By Gus Saltonstall
The return of the outdoor dining season is almost upon us, and New York City’s Department of Transportation just released a list of all the restaurants in the five boroughs that are set to open either a sidewalk or roadbed seating option this year.
West Side Rag combed through the list to identify all of the Upper West Side eateries that will offer an outdoor dining option in the coming months.
In total, 191 restaurants in the neighborhood will open either a sidewalk or roadbed seating setup this spring.
Starting on April 1, restaurants that have received conditional approval from the city will be able to erect their roadbed dining options. The conditional approval from the city means that these eateries are in the midst of the application process for their roadbed structures, which now have to fit specific guidelines, and have already completed a public hearing.
- You can check out the new regulations for outdoor dining structures in our past coverage — HERE.
Those restaurants opening roadbed dining options still need to get final approval from the Comptroller’s Office, but the DOT has allowed these eateries to open the roadbed seating while this process is ongoing.
The process is less complicated for sidewalk seating, as there are less city guidelines for this option and all restaurants that applied by August 1, 2024, to operate a sidewalk cafe during this outdoor dining season are allowed to open their setups.
Outdoor dining sidewalk seats did not have to come down over the winter in the same way that the roadbed dining options did, but many restaurants took them down during the cold months. There will be an influx of these sidewalk dining options popping back up outside of restaurants starting in April.
In total, there are currently 43 local restaurants with conditional approval for the roadbed dining options, and 148 neighborhood restaurants that applied in time to offer the sidewalk dining option this year. More than a dozen UWS eateries will have both roadbed and sidewalk dining setups.
Here is the complete list of Upper West Side eateries where an outdoor dining option will be available.
Restaurants with Roadway Dining:
- Dive 106: 938 Amsterdam Avenue
- Serafina: 2735 Broadway
- Calaveras: 949 Columbus Avenue
- Daily Provisions: 375 Amsterdam Avenue
- Made in NY Pizza: 421 Amsterdam Avenue
- Amsterdam Ale House: 340 Amsterdam Avenue
- Barney Greengrass: 541 Amsterdam Avenue
- French Roast: 2340 Broadway
- Cotta: 513 Columbus Avenue
- Dagon: 2454 Broadway
- Carmine’s: 2450 Broadway
- 5 Napkin Burger: 2315 Broadway
- Elea: 217 West 85th Street
- E’s Bar: 511 Amsterdam Avenue
- La Sirene: 416 Amsterdam Avenue
- La Pecora Bianca: 359 Columbus Avenue
- Maman: 429 Amsterdam Avenue
- Motorino: 510 Columbus Avenue
- Noi Due: 491 Columbus Avenue
- Nice Matin: 201 West 79th Street
- Celeste: 502 Amsterdam Avenue
- Serafina: 2178 Broadway
- Momoya: 427 Amsterdam Avenue
- Bodrum: 584 Amsterdam Avenue
- The Wolfe: 425 Amsterdam Avenue
- Westville: 2290 Broadway
- Patsy’s Pizzeria: 61 West 74th Street
- Leyla: 108 West 74th Street
- Bin 71: 237 Columbus Avenue
- El Mitote: 208 Columbus Avenue
- Playa Betty’s: 320 Amsterdam Avenue
- Salumeria Rosi: 283 Amsterdam
- Dive 75: 101 West 75th Street
- PJ Clarke’s: 44 West 63rd Street
- Felice: 240 Columbus Avenue
- Hummus Place: 305 Amsterdam Avenue
- Viand Cafe: 2130 Broadway
- Maman Lincoln Square: 152 Columbus Avenue
- Miriam: 300 Amsterdam
- Owl’s Tail: 215 West 75th Street
- Made in NY Pizza: 271 Amsterdam
- Polpette 71: 71 West 71st Street
- Sempre Oggi: 164 West 75th Street
- Zuckers: 273 Columbus Avenue
Restaurants with Sidewalk Dining:
ZIP Code: 10025
- Eli’s Wine Bar: 1012 Amsterdam Avenue
- Lemonde: 2883 Broadway
- Buceo 95: 201 West 95th Street
- MOKA: 2481 Broadway
- Metro Diner: 2641 Broadway
- Osteria Accademia: 646 Amsterdam Avenue
- Malecon Restaurant: 764 Amsterdam Avenue
- Amity Hall: 982 Amsterdam Avenue
- Bosino: 203 West 103rd Street
- Blue Bottle Coffee: 2901 Broadway
- Cafe Du Soleil: 245 West 104th Street
- The Ellington: 2745 Broadway
- Rancho Tequilera: 718 Amsterdam Avenue
- Charlotte Cafe: 2541 Broadway
- Bareburger: 795 Columbus Avenue
- The Hungarian Pastry Shop: 1030 Amsterdam Avenue
- Tom’s Restaurant: 2880 Broadway
- Gennaro: 665 Amsterdam Avenue
- Birch Coffee: 750 Columbus Avenue
- Just Salad: 670 Columbus Avenue
- Dive Bar: 732 Amsterdam Avenue
- Calveras Corner: 936 Amsterdam Avenue
- Marlow Bistro: 1018 Amsterdam Avenue
- Lion’s Head Tavern: 995 Amsterdam Avenue
- Arco Cafe: 886 Amsterdam Avenue
- Pico De Gallo Bar & Kitchen: 768 Amsterdam Avenue
- Little Italy Pizza: 214 West 92nd Street
- Dive 106: 938 Amsterdam Avenue
- Serafina: 2735 Broadway
- Shake Shack: 2957 Broadway
- Smoke: 2751 Broadway
- Kouzan: 685 Amsterdam Avenue
- Talia’s Steakhouse: 668 Amsterdam Avenue
- The Hamilton: 998 Amsterdam Avenue
- The Calaveras: 949 Columbus Avenue
- Broadway Dive: 2662 Broadway
- V & T Restaurant: 1024 Amsterdam
ZIP Code 10024
- Elea: 217 West 85th Street
- Daily Provisions: 375 Amsterdam Avenue
- Made in NY Pizza: 421 Amsterdam Avenue
- The Gin Mill: 442 Amsterdam Avenue
- Fred’s: 476 Amsterdam Avenue
- Cotta: 513 Columbus Avenue
- Good Enough to Eat: 520 Columbus Avenue
- Hi Life Bar & Grill: 477 Amsterdam Avenue
- Lokal: 473 Columbus Avenue
- La Sirene UWS: 416 Amsterdam Avenue
- Amsterdam Ale House: 340 Amsterdam Avenue
- Bella Luna: 574 Columbus Avenue
- Bodega 88: 573 Columbus Avenue
- Nina’s Great Burrito Bar: 522 Columbus Avenue
- Barney Greengrass: 541 Amsterdam Avenue
- Waffles & Dinges: 392 Columbus Avenue
- Orwashers: 440 Amsterdam Avenue
- Alachi Masala: 488 Amsterdam Avenue
- Bluestone Lane: 417 Amsterdam Avenue
- Caledonia: 424 Amsterdam Avenue
- French Roast: 2340 Broadway
- Sarabeth’s: 423 Amsterdam Avenue
- Tessa: 349 Amsterdam Avenue
- Carmine’s: 2450 Broadway
- Chama Mama: 373 Amsterdam Avenue
- Cilantro: 485 Columbus Avenue
- Dagon: 2454 Broadway
- Chirping Chicken: 355 Amsterdam Avenue
- 5 Napkin Burger: 2315 Broadway
- E’s Bar: 511 Amsterdam Avenue
- The Viand Diner: 517 Columbus Avenue
- Gazala’s: 447 Amsterdam Avenue
- The Dead Poet: 450 Amsterdam Avenue
- Vin Sur Vingt: 66 West 84th Street
- Gari Columbus: 370 Columbus Avenue
- Tarallucci E Vino: 475 Columbus Avenue
- Joe Coffee: 514 Columbus Avenue
- Jin Ramen UWS: 462 Amsterdam Avenue
- Tasca: 505 Columbus Avenue
- City Diner: 2441 Broadway
- Gelateria Gentile: 498 Amsterdam avenue
- Lenwich: 469 Columbus Avenue
- The Hoptimist: 422 Amsterdam Avenue
- La Pecora Bianca: 359 Columbus Avenue
- Motorino: 510 Columbus Avenue
- Le Pain Quotidien: 2161 Broadway
- Jacob’s Pickles: 509 Amsterdam Avenue
- Noi Due Cafe: 491 Columbus Avenue
- Cafe Eighty Two: 2282 Broadway
- Peacefood: 460 Amsterdam Avenue
- Blondie’s: 212 West 79th Street
- Plantshed: 555 Columbus Avenue
- Nice Matin: 201 West 79th Street
- RedFarm: 2170 Broadway
- Mido Sushi Restaurant: 612 Amsterdam Avenue
- Serafina: 2178 Broadway
- Tacombi: 377 Amsterdam Avenue
- Momoya: 427 Amsterdam Avenue
- Bodrum Mediterranean: 584 Amsterdam Avenue
- The Consulate: 519 Columbus Avenue
- The Granola Bar: 551 Amsterdam Avenue
- Maison Pickle: 2309 Broadway
- The Wolfe: 425 Amsterdam Avenue
- Jake’s Dilemma: 430 Amsterdam Avenue
- Tiki Chick: 517 Amsterdam Avenue
- Crave Fish Bar: 428 Amsterdam Avenue
- Viva La Crepe: 523 Columbus Avenue
- Bareburger: 2233 Broadway
- Westville: 2290 Broadway
ZIP Code 10023
- Old John’s Diner: 148 West 67th Street
- Asset: 329 Columbus Avenue
- Bar Boulud: 1900 Broadway
- Bin 71: 237 Columbus Avenue
- Harvest Kitchen: 269 Columbus Avenue
- Le Pain Quotidien: 60 West 65th Street
- Leyla: 108 West 74th Street
- El Mitote: 208 Columbus Avenue
- Blue Bottle Coffee: 279 Amsterdam Avenue
- Bondi Sushi Bar: 2052 Broadway
- Le Botaniste: 156 Columbus Avenue
- Playa Betty’s: 320 Amsterdam Avenue
- Ella Kitchen and Bar: 249 Columbus Avenue
- Lilly’s: 50 West 72nd Street
- Salumeria Rosi: 283 Amsterdam Avenue
- Rosetta Bakery: 1928 Broadway
- Shakespeare & Co.: 2020 Broadway
- Emmy Squared Pizza: 200 West 60th Street
- Felice: 240 Columbus Avenue
- Cafe Fiorella: 1900 Broadway
- Pomodoro Ristorante: 229 Columbus Avenue
- The Leopard at Des Artistes: 1 West 67th Street
- Miriam: 300 Amsterdam Avenue
- Zizi Wine Bar: 2012 Broadway
- Joe Coffee: 187 Columbus Avenue
- Joe Coffee: 2058 Broadway
- Viand Cafe: 2130 Broadway
- Lenwich: 302 Columbus Avenue
- Polpette 71: 71 West 71st Street
- The Owl’s Tail: 215 West 75th Street
- Pappardella: 316 Columbus Avenue
- La Boite En Bois: 75 West 68th Street
- Sala Thai: 307 Amsterdam Avenue
- Little Italy Pizza: 2047 Broadway
- Cafe Luxembourg: 200 West 70th Street
- Tap NYC: 267 Columbus Avenue
- Tenzan: 285 Columbus Avenue
- The Migrant Kitchen: 157 Columbus Avenue
- The Smith: 1900 Broadway
- Viva La Crepe: 189 Columbus Avenue
- Canto UWS: 2014 Broadway
- Zucker’s Bagels and Smoked Fish: 273 Columbus Avenue
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so does this mean the places that just took down their outdoor eating sheds can now rebuild them?
No they cannot use the old shanty type sheds. They have different guidelines. But to all the outdoor dining supporters who complain, this is still a great majority of the UWS restaurants that offered outdoor dining that are still continuing to do so. I really do not get the kvetching. They did not get what we wanted and nor did I which is to have them gone completely.
The only time people were asked about outdoor dining, they supported it 84% to 16%. I don’t think that “splitting it down the middle” is the right or fair solution to the issue when it is supported by such a large majority. https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2021/11/22/the-people-have-spoken-dot-study-reveals-vast-support-for-outdoor-dining
“The DOT’s survey solicited responses from 905 participants across each of the boroughs, selecting only people who had previously completed an earlier mobility survey in 2019. Of the 905 respondents, 167 were from Manhattan, according to the survey data, which is also recorded in the city’s Open Data portal.”
Also, this survey was conducted in October 2020, while residents were still reeling from Covid shutdowns and fear of enclosed spaces. In a city of millions, that’s not quite the resounding support it attempts to lead one to believe.
A study from peak covid 2021 just means that if the option is eat indoors where it’s risky or outdoors in a shanty, the second choice is the better one.
2025 is a different landscape literally. Most people are happy to eat inside After dealing with the extra noise, rats and crowds that may have been overlooked when there were no other options I bet many people who said yes then are firm no’s now.
No, actually. I have loved eating out of doors my entire life. It’s too noisy inside most restaurants, and I never see any rats except in the subway. As for parking, the less cars in the City, the better.
You cannot slice it both ways, where people complain about having to spend too much money on transit outside Manhattan, while asking for less space for cars. It sounds like you want Manhattan for yourselves. Sure the subways serve 4 boroughs, but Manhattanites hate having to travel outside gentrified NYC and what will happen in practice is a segregated city.
It just seems wild to me that the anti-shed people can completely dismiss this because they’ve decided it’s out of date and then assert that people want the sheds gone based on zero evidence. An old poll is better than no poll at all! There has never seen a single piece of evidence from any point in time that the dining sheds are anything but overwhelmingly popular.
The number of people sitting in streetbed sheds is outnumbered by those who walk the streets and would rather experience Manhattan’s streetscapes without the obstructions. The streets should not be filled with structures, especially when restaurants’ interior spaces are empty, and street seating becomes their primary eating space.
Any poll is better than no poll at all? Urbanists sound desperate.
The best evidence is that the dining sheds are being heavily used! Use your eyes Newbie
How much space is unused inside?
Many of the ones I passed by are were nit being used much or at all. But even if they were there are still the issues of are they good for the neighborhood and the inequity that restaurants are bring given more concessions that other equal valued businesses.
Today I walked by a restaurant that previously had roadway dining and now will not. The space was being used as free parking for a blacked out Cybertruck with Connecticut plates instead.
There are also homeless people who sleep in them and vagrants having sex in them. I observed this.
The Streetsblog audience is highly biased and self-selecting.
I retract that, it’s DOT study, which while I still don’t completely trust is not under the control of Streetsblog. My posting game has been off lately!
The poll was not taken by Streetsblog and was not of the Streetsblog readership – it was a survey taken by the City of a representative sample of residents. https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/2020_cms_covid_october_summary_report.pdf Much more democratic and representative than the self-selecting people who show up at CB7 meetings!
2020 during Covid.
Also many people actually unaware of the survey.
So basically we are losing side walks as well as parking again.
I have no problem with sidewalk dining as long as they leave plenty of room for pedestrians. but those roadway ones are probably going to be a blight, even with the new regulations. They generally block lanes for either driving or parking and that makes delivery trucks just push even further into the flow of traffic slowing down what congestion pricing has made better. The vermin that could be seen nightly was the thing that made me never eat in one after Covid had mostly past making dining indoors a better choice. Elea on 85th street was one of the worst.
Even in Paris, where outdoor dining is more of a joy, do you sit in the roadway in a shed.
I’m sorry to see places like Jacob’s Pickles on this list. Their sidewalk seating has always exceeded the allowed space. Its supposed to be in front of your property. They have literally taken the entire block including in front of a school playground. Why do we trust them to abide by the rules this time?
They are moving to Columbus and 92 with a huge dining patio – I guess by summer?
Where they will have a huge space outdoors as well as indoors. They will probably apply for more seating anyway. They are just not good neighbors.
If they need that much space, there is ample vacant retail space for them to rent out to open a second UWS location. Same goes for other stores. Now that all the weed stores are being shut down, UWS commercial retail space values are going down. Commercial spaces where weed shops were paying $15k a month in rent are now going for $7k or $8k.
I’m glad to see that some roadway dining will be coming back especially for favs like Mitote that are always very full. I’m lost as to why a firm roof is not allowed in the new guidelines, seems it just ruins the appeal if any rain.
If you click through the roadbed guidelines, you’ll see that umbrellas and awnings are allowed, within certain parameters. So though diners won’t be protected during a downpour, the set-ups will be shaded and will probably stay dry during a light shower. The difficulty for a restaurant in managing these spaces won’t be much harder than running a sidewalk dining area.
These are supposed to be temporary structure sallowing restaurants to have a little more space. There’s no reason for restaurants to get more permanent all weather space when other business types don’t. They should be thrilled to get any concessions.
They really should not be getting anything at all.
Why? A lot of us feel very differently, and they are local businesses.
Pretty much urbanists feel differently. A lot of people fault outdoor dining for the increase in rats as they live under these sheds. Then you want to containerize garbage to try to contain the mess already made when it will only be made worse. This is not about supporting local business or a better environment, this is a full on culture war.
Why do restaurants get sidewalk dining and street dining?
Incredible the City does everything for the restaurant sector – but the City has done zero for retail and small shops suffering from e-commerce, high rent, shoplifting etc.
What do you want them to do about e-commerce? That’s like being angry at cars in the 1900’s because you’re a wagon salesman.
Claire,
Seems to me unfair that the City has helped only restaurants.
And why not?! Outdoor cafes have been in existence for decades. Now Some (by roadside will be enclosed) That’s All.
Christina,
Prior to Covid, NYC had sidewalk cafe seating.
Due to Covid, NYC added street seating – free space for restaurants.
Some restaurants got to have both sidewalk and street seating.
However restaurants near bus stops or hydrants can’t have street seating .
Why are restaurants allowed to take public space? It’s tax season. Can a CPA just set up shop in a parking space? Can Target bring all the stuff they have in suburban Targets and sell it in the parking lane?
All of those seem like a better use for that space than parking for cars. Would love to see H&R Block open a “cafe” with coffee and help people with their taxes.
To be clear, I didn’t advocate for parking spaces. I just don’t understand why restaurants get this perk and no other business doesm
I’d like to get a haircut in the street like they do in SE Asia.
It’s ironic that car owners can’t perform repairs in the street where cars belong, but restaurants get such beneficial accommodations to operate their businesses in the streetbeds.
Why isn’t NYCDOT allowing gas stations on the street, Manhattan has lost a lot of gas stations over the years.
I love dining out of doors. It’s a delightful, cosmopolitan experience.
More like a dirty, polluted and usually unsightly one, but to each their own.
Yes for the gentry and tourists who want a unique experience, it gets old quick. It got old once masks started coming off people.
No it’s not, it’s like a shanty in a 3rd world country. Disgusting waste of space.
Oh no! Santa Fe isn’t on this list. I want to drink my margaritas outside!
They have two tables outside night now…
There are two parks to drink outside at.
Does anybody know — legally — how much free space are we supposed to have on sidewalks for pedestrians who like to use sidewalks for their original purpose — walking — to get from place to place. I wish someone would enforce such rule/law.
8 Feet. If you see less report it to 311.
It looks like you forgot The Mermaid Inn. They had their brand new Enclosures set out yesterday in anticipation of Saturday’s warm weather.
Love to see it, especially the roadbed sheds! Much better to have 4 tables of people dining in a spot than one B&T’s car.
4 tables of people who could and would dine inside! It is space for one car that is making trips that urbanists complain cost too much money for the MTA and other agencies to serve.
It has been so nice to finally have our NYC streets back, after 4.5 years! The hospitality industry took advantage of an emergency situation, courting Adams to extended well beyond emergency timeline. Further, there has been nothing “vibrant” about these sheds, as the industry states over and over again to promote their program. Bottom line, permanent dining puts a strain on Department of Transportation [DOT], who is already overburdened. We need DOT for pertinent tasks and emergency operations, not to oversee private dining. Eating on busy NYC streets is neither a safe nor healthy option, and a continual nuisance to neighbors with zero enforcement. Roadside dining should not be a permanent program. For those on the other side of the fence, who enjoy eating on the roadway, keep in mind you are not invincible and the probability of being sweep away while sipping your cocktail is real. Our roads were built for transportation not dining tables and chairs.
Your first sentence says it all. It has been great to have our streets back this winter. I don’t drive but I do walk and the openness of the view without the sheds has been fantastic.
The DOT, along with many other City agencies, needs to be audited by a Doge-like entity.
Trump needs to cut federal student aid to all urban planning programs. Let Mark Gorton spend his millions giving scholarships to urban planning programs.
Old John’s roadside structure remained intact all winter and likely will not be taken down now and rebuilt to meet the new guidelines. Maybe it was more economical for them to pay a fine than adhere to the law since they generally have lines to get in. That is, if they were actually fined.
Old John’s roadside dining was taken down on Jan 2nd. I haven’t been by ti see if they are putting up a new one.
This is something that should have community input. To the best of my knowledge, this was not discussed on the community board and even if it was, it was not publicized that this was being discussed.
It is not like the community board would disapprove of this. Andrew Rigie, who runs the restaurant trade association is on CB7,
Huge conflict of interest! Speaks volumes of the elected’s responsible for selecting our board.
Tired of trying to get a walk in, forced to watch people eat eat eat and dogs poop poop poop and pee. Also I don’t appreciate being ‘entertainment’ for diners. Would love to have a walk in privacy.
Massapequa is great for that.
Claire,
With respect…..there are native New Yorkers who are not fond of the street dining situation.
Actually it may be the visitors and transplants from Massapequa who are the street dining fans….
Maybe Massapequa is too Republican and has such a toxic culture? A lot of liberals oppose what the bike lobby desires.
Thank you WSR! Great and useful reportage.
Yay!! Spring is almost here!!
All the anti outdoor dining in the “roadbed” are Paid shills by uber eats and DoorDash. Believe me, I know. There is no other reason to oppose restaurants from making more money for dining in.
You have no way of knowing that and are just throwing a ridiculous hypothetical into the discussion. Back up that claim if you want others to subscribe to your view.
I’m definitely not such a shill and oppose roadbed dining for several reasons. I’m opposed to the trash associated with them, the altered haphazard streetscapes, and the overreach by restaurant owners who abused the privilege during the Covid emergency and years after that. Not only are restaurants unfairly favored but among the restaurants, there are some which cannot have roadbed dining due to turn lanes, hydrants, bus shelters, Citibike stations., etc. That isn’t fair to them and their landlords who see their property values decline because restaurants won’t lease such spaces.
It probably has more to do with entitled drivers insisting on their right to park their cars for free on public streets. Never mind that only a small minority of NYC own cars & outdoor dining is great for local restaurants. Driver convenience trumps all…
Hi,
Actual third generation New Yorker here.
My family never orders via Uber Eats or DoorDash.
Limited sidewalk seating is ok – but we are definitely against street seating.
Also not ok for only restaurants to get this opportunity – no other businesses get the benefit
I’m strongly opposed to granting roadbed dining permits to restaurants that attempt to recoup their costs by tacking on credit card surcharges. Restaurants that want to increase their revenues should charge outdoor dining customers a fee or offer inside dining for no surcharge. If outdoor seating is preferred by customers, they should pay for more for it like people pay for better seats at a Broadway show, sports game, concert, or airline. One should pay for the experience they get or accept the default seating.
Most dangerous spot was playa Betty’s roadway shed – ridiculous to see that approved again. Clearly DOT / CB do not care one iota about safety.
We allow too much of the public trust, meaning our public land to be used as roadways for parked cars and for automobiles in transit. We can barely have a sidewalk Cafe because the majority of the land is used for cars that is what must come to an end that is the injustice. Spread the word don’t keep it to yourself.
Actually many restaurant owners and managers drive in and park. They transport supplies, have long hours and go home late at night.