A Table Outside? More Diners Say No Way Restaurants say heat

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A Table Outside? More Diners Say No Way

Restaurants say heat waves, smoke have hurt their outdoor dining business

Stretches of severely high temperatures across the U.S. are taking a toll on restaurants.



Customers are avoiding patios during heat waves, cutting into a key source of summertime sales for many restaurants, owners said. Visits in July and August declined from earlier in the year, industry data showed, with chains including Chuy’s and Cheesecake Factory reporting a decline in outdoor business this summer.



“No one’s sitting out in the patio at 100 degrees,” Steve Hislop, chief executive of Texas-based Chuy’s, said during an Aug. 3 earnings call.



Utility expenses are also rising as restaurants run air conditioning at full blast for long stretches of time, operators and industry groups said.

www.wsj.com/articles/a-table-outside-more-diners-say-no-way-41d098aa?mod=wknd_pos1

[Rusty]

Not in Connecticut. Outdoor dining is the " in" thing

[deyana]

I can see how really hot weather would affect outdoor dinning. I mean who wants to sit outside just to swelter?

Air conditioning is becoming more common as the summers just keep on getting hotter.

It's a shame really because it can be fun to eat outside. Many European restaurants have outside seating, or used to have. Paris is big on it for instance.

[Springschick]

We love eating al fresco, and if it is pleasant out, will do it every time. But when it is hot and having to sit in the intense, blazing sun, we will choose inside dining.

Come evening time, outside is usually perfect.

[Deleted]

We had lunch outside to day. Was a bit humid and rainy but was nice.

[sauerkraut]

Eating out side is great and for some reason food seems to taste better outside.