This weekend, Philadelphia carefully reclaims a bit of normalcy: outdoor dining.
Many restaurants are reopening for al fresco dine-in service, and more are planning to do so. The city released its COVID-19 dining guidelines on Thursday, outlining the rules for health and safety (expect masks, social distancing, and digital-forward service). The city also gave restaurants expanded options for outdoor seating, including parking lot takeovers and “streeteries,” in which tables are set up in what would otherwise be a parking spot or a lane of traffic.
It might take a while for the outdoor dining scene to develop. Only those thatalready have the proper permitting could launch Friday; the rest must apply for the appropriate permit, and the city will start processing applications on Monday. In its detailed guidelines, the city says it will process new applications for sidewalk cafes and streeteries in three business days. However, temporary street closures and streeteries with built-in platforms need to be approved by the Streets Department as well.
It’s a brave new dining world, and not one that all restaurants will rush into. It’s also unclear how many diners will feel comfortable eating out during a pandemic. Eater Philly surveyed over 1,100 people about whether they were ready to dine out as soon as outdoor dining started; only a third of respondents said they were.
One thing is certain: Outdoor dining won’t be what it used to be. It will often require reservations, encouraged by the city and state. You’ll need to be seated at a table to be served. And if it rains, rushing inside is not an alternative.
But for those who have been pining to get out, it will be enough to sit at a wobbly table on the sidewalk, a humid breeze blowing down the street, a chilled glass of wine or cold beer in hand, and a hot meal served to you by someone other than your spouse. Who cares if the waiter is wearing a mask?
If you’re ready to sit outside and enjoy a meal, here are 10 options for the first weekend of outdoor dining in Philadelphia. For many more options, and to submit a restaurant offering outdoor dining, go to inquirer.com/outdoordining13.
This South Philly Italian spot at Broad and Porter Streets has only been open since 2003, but its flavors and style are old-school. Share the stuffed artichoke and sweet sausage and fresh figs to start, then dig into a veal chop for dinner.
Enjoy affordable French fare (steak tartare, roast chicken, garlicky escargots) and a view of North Broad Street’s historic buildings at chef Peter Woolsey’s sidewalk cafe. Its sibling restaurants, Bistrot La Minette and La Peg, are also open for outdoor dining.
Several of the restaurants in Stephen Starr’s Philadelphia constellation have reopened for outdoor dining, including his Headhouse Square pizzeria, serving wood-fired Neapolitan-style pies and adult slushies. Other Starr options: The Continental in Old City, El Vez, Fette Sau, Frankford Hall, Talula’s Garden, the Love, and Parc.
Brunch (chicken and waffles, egg-topped shrimp and grits, tofu scramble) is the specialty at this Cedar Park spot, but the Inquirer’s food critic sings the praises of the jerk oxtails and buffalo cauliflower, too. It opens for outdoor dining on Baltimore Avenue starting at 10 a.m. this weekend.
This low-key gem in Fairmount is where the neighborhood goes for cold beers, Quizzo, and hearty servings of Ethiopian stews served on spongy injera bread. Tables will be set up on North 28th Street starting Friday night.
Starting Sunday, the shaded patio at this historic stone home turned restaurant in Mount Airy is open for dinner. The seats will be fewer, making it “that much more luxurious,” a staffer said. (Make reservations by phone until Wednesday, when they should be available online, along with additional outdoor seating.) Recent menus include Norwegian salmon with crispy spaetzle, grilled New Zealand lamb chops, and tempura softshell crab with crispy shallots.
"eat" - Google News
June 13, 2020 at 10:10AM
https://ift.tt/2MSk4Dn
Outdoor dining is back in Philly: Here are 10 places to eat al fresco - The Philadelphia Inquirer
"eat" - Google News
https://ift.tt/33WjFpI
https://ift.tt/2VWmZ3q
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Outdoor dining is back in Philly: Here are 10 places to eat al fresco - The Philadelphia Inquirer"
Post a Comment