Al Fresco - Dining

Source: Citysearch

Living in a city as fabulous as New York sometimes means making sacrifices--like a backyard, for example. But don't cram that grill onto your fire escape just yet: We've scouted out the top spots where you enjoy the city's tastiest fare in the great outdoors

Downtown
The Park Website
118 10th Ave, New York, NY Taxi garage-turned-restaurant boasts visual thrills and modern American fare that doesn't need a tune-up.
Sushi Samba 7 Website
87 7th Ave S, New York, NY Seviche, caipirinhas and a roof deck to make you swoon.
Paradou Website
8 Little West 12th St, New York, NY A hidden French find where wine carafes and irresistible crepes draw a fun crowd.
Bottino
246 10th Ave, New York, NY Neighborhood Italian spot boasts simple, well-executed fare and one of Chelsea's best gardens.
Home
20 Cornelia St, New York, NY A miniaturized downtown restaurant that serves flashy "Mom" food of outsized flavor.
La Bottega Website
363 W 16th St, New York, NY Brasserie looks and well-executed Italian eats at the Maritime Hotel.
I Coppi
432 E 9th St, New York, NY An unassuming, casual place whose food is gutsier than its setting suggests.
Surya
302 Bleecker St, New York, NY A sleek Indian bistro that boasts a charming garden.
Shake Shack
Madison Square Park, New York, NY The ultimate outdoor burger haven in Madison Square Park.
Mermaid Inn
96 2nd Ave, New York, NY A breezy East Village fish house worth waiting in line for.
El Rey Del Sol
232 W 14th St, New York, NY Cuervo-fueled Mexican cantina brims with kitschy character.
Liberty View
21 S End Ave, New York, NY A little piece of Chinatown on the Hudson.
Tree
190 1st Ave, New York, NY A bistro grows in the East Village, and sprouts a tranquil, leafy back garden.

Uptown
Barbetta
321 W 46th St, New York, NY The stately doyen of Manhattan Italian restaurants.
Boat Basin Cafe
W 79th St, New York, NY Seasonal outdoor dining spot where the views and the pub-grub eats just don't get any better.
The Sea Grill
19 W 49th St, New York, NY One of the city's best seafood restaurants in a quintessential New York setting.
L'Impero
45 Tudor City Pl, New York, NY Tudor City standout keeps a stiff upper lip, thanks to Michael White's subtly innovative Italian cuisine.
Pampano Website
209 E 49th St, New York, NY Fish so fresh and flavors so pure in a setting so lovely that you can nearly feel the gulf breeze in your hair.
SheepMeadow Cafe
Central Park W, New York, NY Charcoal-grilled delights in the heart of Central Park.
Fred's
476 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY "Come! Sit! Stay!" is the motto at this casual, canine-obsessed, and constantly crowded eatery.
Hudson Beach Cafe
W 105th St at Riverside Park, New York, NY Split-level outdoor restaurant in Riverside Park offers views of the New Jersey shoreline.
Hudson River Cafe
697 W 133rd St, New York, NY A large, lively patio and a diverse New American menu attract a gaggle of pretty people in far-west Harlem.

Brooklyn and Queens
Lamb & Jaffy
1073 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY A homey Greenpoint oasis for far-reaching New American cooking.
DuMont
432 Union Ave, Brooklyn, NY Creative (yet inexpensive) American fare draws young Brooklynites to this casual date spot.
The Grocery
288 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY Cozy Smith Street pioneer draws crowds with a market-fresh American menu.
Robin des Bois
195 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY An Edenic backyard, charmingly ramshackle dining room and bistro classics draw diners to this Smith Street pioneer.
Ici
246 DeKalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY Comfortable elegance, seasoned ownership and delectable cuisine infuse this Fort Greene bistro with both joie and vivre.
Convivium Osteria
68 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY Mediterranean cuisines converge on the Slope, hog jowls and all.
Pacifico
269 Pacific St, Brooklyn, NY Just off Smith Street, a cozy Mexican cantina drawing the Brooklyn crowds.
Alma
187 Columbia St, Brooklyn, NY From a hidden rooftop in Carroll Gardens comes an inspired Mexican menu and sweeping skyline views.
My Moon Website
184 N 10th St, Brooklyn, NY One small step for industrial chic in Williamsburg, one giant space for Turkish cuisine.
Aurora
70 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY Homemade pastas (and great prices) are well-worth the hike to outer Williamsburg.
Harry's At Water Taxi Beach Website
2-01 Borden Ave, Long Island City, NY Beach bar party along the East River.
Bohemian Hall Beer Garden Website
29-19 24th Ave, Astoria, NY The last of its kind, this old Astoria landmark beer garden soldiers on.
The Creek and the Cave
10-93 Jackson Ave, Long Island City, NY Queens bar scene with Cal-Mex cuisine, live music and a chill outdoor patio.
Tournesol
50-12 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY A sunny Parisian bistro brightens Long Island City.