New York City is turning into outdoor dining central, with streets and parking spaces being taken over with tables and chairs in all boroughs.
And now, even Rockefeller Center plaza is turning into a lovely, spaced-out outdoor dining patio!
According to photographer Rommel Tan, who caught some photos of the new setup on Instagram (see below), the seating is located right where the famous ice rink usually is, and initially opened Thursday, July 9. There are many round tables with benches and umbrellas set up, fitting up to 68 diners. They’re right next to the giant Prometheus statue, which is now outfitted with its own mask!
This same space used to serve as the Rock Center Cafe’s Summer Garden & Bar, but it closed in 2019, along with The Sea Grill. The large tables with umbrellas are brand new and all spaced six feet apart. While you could previously bring takeout to the tables, now it will be the home of two lovely French dining experiences!
Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson’s Frenchette will take over the space on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and Ignacio Mattos’ Estela will serve food on Fridays and Saturdays. The experience will begin Thursday, September 3.
Each restaurant has curated a limited-edition, picnic-style menu of snacks, small plates, and seafood alongside their signature beverage programs. And yes, picnic-style means charming picnic baskets, filled with cheese, crackers, charcuterie, salads and even fresh seafood towers.
No walk-ins will be taken, so be sure to make a reservation here.
Also in the same vicinity, the City Winery pop-up and Del Frisco’s Grille are also both open for outdoor dining.
See also: Rockefeller Center Is Getting An Upgraded Redesign
featured image source: Instagram / @thenewnewyorkers