It’s a constant battle to keep the wind from blowing menus and napkins away sometimes
Bugs: some quite persistent, like flies and gnats
It’s becoming increasingly common for people to bring poorly-adjusted pets
Parents give their kids a wider berth to be annoying because it’s outside
In the city, cars and pedestrians are constantly parading by the table, sometimes quite close
Service is often worse: out of sight, out of mind
Someone in the party usually ends up roasting in the sun or facing into it
Sometimes the stars align and it’s a nice experience to dine outdoors, but more often than not, I regret it.
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You need a better location, that’s all.
You need to go to better places, my dude
It all depends on the weather, but when I hit the sweet spot of temperature and breeze I enjoy it a lot.
Sounds like you don’t like eating outside.
I’ve seen it as you described before. I don’t go back to those places. A lot of outdoor venues are nice near me.
Maybe look at the positives of the experience rather than hyper-focusing on the negatives?
Congrats the actual unpopular opinion, but, just leave outside dining for those of us who enjoy it and either go somewhere else or dine inside.
I agree in part, if you are trying to have a food centered experience at the establishment, usually not so great. If you are there more for drinks they are often superior to the inside experience
Eat outside, eat inside, in America it’s a free country so you can actually pick.
Generally I agree but when you hit it right, it is great.
What I will mention is most cities are lacking in windbreak infrastructure. In the country, you have all these trees and such that slow down the gusts of wind, which leads to a calmer environment. So a country side establishment can have a fairly calm atmosphere.
In a city, you don’t have near as much surface area slowing down the winds, so gusts are usually higher and stronger. Are these restaurants that you’ve been to surrounded by a lot of trees or is it parking lots?
For 50 years I worked construction and had to eat lunch outside. Most times sitting on a pile of lumber or stone.
I’m retired now and don’t eat outside.
Seafood is best eaten outside. Something about it. But when it come to breaking down some crabs that I will only eat outside
I am absolutely never choosing to dine outside as an option.
I agree with you. In Mississippi where I am, outdoor dining is miserable all year long. There are no good places.
Yeah its actually not that fun. Its either the sun is in your face or its loud and windy. I think the idea of it is fun not in reality.
I agree, I will still choose the outdoor seating on the breezy beach though.
In Europe, it’s fabulous.
I agree, especially if it’s near a body of water, which it usually is. Seagulls, mayflies, abrupt winds, the sun, not for me. Put me inside with the AC blastin. However, eating outside when it’s cold outside is excellent. One of my favorite things to do on New Year’s Eve is grill up burgers and dogs, eat a couple outside in the snow, it’s pretty rad.
Near me most outdoor dining spaces are enclosed to some degree (with fences to keep out pedestrians and cars and a roof, awning, or large umbrellas to block out the sun) and have as many tables as the inside of the restaurant so the division of labor with servers is pretty equal. Most don’t allow pets, only service animals. Sure, when the weather’s shitty there’s nothing to be done about that, but it’s a pretty nice experience as long as the temperature is comfortable. I can’t recall going to too many restaurants where the sun/passing people/service were a big deal. I think your area may just not cater to outdoor dining.
Agreed.
In Florida, so many restaurants have outdoor seating over the water to be fancy and it makes so sense at all because it’s usually so scorching hot you could probably cook your meal on the parking lot pavement. Not to mention flies, birds swooping down to steal your food and the wind picking it up.
This one I agree with. If I wanted a picnic I would fuck off into the woods haha
Oh my God. Thank you. Yeah! It sucks, less service cold plates, spiders and other bugs. Why in God’s name chose to dine outdoors? When is that ever a good idea.
Agreed. Roasting in the sun is the worst for me.
I agree. But my biggest issue with outdoor dining is that the lawn chairs and tables they use are far more uncomfortable and/or wobbly than the ones they have inside for some reason.