With San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer waiving the need for permits, local restaurants are rushing to expand outdoor dining in the wake of new COVID-19 restrictions.
Indoor dining is forbidden under state order for a three-week period that began at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday to slow the recent surge in coronavirus cases.
Among the restaurants moving aggressively to expand dining options are:
Cafe 222 at 222 Island Avenue downtown will serve breakfast and lunch from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily on its upper garden patio and street-side patio. Curbside pickup is also available.
Bankers Hill Bar and Restaurant at 2202 4th Avenue is offering outdoor patio seating and curbside pickup Wednesday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with takeout beginning an hour earlier.
Lionfish Modern Coastal Cuisine at the Pendry Hotel in the Gaslamp is offering Baja and fresh-catch inspired dishes on its outdoor patio overlooking 5th Avenue. The restaurant is open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
San Diego is one of 23 counties in California that have had to close indoor dining because of the surge in coronavirus cases.