A New York City steakhouse got seared on social media Monday over its outdoor dining setup, which nearly blocked the sidewalk.
But the Midtown Manhattan restaurant maintained it believed it was following coronavirus rules, and began making changes when questioned by The Post.
Benjamin Prime Steakhouse had built a tent that swallowed up the sidewalk outside the eatery on East 40th Street between Madison and Park avenues — creating a covered passage that forced people to walk through the structure to get by.
A sign on the tent with an arrow even instructed pedestrians to enter through a door-size opening to get to the other side, with no room to walk around, other than the roadway.
“It’s your choice: get hit by an Amazon delivery truck in the street, or get COVID in here,” one person commented.
A manager at the restaurant, who gave his name as Alex B., said the eatery wasn’t aware it was stepping over the line — and that no one from the city had told them so, either.
“We are not trying to risk anything, we are trying to make a living,” he said.
Dining on the sidewalk in NYC. Sounds like Hallmark movie script material!
And obviously the operators will only be able to seat a fraction at curbside compared to to the interior space they’re barred from using!
NY & NYC: Crazy Gov and mayor.