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As indoor dining returned in the Big Apple Friday, restaurateurs and diners alike got a taste for normalcy.

Eight patrons were chowing down inside Bubby’s shortly after the Tribeca eatery opened at 8 a.m. — and owner Ron Silver and a worker were relishing the moment.

“I had four phone calls as soon as I stepped in about indoor dining. People are excited,” the worker told The Post Friday.

As Silver scanned his corner brunch hotspot, he added, “It feels like a normal day here. I feel lucky to have a restaurant that’s well-loved.”

Restaurants in New York City got the go-ahead earlier this week to resume indoor dining at 25 percent capacity and a newly-extended 11 p.m. curfew.

The softening in COVID-19 restrictions, though not perfect, was still a welcome relief after Gov. Cuomo shuttered indoor dining in December, as infections surged in the state.

Patrons Ama Gordon, 36, and friend Keara Richardson, 37, hit up Bubby’s early Friday to have a safe meal before the crowds started flocking.

“This is a restaurant that i’ve been wanting to try before it shut back down… I said let’s take advantage of it since it’s the first day,” Richardson said between bites.

“I think it’s a good sign for the city, slow and steady wins the race. We don’t want to jump the gun. It’s a temperature check literally and figuratively. See how we respond,” added Gordon.

At Tribeca’s Two Hands, operations manager Lucy Thoms was relieved to be able to hire back more staff.

“Every time the restrictions change, we’ve had to hire people back and forth, let people go again, so it’s nice to be able to give people more work,” Thoms, 27, explained.

“It’s a huge relief. We’ve definitely noticed a big boost in sales with indoor dining and just being able to connect more with customers that come in. All of the locals and regulars that we would see all the time, we’re starting to see again, which is nice.”

At nearby Indian eatery Tamarind Tribeca, one patron said he and his wife booked a reservation as soon as they learned about the reopening.

“We were waiting for this. It’s about time,” the customer, who declined to give his name, told The Post.

“It didn’t make sense because you could go to Long Island and Westchester and indoor dining was open. We’re happy about indoor dining not just for customers but for employees and owners. We feel with the right measures this is safe.”

For Steve Feratovic, the general manager of Wolfgang’s Steakhouse, business has been surprisingly strong. He was concerned diners wouldn’t want to come back because of fears about the virus but the phone has been ringing “nonstop” from customers hungry for a reservation.

“People want to come in. I’m even telling some of my locals ‘I’m sorry I just can’t,’” Feratovic dished.

“I’m just happy that people are still excited to go out and dine.”

He said the restrictions have been difficult — anytime officials come in for an inspection he feels like a “criminal.”

“I’m a restaurant and we serve food but we’re on edge every time they come in. Like, what’s next. What penalty now?” he said.

“They cannot shut us down again, already a lot of my colleagues have closed. They just couldn’t survive.”

Some restaurant owners are behind a push to get the indoor dining capacity boosted to 50 percent, saying 25 percent just doesn’t cut it. They also want the curfew extended until midnight.

Meanwhile, some wary eateries are refusing to welcome diners back inside altogether — fearing another “demoralizing” shutdown.

But for many restaurateurs, they’re just grateful to offer customers a warm seat and finally, a warm meal that doesn’t need to be enjoyed outside.

“It’s really exciting and it’s somewhere to start. Even this little bit is good for business and to get back into the flow,” Thoms said.

“I think with the season warming up, we got through the worst of it. If we made it this far, i think we’re going to be alright.”