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Source: https://nypost.com/2020/12/28/new-yorkers-are-fleeing-the-city-to-dine-indoors-in-nj-ct/
COVID-weary NYC diners flee out of state to eat indoors
By Beth Landman
December 28, 2020 | 6:10pm | Updated
For years, Brian Hogan has celebrated his December birthday at the Houston Street restaurant Emilio’s Ballato, where his friends gathered in the inviting space lined with photos and wine bottles. This year, that cozy room, like all others in the city, was off-limits to diners, and rather than take his party onto the street in winter weather, the 56-year-old finance CEO who lives in Midtown decided to seek a warmer venue. He booked a table in Greenwich, Connecticut at the Homestead Inn.
“It was such a great vibe; we felt like we were in someone’s beautiful home,” said Hogan. “The place was decorated for Christmas and the couple next to me at the bar had also traveled from New York.”
Hogan says he is now making a habit of heading to Greenwich for business lunches at places such as L’Escale. “I don’t want to bring clients somewhere they will eat outside and freeze,” he said. “Two or three times this week I got a car, and we made it in about 45 minutes. It keeps my relationships going without having to do Zoom calls. People feel normal and really love it.”
Since indoor dining was shut down in the five boroughs starting Dec. 14, New York City residents have been crossing the border to enjoy a meal or celebrate the holidays in a more sheltered, but still relatively safe, environment. They’re jumping on the PATH to Jersey City or Hoboken — or taking a drive to Long Island, Westchester or Connecticut — to dodge the dining lockdown.
Some, like Natraj Srinivasan, a 35-year-old software engineer who lives in Midtown, are visiting more far-flung satellite locations of their favorite city spots. “I’ve been a regular customer at Brick Lane on the Lower East Side, and now it opened in Jersey,” said Srinivasan, who recently enjoyed his holiday dinner at the Jersey City location of Brick Lane Curry House.
“I don’t think indoor dining is a main cause for the spread of COVID, so I don’t believe it’s necessary to limit more than the 25 or 50% capacity. It’s very hard to eat outside, and it takes me the same time to get to Jersey City as to many places downtown.”...
COVID-weary NYC diners flee out of state to eat indoors
By Beth Landman
December 28, 2020 | 6:10pm | Updated
For years, Brian Hogan has celebrated his December birthday at the Houston Street restaurant Emilio’s Ballato, where his friends gathered in the inviting space lined with photos and wine bottles. This year, that cozy room, like all others in the city, was off-limits to diners, and rather than take his party onto the street in winter weather, the 56-year-old finance CEO who lives in Midtown decided to seek a warmer venue. He booked a table in Greenwich, Connecticut at the Homestead Inn.
“It was such a great vibe; we felt like we were in someone’s beautiful home,” said Hogan. “The place was decorated for Christmas and the couple next to me at the bar had also traveled from New York.”
Hogan says he is now making a habit of heading to Greenwich for business lunches at places such as L’Escale. “I don’t want to bring clients somewhere they will eat outside and freeze,” he said. “Two or three times this week I got a car, and we made it in about 45 minutes. It keeps my relationships going without having to do Zoom calls. People feel normal and really love it.”
Since indoor dining was shut down in the five boroughs starting Dec. 14, New York City residents have been crossing the border to enjoy a meal or celebrate the holidays in a more sheltered, but still relatively safe, environment. They’re jumping on the PATH to Jersey City or Hoboken — or taking a drive to Long Island, Westchester or Connecticut — to dodge the dining lockdown.
Some, like Natraj Srinivasan, a 35-year-old software engineer who lives in Midtown, are visiting more far-flung satellite locations of their favorite city spots. “I’ve been a regular customer at Brick Lane on the Lower East Side, and now it opened in Jersey,” said Srinivasan, who recently enjoyed his holiday dinner at the Jersey City location of Brick Lane Curry House.
“I don’t think indoor dining is a main cause for the spread of COVID, so I don’t believe it’s necessary to limit more than the 25 or 50% capacity. It’s very hard to eat outside, and it takes me the same time to get to Jersey City as to many places downtown.”...