New York City's outdoor roadway dining program will resume in 2026, with about 500 curbside cafes already approved under the city's Dining Out NYC program. However, the Department of Transportation has noted that this is only a fraction of the scheme's peak at its peak of 12,500 restaurants. The permitting process for outdoor dining requires approval from multiple agencies and requires a sign-off from various local community boards. Of the roughly 1,300 sidewalk cafes allowed to operate year-round, only about 700 have full approvals so far. The remaining remaining cafes are operating under conditional permits while the city works through a backlog of over 3,600 applications. City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Mayor Zohran Mamdani are pushing for the return of outdoor dining, which could revive the 24/7 scene that once dominated city streets.