Sidewalk Cafes Are the Latest Target of New York's Outdoor Dining Crackdown

Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights, known for its variety of dining options, recently faced a setback. The Grand Canyon Restaurant had to remove its outdoor tables after an inspector from the Department of Transportation visited the establishment. The owner had previously set up an outdoor dining shed during the pandemic but had since switched to a few tables on the sidewalk. Initially, the inspector allowed the seating under the restaurant’s awning, but a subsequent inspector fined the restaurant $500 for the remaining tables.