Your outdoor dining budget should no longer be seen as a "nice to have" - but instead as a core revenue driver. For many restaurants, patio seating is among the highest-margin square footage they operate. As operators plan for the year ahead, one question becomes central: What should we include in our outdoor dining budget for 2026? Smart planning means separating short-term expenses from long-term investments. Not every patio purchase delivers equal value. The key is knowing