Sunset Hill's Ristorante Picolinos debuted its new 25-foot-tall, patio-covering tent, the first of its kind in Seattle, May 11.

Picolinos owner Tom Bailiff said that kind of tent has not been done before in the city, and Teatro Zinzanni has the only other structure that comes close to it.

Bailiff said the uniqueness of the tent, which covers the backyard garden, dining area and pizza oven for the restaurant located at 6415 32nd Ave. N.W., made the city very cautious, leading to a year-long permitting process.

The green-and-white stripped tent is anchored by a 30-foot-pole. Bailiff said despite its size, the tent can be opened and closed by him and two bus boys and is easy to take down to repair and clean.

He said the climate in Seattle is good but it rains too much, and a series of small table umbrellas would not cut it.

The tent has a height that umbrellas can't match and can withstand hurricane-force winds, Bailiff said.

He said customers have mostly been very happy with the new tent, and he has several parties already scheduled to eat under it.

Bailiff said there are always a few Picolinos "poo-pooers," who don't like what the restaurant is doing. But, he said he hopes the low visual impact of the tent, including its muted colors, will ease complaints.

"It isn't designed to be like McDonald's or Kentucky Fried Chicken," he said. "Using natural colors is a nice thing to do."