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Where there’s a will, there’s a way. At least that’s the attitude Miami restaurant owners are adopting in the face of dining room closures. Venues that didn’t previously offer outdoor dining or only had room for a handful of outdoor tables have made it work with improvised set-ups that have us doing double-takes. From dreamy gardens and portable stage risers to done-up driveways, here’s how Miami restaurants are getting on.
Phuc Yea
Phuc Yea’s lantern garden was weeks away from reopening until the lockdown sped up the process. But it’s far from a rushed job. The crimson-and-white space has become more than the happy hour spot it was originally intended for, giving diners major vacation vibes while they enjoy a meal al fresco.
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La Camaronera
Necessity was the mother of invention for the Little Havana restaurant, which had absolutely no room to grow except for its parking lot. But who wants to eat there? You will after seeing the full-on stage the restaurant built—literally elevating the dining experience for customers. It’s no rooftop but the risers do make for a unique experience.
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Red Rooster Overtown
While only the takeout creamery is open, Red Rooster had to get creative with seating for folks looking to enjoy their ice cream or fried chicken to stay. Fortunately, it sits on a large plot of land, which now features several picnic tables with oversize umbrellas for diners and people in the community alike.
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KYU
We told you about KYU’s expansion, but the humble dining area has grown beyond the street-parking spaces to include sidewalk seating with cute umbrellas.
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Josh’s Deli
Here’s another restaurant that’s successfully turned its parking spaces into an improvised dining area. The plastic partitions give off Dexter vibes but we’re on board for the added privacy and safety it offers people choosing to dine at the Surfside deli. Plus, who doesn’t love a bistro set built for two?
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Bal Harbour Shops
The mall’s center courtyard used to be a resting area for tired husbands waiting for their wives to melt the family AMEX, but now it’s a delightful open-air dining area for several of the Bal Harbour Shop’s restaurants. Le Zoo and Makoto are among the eateries making great use of the extra spillover space.
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Editor's note: An earlier version of this article mentioned Byblos, which has since closed.
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