Seattle restaurants set up outdoor ‘igloos’ to prepare for winter, rain

As restrictions in place due to the novel coronavirus have claimed the livelihoods of nearly 70 Seattle restaurants closing for good, a handful of Emerald City restaurants are getting even more creative to keep afloat via outdoor dining as incoming rain and winter approaches – igloo-style.

We’ve seen myriad makeshift porches expanding onto the street, heat lamps and Plexiglass aplenty, but now, we’re seeing a new trend emerge for all those Seattleites hoping to nab a warm bite outdoors.

The “igloos” or “dining bubbles” are pretty much exactly as they sound — a round, plastic, weatherproof dome encapsulating diners with a private and safe dinner setting.

As for Maximilien, Pike Place Market’s longtime hub for all things French fare and white linens, this isn’t their first go-around with “Le Igloos.”

Boasting expansive views of the Puget Sound, Maximilien’s “Le Igloos” are nestled atop their rooftop dining spot once more after giving the bubbles a go last year.

While Le Igloos are not actually heated, the round structure acts as a greenhouse to keep guests covered and warm while visiting. Unsurprisingly, the more guests inside the igloos, the warmer the inside will be. Of course, Maximilien suggests wearing a few layers nonetheless.

Currently, the French restaurant is dishing out reservations throughout November for Le Igloos for all those ages 21 and up. At Maximilien, Le Igloos fit up to six people and accept a minimum of three guests to nab one.

Seattle could see a rising trend of Le Igloos in the coming months, but Amazon’s “1V Geodesic Igloo Domes for Outdoor Dining and Greenhouse” are already sold out, as are Walmart’s “12’ Walk-In Garden Dome Igloos.”

Restaurants will have to pony up a pretty penny to nab these suckers, especially given Walmart’s standard greenhouse igloos run just under $1,200. After a tumultuous year for dining and hospitality, it’s doubtful many Seattle restaurants will have the spare cash to nab these upscale outdoor dining domes.

Nevertheless, another Seattle restaurant has followed suit. Ballard’s San Fermo recently installed two greenhouse domes for dining outside to keep its customers and staff safe.

"I ordered these two months ago because I knew that it was going to change,” San Fermo owner Tim Baker told King 5. "You literally get to eat in your own bubble.”

As for San Fermo, each dome will host one table. Servers won’t actually step inside the igloos while guests are present, and each igloo will be ventilated between visitors.

"We feel like it’s the safest place you could eat in our restaurant,” Baker told King 5, emphasizing that he feels the several hours and thousands of dollars going into installing the domes will be worth it. “This is kind of an aggressive solution, but one that we thought was necessary.”

As rain approaches and cooler temps are sure to accompany what’s posing to be a snowy season, who would’ve thought 2020 would beckon igloos popping up across the Emerald City? This year in the restaurant world, we’re truly seeing it all.

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