Dining in Garden City, Al Fresco Style

With temperatures expected to top the 70s over the next several days, Mother Nature's got perfect timing.

The much-welcomed prelude to summer coincides with the April 1 kick off of Garden City's thirteenth season of al fresco dining.

Local restaurants are sprucing up their seasonal menus and outdoor furniture, festivals will again crowd Seventh Street, the sounds of music will echo from the Village Green again and tulips will soon blanket all corners of the "garden" city.

Alas, signs of warmer days to come.

The English translation of al fresco means "in the fresh" (air). Years back, the Garden City Chamber of Commerce requested the village change its code to allow for outdoor dining by permit.

Officials believed the project was an effective way to encourage shopping in Garden City's downtown, serving as an enhancement for businesses on Franklin Avenue, Seventh Street and New Hyde Park Road.

In May 1997, the feature was officially implemented.

The following restaurants have secured permits and are going al fresco:

• Seventh Street Gourmet, 100 Seventh Street (280-3001)
• Waterzooi Belgian Bistro, 850 Franklin Avenue (877-2177)
• Novita, 860 Franklin Avenue (739-7660)
• Seventh Street Café, 126 Seventh Street (747-7575)
• Garden City Bistro, 662 Franklin Avenue (747-3696)
• Gallery Pizzeria, 52 New Hyde Park Road (354-6102)
• Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins, 165 Seventh Street (248-4417)
• Walk Street, 176 Seventh Street (746-2592)
• Leo's, 190 Seventh Street (742-0574)
• Mumon, 1300 Franklin Avenue (747-3388)
• Hoffmann's Deli, 180 Seventh Street (747-3680)
• Sushi Ya, 949 Franklin Avenue (873-8818)
• Grimaldi's Pizza, 980 Franklin Avenue (294-6565)
• Food for Thought, 154 Seventh Street (747-5811)
• Jin East, 988 Franklin Avenue (877-0888)
• The Cupcake Corner, 61 New Hyde Park Road (328-2253)
• Natural Food Market, 140 Seventh Street (742-0090)
• Riesterer's Village Coffee Shop, 96 Seventh Street (294-3560)
• Garden City Pizza, 670 Franklin Avenue (294-2929)
• TCBY Treats, 158 Seventh Street (741-5132)
• Kings Super Market, 870 Franklin Avenue (739-5559)
• Starbucks, 184 Seventh Street (741-8295)
• B.K. Sweeney's Uptown Grille, 636 Franklin Avenue (746-3075)
• Garden City Pub, 55 New Hyde Park Road (328-8326)
• Key Food Market Place, 157 Seventh Street (742-2713)
• My Three Sons Bagel Cafe, 974 Franklin Avenue (280-9210)