Clinton Hill Eatery Named Among Best Outdoor Dining Setups In BK

FORT GREENE, BROOKLYN — Balmy spring days are around the corner, and so is the return of outdoor-dining-by-choice weather (though it might not be a bad idea anyways).

Sidewalk cafes and patio seating popped up as pandemic-necessities, but some restaurants have outdoor dining options that are actually worthwhile in their own right — including the al fresco set up at Locanda Vini & Olii, according to Eater editors.

In a new roundup of the best outdoor dinning options in Brooklyn, editors named the Clinton Hill Italian eatery, located on the corner of Gates Avenue and Cambridge Place, as a spot that's invested in its al fresco set up.

The outdoor dining options span both sides of the corner restaurant, editors explain, pointing to a partially covered outdoor structure on one street and open-air tables (with heaters, if necessary), on the other.

As far as food, editors recommend a "plate of lasagna and a spritz."

The future of outdoor dining remains up in the air, though, as editors note. A judge recently ruled that the Open Restaurants program, an emergency initiative during the pandemic that became permanent last month when the City Council approved an amendment to the zoning code, needs further study before it is set in stone.

Multiple studies have shown widespread support for the program (who are behind the lawsuit), but a subset of outspoken residents say that the proliferation of dining sheds has clogged sidewalks, created noise problems, and led to an increase in trash and rats.

Read the full article, 'Where to Dine Outdoors in Brooklyn,' here.

Related Article: NYC's Permanent Outdoor Dining Hits Snag After Judge's Ruling