Extreme summer heat makes for challenging outdoor dining experience
Heat and humidity will both be issues in the forecast through the weekend. An Excessive Heat Warning will be in effect from Noon tomorrow until 9 p.m. Monday.
“Its a little uncomfortable," said Tammara Dalugdug, from La Quinta. "but definitely worth it," said Kevin Griffin.
“I think its pretty comfortable especially with the mist outside but if it wasn’t for that then it would be a little uncomfortable because you’re trying to eat and enjoy your food and if you’re sweating its like off," said Alicia Morales, a customer.
Restaurants across the valley are constantly adapting to new regulations due to the pandemic.
But another round of excessive heat this weekend could be an extra challenge in keeping customers cool.
At Fresh Agave in Palm Desert, They’re prepared.
“We added misters, we added three coolers back here, we have plenty of fans, we set up in a way where the air keeps circulating and keep the area cool and fresh," said Christian Cruz, a busser at Fresh Agave.
Busboy, Christian Cruz tells News Channel 3 the restaurant serves about twenty tables but the owners wanted to make the back outdoor patio area more appealing to customers
“The grass, we don’t want our customers eating on concrete gets even hotter on the concrete so we invested on the grass to give it a little more pleasant," said Cruz.
Cruz said as the hot weather continues, he and his co-workers have a system down when taking breaks.
“We try to rotate every hour or hour and half," said Cruz.
Crazy Mel's in Palm Springs also adapting to the heat.
“Well first we started with the misters, we got them all set and we did them completely," said George Kessinger, Co-owner of Crazy Mel's. "Shade alot of shade and extending out infront we put big umbrellas so they could be on street and not between two buildings were it might be hotter.
Co-owner, George Kessinger tells us he's invested thousands of dollars in his outdoor dining area to stay a float.
“Front patio here cost about a thousand dollars to put together, which we did ourselves so we wouldn’t have to pay labor moving the length of the patio our total investment with everything is five thousand dollars," said Kessinger.
“I think they are really going the extra mile to make sure that we are enjoying ourselves," said Dalugdug.
The Excessive Heat Warning means highs will run close to ten degrees above normal all weekend, with very little improvement even into next week.
News Channel's Dani Romero will be talking to local restaurant owners and customers about how they are surviving the heat while outdoor dining.
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