mayor Lori Lightfoot that greets customers at the host stand. Theres also a large-format drink that comes in a menu water cooler. Servers leave the cooler on the table allowing customers to dispense their own beverages.

It leans on the idea of government workers hanging out around a water cooler and conversing. Drinks like Rum Emanuel, Liquor License, and the Crony are available in these mini-coolers. Manna says he was surprised how popular they are, given that customers at a table may all touch the dispenser. On the other hand, fewer visits from servers could cancel out those health concerns. Recess is also employing QR Codes so customers can use their phones to view menus.

Recesss crews started work on the outdoor portion last year, as the space which is also used for private events debuted in 2019. The 2021 private event slate looks robust as the pandemic wiped out this years pushing events. While thats sad for many wedding parties, at least they wont have to wait for weekend brunch. Recess will start service this weekend.

Recess, 838 W. Kinzie Street, open at 4 p.m. on weekdays and 11 am. on weekends; closing times dependent on city curfew. Reservations available online.

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Recess Chicago open its massive West Loop patio - Eater Chicago

For restaurants around Greater Boston, the prospect of offering outdoor dining might not be a picnic.

Patio service will be permitted as part of Phase 2 of Gov. Charlie Bakers Massachusetts reopening plan, which is expected to go into effect on Monday. And with these updated health and safety guidelines, local business owners anticipate a number of challenges that are unique to al fresco-only operations.

I think only having outdoor dining has a danger of moving the needle in a very negative way, said Jack Bardy, co-owner of Beat Brew Hall in Cambridge, as well as The Beehive and Cosmica in the South End, which both have patios.

Youre not going to generate anywhere near the revenue you could normally generate, and it could be a money-losing proposition, he added. Were going to give it a try and try our best, but were being realistic.

Paul Turano, chef and owner at Cook Restaurant in Needham and Newton, is also skeptical about how much outside dining will drive revenue, if at all. While hes looking to stick some tables outdoors and encourage people to eat en plein air, he also sees obstacles.

Were in New England, Turano said. It can be too hot, too cold, raining, too muggy, too buggy. Im kind of excited to have some outdoor seating, however, Im a realist and Im not really sure how much it will increase sales.

Turano added that for the immediate future, hes going to focus on perfecting his takeout operation rather than heavily invest in outdoor expansion.

My goal is to not spend a lot of money on it, to not bank on it changing my situation because I honestly dont think that it will, he added.

Unlike Turano, Kathy Sidell, owner of Saltie Girl, Met Back Bay and Stephanies on Newbury Street, is investing in the patio space she already has, outfitting them with tents and plexiglass dividers. In addition to the weather- and pandemic-proofing precautions shes taking, Sidell also said shes being safe about staffing for both her businesses and her customers sake.

At least at the beginning, theres definitely not going to be nearly as many people, Sidell said of her staff. You just cant possibly afford it. If youre going to do 25 percent of the business, you need 25 percent of the staff, if thats possible.

To reduce the number of people on the premises, Sidells restaurants are slated to use an app, where patrons can view the menu on their own and personally order straight from the kitchen to minimize interactions with waitstaff.

I think thats going to be a little trial and error for everybody, Sidell said. Im hoping people will be forgiving. Hopefully, people will have a greater understanding of what it takes to really run a business, particularly when were kind of on one leg.

That hope can especially be applied to establishments that dont have patios and that are still trying to work with local municipalities to secure a space. Chef Dave Becker, owner of Juniper in Wellesley, Sweet Basil in Needham and Balani in Waltham, is one of the restaurateurs still looking to secure a solution.

I just want to survive, Becker said. I just want to sell food for money If you give me any horizontal surface thats within a short walk from the door of my restaurant to serve food, I will serve food on it.

Whatever towns let me do even if they let me float canoes down the Charles River I will do it, he said. If it involves staying up late and building a tree fort, I will do it.

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Massachusetts restaurants prepare for patio dining and its problems - Boston Herald

They came for a beer. They came to celebrate an anniversary. They came seeking momentary reprieve from a pandemic.

Customers trickled in to Minnesota restaurants and breweries Monday, the first day patio dining was allowed to open under orders from the state.

For some reason, this was my milestone for feeling more normal to go out and have lunch again, said Sean Gilbertson of Edina, who was having a venison and Kobe beef Juicy Lucy and fries on the dock at 6Smith in Wayzata.

The restaurant was his second choice; his first made a last-minute call not to open after days of violence and looting swept Minneapolis in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd while in police custody.

Did having a meal outside his home for the first time in months help Gilbertson feel normal?

No, he said. I dont know what would make things more normal.

The state ordered dining rooms to close beginning March 17 to slow the spread of the coronavirus in Minnesota. Later, they were given a June 1 reopening date with the caveat that all dining must take place outdoors, with no more than 50 guests at a time, on a reservation-only basis.

Many restaurants chose not to reopen yet, whether due to the ongoing pandemic, a lack of outdoor seating or the economic hardship of opening to serve only a fraction of their usual capacity.

Then, with a week of unrest across the metro that saw several Twin Cities restaurants vandalized or damaged, more restaurants decided to put off their scheduled patio openings.

But after nearly three months without a seated customer, others were ready to welcome guests back to their patios and rooftops on a sunny day with temperatures in the high 80s.

It wasnt business as usual.

At Pub 42 in New Hope, there was one significant barrier for entry to the deck overlooking the parking lot and N. 42nd Avenue. General manager Rob Gossard stood at the hosts stand, pointing a white thermometer at guests foreheads for a touchless temperature reading. Anyone over 99.5 degrees would be sent away.

Were trying to keep fever out of the restaurant, he said.

At 6Smith, a timer went off every 15 minutes to let staffers in matching gray masks know it was time to wash their hands.

A bagpiper was on hand to welcome guests to Utepils Brewings tucked-away beer garden along Bassett Creek in north Minneapolis. When the first song ended, a man seated on an Adirondack chair with a beer in hand yelled out, Are you playing that thing with a mask on?

The bagpipers second number was taps, to honor Floyd.

The brewery had a total of 56 bookings for the day, a slow start, said owner Dan Justesen.

Still, he was pretty excited as he watched over about a dozen customers at picnic tables. We live to do this, he said.

Jacob Bell and Sara Marie Sorenson are regulars at Sir Benedicts Tavern on the Lake in Duluth and were with co-owner Josh Stotts until the restaurants last call before the stay-at-home order took hold in March.

Theres definitely been a piece of our lives thats been missing the last two months, Bell said.

Stotts said his patio can usually seat 119 customers, but hes spread out tables to make room for social distancing. Almost all 50 seats available were filled Monday afternoon.

Were taking things one day at a time, he said. Tavern on the Hill in Duluth filled all its reservation slots for Monday.

Our phones been ringing off the hook, said co-owner Julie Thoreson. I wish we had more room. Fifty seats fill pretty darn quick.

More restaurants and bars will be rolling out their patios in the week ahead.

After its April debut was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, the Grocers Table is opening in downtown Wayzata on Wednesday on a newly expanded patio that takes advantage of sidewalk footage.

Over the past two months, owner Lindsay Pohlad has made alterations to her original cafe-wine bar-market business plan by emphasizing the market aspect of her enterprise. Banquettes have been replaced with coolers stocked with all kinds of pantry staples, including locally sourced eggs, butter, yogurt and cheese.

Pohlad added that the Grocers Table will follow now-standard protocols: a separate entrance and exit, disposable menus, cashless transactions and masked and gloved staffers.

Although opening a restaurant during a global pandemic is surreal, Pohlad is accentuating the positive. I feel that weve been stressed and challenged in every way possible before we even opened, so thats a silver lining, she said.

Other restaurant and bar operators made the last-minute call not to open as planned. Finnegans Brewery was prepared to open its taproom Monday, until a Sunday night decision to postpone. In light of what is happening in our city, now is not the right time to reopen, said an announcement on social media.

Three of Craft & Crew Hospitalitys four restaurants opened their patios but their Howe Daily Kitchen & Bar in south Minneapolis is delaying.

The online reservation system Open Table was still taking bookings midmorning Monday for the News Room on Nicollet Mall. General manager Brad Schwichtenberg had to call customers to let them know those reservations were canceled.

The restaurant, like others on the mall, is still boarded up and it will take almost 48 hours to take the boards down and prepare the restaurant for customers, Schwichtenberg said. Theyre hoping to open by Thursday.

Tables were set up at 6 a.m. on the patio outside French Meadow Bakery & Cafe on S. Lyndale Avenue in Minneapolis for the long-awaited opening of its patio.

But French Meadow founder Lynn Gordon changed course minutes before the first seating, suspending service to those tables. (People can sit there with their takeout.) The cafes hand-carved wooden front doors were damaged over the weekend in a break-in.

In St. Paul, Afro Deli opened its patio on the pedestrian-only West 7th Place. Even with social distancing restrictions, it has enough room to seat 30 to 40 people.

Opening Monday was important to owner Abdirahman Kahin, despite the destruction of businesses from riots and arson over the last week.

We want to be a solution for the unrest, Kahin said. We are sympathizing with George Floyd and his family and we also support people who are demanding justice. We want to make sure life goes on, despite the atmosphere.

Over the weekend, Afro Deli prepared 1,200 meals to distribute to citizens cleaning up Lake Street, and partnered with Meals on Wheels and Frontline Foods throughout the pandemic to get meals to seniors and children.

Opening the patio gives back to the community in another way, Kahin said.

Some people feel better when they see businesses that are open, he said. We want to show hope.

Staff writer Katie Galioto contributed to this report.

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'We want to show hope': Patios are open for dining at some Twin Cities restaurants - Minneapolis Star Tribune