September’s arrival has changed the city’s restaurant scene. At midday on Thursday, diners in Midtown stood in line outside a new sandwich shop near Bryant Park. In Carroll Gardens, dinner reservations at a recently opened Italian spot were booked out through next week, according to staff on site. Restaurant owners say back-to-school schedules and the end of summer travel have brought steady weekday business, with lunch hours busier than during August.
Seasonal produce has shaped menus. At a bistro on the Lower East Side, early apples and squash are now featured in salads and mains. Some chefs say they are adjusting prices to reflect higher costs for local seafood, especially scallops and striped bass. On Friday evening, a bartender in Astoria noted an uptick in customers asking about nonalcoholic cocktails, as fall routines set in.
Election season has also had an effect. A cafe near City Hall reported several campaign staffers meeting over breakfast last week. In Washington Heights, a Dominican restaurant is offering discounts to customers who show an “I Voted” sticker on primary day later this month.
Outdoor dining remains popular during mild evenings, though several operators say they will reduce patio seating as temperatures drop. Some have added heat lamps ahead of October’s chill. For now, sidewalk tables fill up quickly by 7 p.m., especially on weekends.