After Houston City Council voted to allow restaurants to convert up to 50% of parking spaces into outdoor dining areas, restaurants are beginning to seize the opportunity.

"As we continue to deal with COVID-19, this is a great solution to help our businesses," City Council Member Abbie Kamin said following the vote. "It's a great example of creativity and something the community has been asking for."

The city’s More Spaces Program has been touted as a way to limit the spread of the coronavirus and was modeled after similar programs in Austin and Atlanta.

Restaurant owners do not need to apply for the authority to do so; instead, they file a notification with the city so that the planning department can track compliance with the new protocols.

The program prohibits music in the adapted outdoor dining areas and limits closing hours to no later than midnight. Participating restaurants must also ensure that Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible parking spaces remain available.


If well-received, the program may extend beyond the pandemic as well, Chief Transportation Officer David Fields told council members.

"I think we could learn a lot from this pilot in the immediate term and go back out to the industry and the community and show what we have learned," Fields said.

Here is a list of participating restaurants as of Oct. 2.

Phoenix on Westheimer


1915 Westheimer Road, Houston

Latin Bites Kitchen

5709 Woodway Drive, Ste. B, Houston

Prego


2520 Amherst Street, Houston

Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co.

2101 Summer Street, Houston

Providence Heights Bar


1308 W. 20th Street, Houston

Down The Street

5746 Larkin Street, Houston

Buffalo Wild Wings


5805 N. Highway 6, Houston

Fogo de Chao Churrascaria

8250 Westheimer Road, Houston

We Olive & Wine Bar​​​​​​​

249 West 19th Street, Ste. B, Houston