Say goodbye to the European café vibe New York diners enjoyed this summer. One big gust of wind and that flower-strewn restaurant awning won’t be much better than an umbrella in a hurricane.
But enterprising operators, from top toques to neighborhood eateries, have a solution to extend the life of their street-side tables that goes well beyond heaters and overhangs. They’re constructing elaborate outdoor-dining shelters.
Are these igloos any better than simply dining indoors — where capacity remains capped at 25 percent? Yes, according to the experts.
“An enclosed outdoor area has better air exchange than indoors, so the chance of viral particles getting diluted is greater,’’ Dr. Waleed Javaid, director of infection prevention and control at Mount Sinai Downtown, told The Post.
Besides, wary New Yorkers simply won’t take the risk of dining indoors as COVID-19 cases surge — restaurants are among the 10 percent of public spots that appear to account for 80 percent of coronavirus infections, according to research published in the journal Nature on Tuesday.
“Nobody wants to eat inside,’’ lamented Marco Fregonese, the chef-owner of Gramercy Park restaurant Novitá, one of the first to set up an outdoor-dining shelter.
From whimsical greenhouses to courtyard bubbles, here are a few of the most alluring, creative and downright beautiful al fresco dining pods in the city, and the measures they’re taking to promote safety.
Fine dining in a greenhouse
Leave it to prolific chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten to cook up whimsical greenhouses, complete with wooden flooring, rugs, banquettes, throw pillows, music and flattering lighting. His heated and fully sanitized transparent structures seat four to eight people at his French flagship Jean-Georges on Central Park and downtown at his seafood-focused restaurant, the Fulton, on Pier 17 in the Seaport District, starting this weekend. “They are meant to be fully functional in the snow,” Lois Freedman, president of Jean Georges Management said. “We are creating a winter wonderland.”
Jean-Georges, 1 Central Park West; 212-299-3900, Jean-GeorgesRestaurant.com
The Fulton, 89 South St., Seaport District; 212-838-1200, TheFulton.NYC
Luxurious al fresco cabanas
Chic cabanas seat up to four at Upper East Side fine-dining mecca Daniel. Made of wood with two inches of insulation and covered with striped fabric from luxe textile company Perennials, these gently elevated shelters feature a Plexiglas window and a thick curtain that can be opened for extra ventilation. “It’s a production!’’ said chef Daniel Boulud. “It’s very private but the window allows you to see the street and other people, so you don’t feel boxed in.”
60 East 65th St., Upper East Side; 212-288-0033, DanielNYC.com
Sweet sidewalk cottages
Just off Gramercy Park, a row of 12 transparent houses are decorated with flowers and faux grass floors for customers of 26-year-old Italian restaurant Novitá. The mini cottages seat four to eight and are sanitized with hospital-grade UV light sanitizers. “We got the idea from Amsterdam, where they have little dining greenhouses in the summer,” said Fregonese. “Each structure has a door and window, so we liked that they had more circulation of air.”
102 East 22nd St., Gramercy Park; 212-677-2222, NovitaNYC.com
Trendy poolside tent
Photos of surfers hitting the waves in the snow sets the mood at new beach resort the Rockaway Hotel and its large poolside dining tent. Guests enjoy overhead electric heaters, fur throws on chairs and cozy blankets — all washed after each use. Air purifiers throughout amp up the safety factor, while music on weekends adds to the lively vibe. “It’s our surfing version of après ski,” hotel partner Jon Krasner said.
108-10 Rockaway Beach Drive, Rockaway Beach; 718-474-1216, TheRockawayHotel.com
Heated rooms with a view
Chef Brian Kim has constructed minimalist outdoor rooms with three semi-transparent polycarbonate walls and a curtained fourth wall for privacy and comfort at his downtown Korean hotspot Oiji. To up the ambiance, he’s added potted plants, hanging light fixtures and 3,000-watt heaters. Service bells signal when guests need attention, so staffers don’t have to hover outside in the cold. “There is zero air circulation between tables,” said Kim.
119 First Ave., East Village; 646-767-9050, OijiNYC.com
See-and-be-seen bubbles
Recessed in a courtyard, Upper West side Italian favorite Lucciola has constructed three heated, water- and wind-resistant bubbles that seat two to eight. Two flaps remain open for better air circulation, and to increase safety, each bubble is only used for one party nightly, so guests are encouraged to reserve ahead. “People on the street are fascinated with the bubbles,” said chef Michele Casadei Massari. “They stop and look at them as if they are live holiday windows.”
621 Amsterdam Ave., Upper West Side; 347-536-1335, LucciolaNYC.com