BROOKLYN — Outdoor dining may decline in the near future, even in your favorite restaurants. The NYC Hospitality Alliance has 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.