9 Spacious Indoor Dining Options In New York City

Indoor dining in New York City is less than a week away so we're taking things inside to spotlight some restaurants where you'll be able to socially distance and dine with ease.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has set the date for indoor reopenings to kick off on September 30, but to ensure safety, restaurants must operate at a 25% occupancy and are subject to further restrictions outlined here by the New York City Hospitality Alliance. According to the organization, which advocates for 24,000 eating and drinking establishments across the five boroughs, reopening with reduced occupancy rates will not save the embattled industry, but this is an important start.

Here is a mix of mainstays and trendy eateries—and what each are doing to help diners feel comfortable. And as the entire industry and its employees continue to fight for survival due to Covid-19, aim to support restaurants of all sizes, and if possible, leave a generous tip, whether you dine-in or not.

Ainslie

Ainslie 76 Ainslie Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is a 10,000 square foot, multi-level Italian restaurant, complete with rooftop and sidewalk spaces. They will have 70 seats available indoors to add to their outdoor seating of 140 seats. Plexiglass dividers accented in rustic wood frames now partition the picnic table-style seatings. Ainslie's Executive Chef John DeLucie and lead pizzaiolo Erasmo ‘Mino’ Lassandro offer an array of wood-fired pizzas, pastas, free range chicken, New York Strip Steak, Atlantic Salmon and Wood Fired Rosemary Wings. And don't forget to pair your entry with a glass of vino or a craft beer which you can sip at their wine bar or biergarten.

Brooklyn Chop House

Brooklyn Chop House at 150 Nassau Street in Manhattan’s FiDi district created and implemented a 40 point safety plan back in June. To meet the 25% occupancy requirement, there will be seating for 40 indoors, with eight custom plexiglass partitions dividing the dining room into sections. The steak and Asian fusion eatery will continue to offer seating for 100 outdoors, but under heated tents as the chilly months approach. Stratis Morfogen, the executive managing director of Brooklyn Chop House, rolled out additional safety precautions which include: a custom-made walkthrough thermal temperature scanner, HVAC ultraviolet lights to kill bacteria in the air and HEPA air filters. Place settings will be saran-wrapped for guests to open at the table, in addition to a sanitizing station for patrons with masks and gloves available.

Beyond Sushi

The plant-based eatery Beyond Sushi will reopen its flagship for indoor dining at 134 W. 37th St, which can host 20 guests under new regulations. Reservations via Yelp are required. Indulge in Executive Chef Guy Vaknin’s signature vegan and kosher specialties that go far 'beyond' traditional sushi. Think jackfruit crab cakes, butternut squash tortellini and his famous fun guy dumplings. Satellite locations in Nolita, Upper East Side, and Union Square and on W. 56th Street will also reopen for indoor dining, but will seat guests on a first come first served basis.

Clinton Hall

Clinton Hall’s large 16 West 36th location will reopen at a quarter capacity for indoor feasts and drinks fit for the fall season. The menu will feature a selection of Supercraft beers, hard seltzers, wine and spicy margaritas alongside dishes from Executive Chef Darryl Harmon. His specialties include his signature award-winning Double Smashed Burger, Buffalo Cauliflower, Crispy Chicken Wings, Giant Pretzels, WTF Waffles and more.

It’s important to support restaurants across all five boroughs, so be sure to also check out Clinton Hall’s Bronx location, which is open for outdoor dining and will also reopen next week, September 30.

Hole in the Wall

The Hole in the Wall will open doors at their new Flatiron location at the Hotel Henri (on 24th St.), with the ability to host a limited 21 guests indoors but can accommodate plenty more outdoors beneath a canopy. The Australian restaurant and cafe’s Murray Hill flagship at (626 1st Ave.) boasts high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass walls, which will be able to host 28 customers indoors comfortably. And their FiDi location (15 Cliff St.) can seat 16 customers indoors. Executive Chef Brent Hudson can whip up breakfast classics with a twist like a Chili Scramble, Avocado Toast and a Breaky Roll with applewood smoked bacon, chorizo pate, folded eggs, chimichurri and mayo on a milk bun. At lunch hour or later, try the Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich or Crispy Pork Belly with sticky glaze, chili, fried shallots and lime.

Kyuramen

From authentic Greek dishes at Tavernas Kyclades in Astoria to Cuban cuisine at Rincon Criollo and the most comforting Irish-American fare at Fillmore’s Tavern in Fresh Meadow, the best eateries can be found in the culturally rich and diverse borough of Queens. You can visit Little Colombia in Jackson Heights or stop by Little Manila in Woodside all in one day.

But there’s nothing quite like Main Street Flushing, the real Chinatown of the East Coast. Gothamist recently highlighted Kyuramen for going the extra mile to make outdoor dining feel just as cozy as an indoor dining experience. Part of a global chain, its only New York location built Japanese-style “VIP Dining Rooms” along bustling Main Street. Groups of four can fit into the private booths, each partitioned by light bamboo and sheeted walls so that you can enjoy a hot bowl of ramen in peace.

Nerai

Nerai (55 East 54th Street) is known for contemporary Greek dining. The restaurant is ranked one of the top 50 in New York City, according to TripAdvisor. It features two dining rooms in addition to Cava Nerai, with two distinct private dining opportunities away from everyone. Plexiglass will separate the large banquettes that line the first floor. It also currently operates an expansive outdoor garden where guests can enjoy elevated Greek dishes like Seafood Orzotto or Whole Grilled Lavraki Loup de Mer (Mediterranean sea bass). Nerai’s seafood dishes from Executive Moshe Grundman are not to be missed.

Royal 35

If you’re craving the ambiance of a classic New York steakhouse just as much as a mouthwatering porterhouse for two, turn to Royal 35 (1 E 35th St.) in Midtown. “We’re following CDC guidelines and we’re ready to open,” says Alfred Cetaj, general manager. Royal commissioned two different professional cleaning contractors and replaced all air filters to renew its entire indoor area ahead of the next reopening phase. Its outdoor seating has been in operation since August 17.

Its massive main dining room with towering high ceilings originally sat 130 but will now be outfitted for 32 to abide by new guidelines. The establishment is rich with reds, mahogany accents and tufted leather banquets, in addition to a fire place and a stately wine wall. Royal’s main attraction is its classic collection of USDA Prime beef, aged for 30-35 days in its on-site glass meat locker. Quite a display.

Slate

Slate (54 West 21st Street) is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year, reopening with 80 seats outdoors and 10,000 square feet of indoor space. Its interior spans two floors and has a 20-foot slide connecting the two. The enormous space is known for its pool and ping pong tables, foosball, and more but these sections will remain closed. In the meantime, patrons can purchase their own favorite board game that they can bring home or “BYOG” to the space. You can also just stop by to enjoy creative cocktails and a menu filled with comfort-dishes like pizza, burgers, tacos and more.