As the city of Irvine reopens more restaurants and bars, the incorporation of the city’s extended outdoor dining is appearing in more than a dozen shopping centers.

These newly approved extended outdoor dining areas are part of the city’s “Four-Phase Plan” in assisting to maximize social distancing in an open air environment, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Pete Carmichael, director of community services, presented the plan to offer special permits for the extended outdoor dining areas during a May 12 City Council meeting.

Specifically, these plans included using an expedited process for special event permitting and would be implemented per state and county reopening guidelines.

A month later, on June 12, Carmichael said the city had approved permits for more than a dozen outdoor dining venues that include patios, walkways and extra outdoor space.

Meanwhile, here’s a list of restaurants with expanded patios that can be found in Irvine:

EXTENDED OUTDOOR DINING

  • Urban Plates at Crossroads
  • Angelina’s Pizzeria Napoletana at Los Olivos Marketplace
  • Bacchus Bar and Bistro at Quail Hill Shopping Center
  • Left Coast Brewing Company at Sand Canyon Plaza
  • Breakfast Republic at University Center
  • Little Onion Mexican Restaurant at Walnut Village Center
  • THE CUT Handcrafted Burgers at Westpark Plaza
  • Sessions West Coast Deli at Woodbridge Village Center.

Currently,  Irvine restaurants are beginning to list patio seating options on Google.

However, as Orange County moves further into Stage 2, with California’s stay-at-home order in effect, there is no timetable on how long the extended outdoor dining areas will function, according to Melissa Haley, Irvine’s Public Information Officer.

“They will continue operation until further notice,” she said in an email to Irvine Weekly.

Still, as more businesses open up, the city of Irvine is still asking the public to wear a face masks to protect themselves and others.

The complete list of centers hosting extended outdoor dining includes.

  • Alton Square
  • Campus Plaza
  • Crossroads
  • Harvard Place Shopping Center
  • Los Olivos Marketplace
  • Parkview Center
  • Quail Hill Shopping Center
  • Sand Canyon Plaza
  • University Center
  • Walnut Village Center
  • Westpark Plaza
  • Woodbridge Village Center

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