Restaurants reimagine outdoor dining for winter

As the days grow colder, Chicago restaurants are focusing on accommodations for the winter months that prioritize giving guests a warm, enjoyable outdoor dining experience.

At the Hampton Social Streeterville location, diners will still be able to take advantage of the second-floor patio for coastal-inspired dining this winter, said Abby Geha, director of marketing at Parker Restaurant Group, the restaurant's parent company.

"The patio has a covered top and plenty of heaters to allow our guests to feel cozy while they enjoy a glass of rose," Geha said. "This is the first year we've covered the top to allow for fall winter season, dining al fresco."  

In addition to the waterproof top and heat lamps, the restaurant is installing side panelings to the second-floor patio to keep guests more enclosed and comfortable from the winter elements, Geha said. Because The Hampton Social has an "open air” concept, there are still available dining options inside the restaurant, near the windows, she added. 

Geha said the pandemic has made the Hampton Social's team realize that the everyday celebration is focused on people: "our team, our guests and our community."

"With the many shifts and changes of our world right now, there’s a new, pandemic-era social norm," she said. "We need to provide a sense of safety for our guests and community, all while eliciting a sense of 'escapism'—a departure from the new-normal routine in dress, setting and cuisine."

At the Godfrey Hotel in River North, the roof remains open, including both side panels, because of the ongoing indoor dining restrictions, said Erin Baebler, a spokesperson for the hotel. 

"We do offer blankets upon request that are washed after each use," she said. "We also have added three large standing heating elements in the retractable area to produce more heat."

Additionally, the large booths have their own heating upon request, and diners can also reserve heated igloos, depending on availability. 

Baebler said she recognized that the situation was very challenging for everyone and it was important to ensure the food and drinks are fresh and consistent. 

"The best approach is to make sure all safety measures are in place due to the state and city expectations to make both our guests and staff feel comfortable at a time like this, to provide really great service given the challenges, and lastly, to create an enhanced experience to provide something new and exciting," she said