Embrace The NYC Summer With These Outdoor Restaurants

By Tasting Table StaffJune 11, 2013 7:31 pm EST

New Yorkers are cooped together in our offices and apartments during the crueler, colder months. With that in mind, Tasting Table exhorts you to claim a little slice of open-air heaven at one of these eight splendid outdoor dining locales:

RESTAURANT	WHY YOU SHOULD EAT THERE
Gramercy Terrace (Gramercy)	Jean-Paul Bourgeois, formerly of Maialino, has redone the food at this lush, 18th-floor garden oasis. The brunch and lunch menus bump with a new Lowcountry influence (think Louisiana crawfish sausage with charred spring-onion mustard), and the environment is surpassingly calm.
The Standard Plaza (Meatpacking District)	The outdoor patio at this High Line-adjacent hotel is a stunner (so are the patrons that frequent the space). Soak it all in with the help of wood-fired fennel sausage-and-black-olive pizza from Frank Pinello of Williamsburg's Best Pizza, washed down with punches by the carafe.
DBGB Kitchen and Bar (Noho)	As the traffic on Bowery zips by, settle in to a street-side table at Daniel Bouloud's raucous Downtown spot for "Drafts & Plateaus" on Fridays from 1 to 6 p.m. Select a fruits de mer tower ($55 to $115), loaded with lobster tails, whelks and periwinkles, to receive 2 liters of beer on the house.
The Cleveland (Nolita)	This new spot, helmed by a veteran of Balaboosta, boasts a surprisingly spacious backyard. Wooden tables, colorful chairs and a menu that includes shakshuka, chopped Israeli salad and banana pancakes make it our pick for a brunch spot where you won't spend your morning waiting for a table.
Pok Pok Ny (Columbia St. Waterfront District)	Any rough memories of a wait at this perpetually packed spot will vanish once you dig into Andy Ricker's vibrant Thai food. Try the charcoal-roasted catfish salad, lemongrass rotisserie chicken and a beer slushy. It all tastes even better when consumed on the lively back patio.
Frankies 457 Spuntino (Carroll Gardens)	This Italian joint, the first in the Frankies family, is as delicious as ever. There's ample space in the outdoor garden outfitted with twinkly lights; a menu of classics, such as cavatelli with hot sausage and browned sage butter, still sparkles.
Rippers and Rockaway Taco (Rockaways)	Celebrate the return of A-train service while giving these Sandy-rattled vendors a boost. First dip a toe in the ocean, then queue for a chorizo breakfast burrito from Rippers, a joint project from The Meat Hook and Roberta's. Finish with a classic: fish tacos from Rockaway Taco.
SriPraPhai (Woodside)	Got a group? Bring them to this beloved Thai spot. The back courtyard–ginormous by New York standards–gets a boost from a central fountain and plenty of flowers. Platters of Thai catfish salad, papaya salad and crispy watercress are perfect for sharing with a big crowd.