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Q: How do you manage reservations for outdoor dining? For that matter how do the restaurants handle it? We like many of the spots you mentioned (in your alfresco cover story June 27) but often find the outdoor tables full. Thanks.
— Gerald Talsky
A: Restaurants rarely accept outdoor reservations because of weather. A sudden rain or cold snap can turn a normal restaurant into a double-booked nightmare, and for that reason, outdoor tables tend to be available on a first-come basis. Exceptions tend to be restaurants with significant private-party space, into which outdoor patrons can be quickly moved
