Spring Menus & Al Fresco Dining
One of the best things about spring is dining outdoors. Everyone has finally come out of hibernation to feast on spring produce, like ramps and rhubarb. While some restaurants have to make the best of seating on highly trafficked sidewalks, others have the luxury of beautiful gardens or outdoor patios. We’ve scouted out a few of the best places to linger over ramps, asparagus, and citrus.
Locanda Verde
Address: 377 Greenwich
Street, at North Moore
Phone: (212) 925-3797
This Tribeca Italian not only has fantastic food, but also a stunning outdoor garden & patio that nearly rival the piazzas of Italy. If Andrew Carmellini and Karen DeMasco’s cooking are reason enough to visit, now you can enjoy the spring sunshine with a huckleberry bellini or a citronata cocktail made with aperol,
lillet, and aranciata. The menu features grilled
Mediterranean sardines and artichoke ravioli with black trumpet
mushrooms. Finish with a citrus lemon tart with buttermilk gelato
and limoncello granita.
Frannys
Address: 295 Flatbush
Avenue, Brooklyn
Phone: (718) 230-0221
Franny’s garden opens May 3rd, so mark your calendar. Until then, you can still revel in their inspired dishes created with sustainable and locally grown ingredients. Right now, they’re serving spring dishes,
like artichoke zeppole as well as pea shoots with lemon and ricotta salata. Do save room for Frannys exceptional pizzas, like the clam pie with
chilies and parsley.
Pure Food and Wine
Address: 54 Irving
Place, at East 17th Street
Phone: (212) 477-1010
A pioneer of the raw food scene, Pure Food and Wine offers a
completely plant-based menu with no processed ingredients. The real draw is their outdoor garden with throw pillows. Start with a biodynamic wine and an asparagus
sushi roll with mirin-soaked forest mushrooms and make your way into squash blossoms stuffed with spring onion and herb cheese. There’s a terrific sorbet plate with an assortment of peach, rhubarb, strawberry and blackberry, all made in house.
Bar Boulud
Address: 1900
Broadway, between 63rd and 64th Streets
Phone: (212) 595-0303
New Yorkers can spend an evening on Bar Boulud’s outdoor patio, while
listening to the jazz come from across the street at Lincoln Center. Daniel Boulud’s bistro
features spring favorites, like a salade
roquette — a mix of baby arugula, blood orange, radish, fennel, & olives, tossed in a citrus vinaigrette. You can also drop by for an al fresco lunch and order the smoked salmon club and the meyer lemon mousse with
red currant gelee.
August
Address: 395 Bleecker
Street, between Charles and West Fourth
Phone: (212) 929-4774
On a cool spring night, you can dine in the heated atrium of August and still reap the benefits of sitting outdoors. This West Village favorite offers a European menu served in a cozy setting. Spring additions to the menu include roasted striped bass with asparagus, fava beans, and ramps soubise and a pasta mingled with sea urchin and sweet peas. One of the best nights to eat here is Sunday for “Pies and Peronis.” For twenty-five dollars, guests get a bucket of Peroni beers & a pizza for two. Try the Milanese pie with asparagus, cracked
farm egg, parmesan and bottarga, or the De
Primavera with ricotta, spring onions, fava beans & mint.
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