Will you be dining outside this spring?
I'll take my wine & fries on the sidewalk please.
As the weather warms up eating outside becomes more of a possibility. I am tackling my personal pros and cons list of taking our plates outdoors. I’ve worked at a couple restaurants with outdoor dining options so I added in a front of house (FOH) perspective as well.
Pro - sidewalk scanning
Am I a little too close to the street? Potentially. But how else am I meant to scratch my people-watching itch!? Sure there is a possibility of your boss, neighbor, or ex walking by but the ability to watch the movement of the community far outweighs the risk imo.
FOH: dog loving midway through your dinner rush. Anxiety is temporarily diminished.
Con - sidewalk smells & steps
Sometimes we are a little too exposed to the elements. I’m not talking about the rain potential or humidity that makes hair styling impossible. I am talking about the smells of the street. I have a bit of a sensitive nose, especially when eating. If I catch a whiff of an artificial grape smelling vape or the garbage truck rolling by… chewing will come to a halt.
FOH : we are literally playing Frogger with the pedestrians.
Pro - increased availability
Willingness to sit outside makes it so much easier to get a reservation. Logging onto that sceney restaurant’s Resy and seeing only outdoor options still feels liberating because at least you’re getting in.
FOH : more seats simply means more money.
Pro - energy
Undeniably when the sun is out life is suddenly worth living. Add a glass of offensively funky orange and some hors d'oeuvres and we are untouchable.
FOH : Most recently I worked at a wine bar in Boston and the added 5 tables outside meant nearly double the covers for us gals. The tables outside always seemed a little bit more relaxed, and frankly more likely to drink. (Again, more rent money to bring home). I truly made some great connections with guests when serving outside.
Con - furniture fun
If you’re looking for comfy seating it simply won’t be happening outside. I mean I personally think that is part of the charm to eating outside, but I suppose objectively the metal fold-up chair isn’t enhancing your dining experience.
FOH : locking up / breaking down outdoor seating… Sometimes can be a good distraction but ultimately I am breaking a sweat and getting my fingers jammed on some warm summer nights.
Con - distance from the action
You don’t get an inside look at the kitchen and dining room flow. I am NOSEY when it comes to dining out. Exposed kitchens are a gift to me, dinner and a show. Eating outside obviously prevents this from occurring.
FOH : remembering orders on your way in to the POS has some serious risk for error. The potential you get stopped midway to the computer and asked for ketchup is HIGH… and just like that you’re struggling to remember table 52’s order.
Pro - It’s hot out
That spring solstice allows you to finally switch your Nuuly to 80% dresses and flex your sunglass collection. What better place than at your favorite neighborhood bar?
FOH : you don’t miss out on the good weather. Some days I would work my day job and then head straight to the restaurant or bar after. If it was a nice day out I would request to work outside just for a dose of fresh air.
Con - It’s hot out
All sorts of restaurants have outdoor dining, but unfortunately there are draw backs to the culinary experience when it’s hot out. You can’t necessarily savor your chilled crisp white or gelato slowly. Outdoor dining isn’t for fine dining really. You need a spectrum of dining experiences anyways.
FOH : Knowing that you have another portion of your shift inside after sweating your a** off outside can be a humbling experience. I usually felt invigorated with my ability to run around, but there is the inevitable hit of the post-service-wall.
Ultimately I am PRO eating outside in the spring and summer. Some of my favorite dining experiences have been set outside and I do fall victim to SAD. As mentioned, I worked at a Boston wine bar which is called Gray’s Hall (pictured a couple times in this article). If you are in the Boston area you absolutely must visit this gem. As a server and a customer the food, wine, and atmosphere are unmatched. Go there ASAP whether planning to sit inside or out!
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