After being granted permission by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to open for outdoor dining on Wednesday, South Fork restaurants with existing outdoor spaces began welcoming guests, and those without were working with town and village governments to set up temporary open-air outposts.
According to the state's guidelines, a restaurant's outdoor tables must be spaced six feet apart, staff must wear face coverings, and customers must wear them when not seated. A party of 10 is the maximum allowed per table, and no intermingling is permitted. "Individuals seated at the same table must be members of the same party, but may be from different households," the guidelines say.
The 1770 House in East Hampton has begun offering dinner on its garden patio, and the social distancing directive has only enhanced the ambience, said Carol Covell, the general manager. "The 1770 House has never been a close quarters restaurant, but now the tables are even more generously spaced around the patio fountain or on our beautifully landscaped property," she said. Upon arrival, "the first major change guests will see is the personal protective equipment to keep everyone safe and healthy."
The Bridgehampton Inn, which is also open for dinner, is making the most of its big backyard. "I'm so fortunate because I have a lot of space, and it's quiet and not near the road," said Sybille Van Kempen, the owner. Ms. Van Kempen said she had received a federal loan that allowed her to keep her whole staff on payroll during the economic shutdown, and now everyone's eager to get back to work. "The loan did exactly what it was supposed to do," she said.
East Hampton Village Mayor Richard Lawler issued an executive order that allows restaurants and food stores to apply for permission to create temporary outdoor dining areas through Nov. 1. Sag Harbor Village Mayor Kathleen Mulcahy is following suit. East Hampton Town is still formulating its guidelines, but Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc has proposed streamlining a permitting process and relaxing a zoning code provision that allows only 30 percent of a restaurant's seating to be outdoors. "Changes to the traffic pattern in downtown Montauk, which could make some public rights of way available for use by restaurants, are also being discussed," he said in a statement released on Monday.
In East Hampton Village, the businesses will be able to set up tables and chairs for either two or four people on the bricked apron of village walkways at the edge of the street rather than the sidewalks themselves, said Rose Brown, a trustee who, along with her colleague Ray Harden, has been leading a committee on outdoor dining comprising village officials, residents, and restaurateurs such as Mark Smith, a co-owner of Rowdy Hall, and Barbara Layton, the owner of Babette's.
The cement sidewalks were not a feasible option for dining, Ms. Brown said, because they are not wide enough to be accessible for those with disabilities.
Tables and chairs will be allowed to be set up starting at 8 a.m. and must be removed by 11 p.m., said Ms. Brown. Business owners will be responsible for maintaining, cleaning, and lighting the areas, and they must have appropriate liability insurance.
Restaurants such as Rowdy Hall, which are not adjacent to public property, will be able to use private property as long as they receive permission from the owner.
The village's application asks restaurant owners to supply a proposal for the outdoor area including the number of seats, lighting, and a plan for inclement weather. "Moving tables or customers indoors is not an option due to Covid-19 social distancing restrictions," the application says. Restaurants with a liquor license must receive approval from the state to serve alcohol in the outdoor area, according to the application, and music, loudspeakers, live entertainment, and dancing "shall not be permitted at any time."
The application also notes that "when indoor seating is permitted by [the state], outdoor seating may need to be reduced."
In East Hampton Wednesday morning, customers of the Golden Pear sat outside at tables on Newtown Lane. The cafe's owner, Keith Davis, got his application in to the village on Monday and Ken Collum, a village code enforcement officer, paid a visit and give his stamp of approval, Mr. Davis said.
In Sag Harbor Village, temporary outdoor dining areas can be set up on sidewalks, pedestrian plazas, and parking lots as long as permission is granted by the Building Department or a private owner, and the proposed sites are at least 250 feet away from a residence. They can be used between 8 a.m. and midnight, except for those within 500 feet of a residence, which must shut down at 10 p.m.
Ms. Mulcahy said on Tuesday that several businesses had already submitted applications.
Max Rohn, the general manager of Wolffer Estate Vineyard, which operates the Wolffer Kitchen restaurant in Amagansett, said his company is seeking permission from East Hampton Town to set up three tables, with four seats each, on a section of grass in Amagansett Square. The restaurant's existing patio cannot be used, he said, because the state has not yet approved dining at sites with a fixed roof. Unless the town approves the outdoor dining plan, "we won't be opening," he said. Wolffer Kitchen's sister resident in Sag Harbor has recently sold its lease and closed, said Mr. Rohn, but the company's wine stand and tasting room in Sagaponack are now permitted to welcome guests to their outdoor spaces.
The wine stand and tasting room will be reservation only, and, weather permitting, will offer wine and small bites for parties of eight or fewer. The tasting room's open air patio also has a fixed roof, so the winery will set up tables next to the vines. Drive-through pickup of wine will still be available at the estate.
Mr. Rohn said he's eager to get the wine stand and tasting room up and running again, but he's not sure opening the restaurant for outdoor dining will make financial sense because the limited number of customers who can be accommodated may not provide enough income to offset the cost of paying staff. "I've been talking to a lot of owners, and I know everyone is wondering, 'Will it be worth it?' " he said.