Outdoor Dining or seating is now key to survival for many restaurants, bars, eateries and cafes in Center City Philadelphia. I want to show how the restaurant industry is adapting in a series of videos (Click on the link below for Part 2. The timestamps are below as well).
Part 2:
Growing up I had a couple of opportunities to visit Europe, particularly Italy. You cannot beat sitting at the Piazza del Campo in Siena, drinking an unaffordable latte and enjoying the views. I used to wonder why can’t Philly be like that with plenty of cafe’s and pedestrian only zones.
Center City has changed significantly in the past twenty years. It has become very cleaner, more developed and hipper. There are many restaurants that offer outdoor seating and high end shopping everywhere. If you missed the restaurant week, you have Oktoberfest!!
But changes in Center City does not mean Philly has improved. Unfortunately Philadelphia remains one of the poorest cities in America. About 20 to 25% of adults in Philadelphia cannot read. Violence, homelessness and drug addiction remains a major problem. I have lived in Germantown, East Falls and Roxborough neighborhoods. I know what Philadelphia is like.
If you are in the restaurant business, outdoor seating now is key to your survival (your only change otherwise is takeout). I have seen far too many restaurants and bars in my neighborhood shut their doors in the past eight months. That is very sad.
The outdoor dinning that you see now is not the typical outdoor dinning that we are used to seeing before. Restaurants and bars have rented the parking spaces near them and converted them into “indoor seating but outside”! While you are having an expensive steak dinner, minivans, SUV’s and SEPTA busses are speeding by inches away from you!!
Some of the restaurants are very creative. Rouge has fire pits for every group. Via Locusta has seating where the décor matches the décor of the rest of the restaurant. a.kitchen has a modern canopy and fancy lighting. The award for the most intimate setting goes to Butcher and Singer (love the soft lighting). Bar Bombón has the most edgy seating (Part 2 of the video). It is on an alley way with lots of dumpsters near it!
The video begins with a bit of fall colors in Rittenhouse Square.
Music:
Faded Silhouette – Helmut Schenker
Gear:
Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M1 MARK III.
Lens: Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO.
Center City Philadelphia: 0:00:42
Parc: 0:01:40
Via Locusta: 0:02:00
Tequilas Restaurant / Bar: 0:02:33
Bluestone Lane Rittenhouse Café: 0:02:54
Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia: 0:03:04
Readings by Maria: 0:03:28
Pizzeria Vetri: 0:03:42
Warwick Hotel Rittenhouse Square: 0:03:53
Saint Mark’s Church: 0:04:49
Bellini Grill: 0:05:00
Schlesinger’s: 0:05:29
Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection: 0:05:38
Misconduct Tavern: 0:05:47
Jose Pistola’s: 0:05:57
Fado Irish Pub: 0:06:16
Gold Club: 0:06:28
Good Dog Bar: 0:06:49
Max Brenner – Philadelphia: 0:07:00
Butcher and Singer: 0:07:13
Oyster House: 0:07:32
Su Xing House: 0:07:34
Harp & Crown: 0:07:43