Outdoor dining this winter with greenhouses and more

Added on 28 October 2020

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Last winter, a few Connecticut restaurants rolled out temperature-controlled plastic igloos and other heated outdoor spaces, finding fun ways to embrace the chilly months. This year, as indoor dining capacity remains restricted and some guests are still reluctant to eat inside, restaurateurs are finding it imperative to offer winterized outdoor seating or cozy outside events featuring warm comfort food. Here is a look at a few.

Greenhouses

At Millwright's in Simsbury, Tyler Anderson had good luck with his impromptu "Outside at Millwright's" venture this spring and summer, placing tables along the bridge extending over the cascading waterfall just outside the restaurant. And as fall turns into winter, he's following that up by installing eight small greenhouses outdoors, providing a private dining experience for parties of two, four and up to 14.

The greenhouses will be decorated and enclosed with their own heaters. Guests can log onto a sound system and play their own music in the structures.

Guests can book the structures for the entire night, where they'll be treated to special menus featuring cold-weather comfort foods like fondue, Anderson said. "It'll be a multi-course thing. We want it to be a cool experience."

Anderson said Millwright's still plans to seat diners on the bridge as normal outdoor seating, with some heaters and Plexiglass coverage cutting down on wind and chill coming from the waterfall.