Center City Restaurants Rush The Season With Outdoor Seating
By John McDevitt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The chilly weather this afternoon didn't exactly have people fighting for outdoor seating at Old City restaurants.
Many people grabbing lunch today were dressed in winter coats and hats, some even with gloves.
(Woman #1:) "This is not April appropriate clothing."
(Woman #2:) "This is not April appropriate weather."
As for the outdoor seating at restaurants, well, you had your pick of tables.
It was too cold for another woman we spoke with:
"It is. Not as bad as my friend from Minnesota who said it snowed last night."
(McDevitt:) "So they're probably not eating outdoors either?"
(Woman:) "Oh, absolutely not."
The Red Owl Tavern, at 5th and Chestnut Streets (below), opened last October and launched outdoor table service this week. General manager Natalie Pineda says the slower-than-expected business hasn't necessarily been a bad thing.
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"We don't mind a slow ramp-up," Pineda said today. "We have been really lucky and very successful since day one, so for once starting something new and kind off easing into it, that kind of a luxury for us is something different. So we don't mind so much."
But she says that things will change once the sun comes back out.
