By Carla Zanoni
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
INWOOD — After months of negotiations, Il Sole restaurant is getting on board with a plan that will see outdoor seating at all Dyckman Street restaurants closing earlier in an attempt to quell quality of life complaints that have plagued the area for years.
Il Sole owner Sandra Jaquez agreed to the new deal hammered out by Councilman Robert Jackson and Assemblyman Denny Farrell, which would require outdoor seating on the block to close at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 12 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Previously, they were open until 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Il Sole's neighbors Mamajuana Café, Papasito and Mama Sushi restaurants agreed to comply with the new hours last year, but Jaquez had held out until now, saying an earlier closure would have had a negative impact on her bottom-line.
Jaquez reversed her position last Monday when the City Council's Land Use Committee voted against her sidewalk café license renewal on Monday, Feb. 28.
Jackson had pushed for the Council to pressure the restaurant owner as a last resort when previous attempts at negotiations were not successful — namely, when an effort to influence Jaquez by recommending against her liquor license renewal failed when the State Liquor Authority approved the application before learning Community Board 12 was against the renewal.
Jaquez did not immediately return calls for comment.
