by KYW's Pat Loeb
There are fewer café tables on Philadelphia sidewalks, this year. But Center City District officials say that's not bad, given the recession. And they say that still leaves 240 places to eat out of doors.
The Center City district reports a dip of three percent in outside dining at Philadelphia restaurants, though restaurateurs still consider it a robust source of business:
"They definitely help, especially in the summertime. A lot of evenings we would have more people outside than we would inside."
Austin McGrath is one of the owners of the Plough and Stars in Old City:
"Because we're in a historical building, we don't actually look like a restaurant. We look like a bank. So when people walk past and see the tables outside and people sitting outside then of course they realize, it's a restaurant."
Many diners prefer outdoor tables:
"I like to people watch. That's a good thing. And the breeze is nice, not like air conditioning, recycled people smell."
"Adore the pretty girls that are walking by so we like to sit out here."
Given its many attractions, al fresco dining is likely to survive the current downturn.
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