Al Fresco Dining Options in Brooklyn
Africa under the stars in Clinton Hill: Head to the back garden at Kush, just opened by chef Samuel Beket from the Ivory Coast, for pan-African cuisine with French influences. Feast on seafood maffé, an African stew, surrounded by wood carved animals and other faraway touches. Kush, 17 Putnam Ave., (718) 230-3471. Miami or Prospect…
Africa under the stars in Clinton Hill: Head to the back garden at Kush, just opened by chef Samuel Beket from the Ivory Coast, for pan-African cuisine with French influences. Feast on seafood maffé, an African stew, surrounded by wood carved animals and other faraway touches. Kush, 17 Putnam Ave., (718) 230-3471.
Miami or Prospect Heights?: See and be seen in the rooftop lounge at the JRG Fashion Cafe. Relax in a deck chair or at a romantic table for two above the urban hustle while sampling mango salmon, jerk chicken and other Caribbean-inspired fare. JRG Fashion Cafe, 177 Flatbush Ave., (718) 399-7079.
European charm in Cobble Hill: Escape into the hidden garden behind Sweet Melissa for a civilized afternoon tea complete with scones, finger sandwiches and assorted cookies. The ivy-covered walls feel like England, while the picture-perfect patisseries are worth a trip to Paris. Sweet Melissa, 276 Court St.; (718) 855-3410.
Park Slope pub grub: Revelers pack the side patio at The Gate, an Irish-style local pub with an only-in-Brooklyn twist: With no food on their menu – and 24 beers on tap – patrons are encouraged to order take-out from the plethora of nearby spots, from fish and chips to sushi. One high-end place, Stone Park Cafe, even delivers real plates and silverware. The Gate, 321 Fifth Ave., (718) 768-4329.
More on the jump…
Al Fresco Brooklyn [NY Daily News]
Soccer and ceviche in Red Hook: Head to the Red Hook soccer fields to eat your way around Latin America. A dozen or so outdoor food vendors set up tables and chairs each weekend and sell everything from El Salvadoran pupusas to Equadoran ceviche. Along Bay St. at Clinton St. No phone.
Brighton Beach beer hall: Crowds of Russian-speaking locals flock to Gambrinus’ open-air German-style beer hall just off the Boardwalk for seafood favorites with a Russian touch. “The food is good, and so is the beer,” said Galina Chubereva, 23, after a day at the beach with friends. Gambrinus, 3100 Ocean Parkway, (718) 265-1009.
Bensonhurst’s Boardwalk: Who needs a trip to the shore when there is L&B Spumoni Gardens right here in Bensonhurst? Squeeze into an old-time red-and-white table out front to sample Sicilian pizza and rainbow spumoni. “Everybody comes here in the summer,” said Jennifer Bongiorno, 21, adding it’s also good for dates. L&B Spumoni Gardens, 2725 86th St., (718) 449-1230.
Al fresco in Bay Ridge: A trip to Emi’s romantic back deck is the next best thing to an Italian piazza. Enjoy the signature grilled octopus and goat cheese ravioli amid the scent of fresh herbs. “During service, we’ll go out and snip herbs that we use right then and there,” said chef Lou Digiovanni. Emi, 8905 Third Ave., (718) 748-8070.
New England seafood shack in Sheepshead Bay: Lobster-lovers head to Jordan’s Lobster Dock to soak up its no-frills seaside scene. “You have the boats right behind here,” said Jim O’Donnell, with his family over clam strips and mussels after catching a summer blockbuster at the nearby United Artists movie theater. Jordan’s Lobster Dock, 3165 Harkness Ave., (800) 404-2529.
Middle Eastern oasis in Gravesend: Leave the bustle behind as you enter the cooling calm of Sahara’s lush patio to enjoy hummus and grilled kebabs under a canopy of grape leaves. “You think you’re in paradise,” said Lisa Posner over Turkish coffee with friends. Sahara, 2337 Coney Island Ave., (718) 376-8594.
I am a regualr at Graziellas, I disagree about the service, everyone was very accomodating andthe food is spectacular. Maybe you guys gotta give it another chance, because I have had nothing butpleasent experiences. One the other hand, June’s right around the corner on dekalb has horrible food and they are always empty everytime I pass by.
ICI- doesn’t live up to the hype. The food is okay, and the service is okay. I have heard great things about brunch, but as of now I can’t verify whether or not these claims are true. The next time I want to have a cup of fruit soup which is barely seasoned for 9 dollars, I’ll just mix a little Earth’s Best jarred baby food with eight oz of chicken stock.
Olea- is great. It’s menu is very similar to Acquagrill in the city. The service is nothing to write home about.
Lou-Lou’s- is one of the best restaurants in the ‘hood. They pay attention to detail and somehow get everything right.
Graziellas- is worth visiting, especially if you haven’t been there in a while, the pizza is great, and the owner is quite nice. I have been to Fanny’s and ate one great pie, and also had a real let down. I think for the price, quality of ingredients and location Graziella is the only pizza place worth putting on speed dial.
You saw that right up?? WOW Daily News Too,3 out of 4 stars not bad for a place off the beaten path, I’m a regular & always satisfied. When the owner is there, service is much better & he’s nice too. I agree their service is so,so. Patio…..AMAZING. Too bad their closed on Mondays
You saw he write up on Graziellas? Wow , rated higher than Grimaldi’s. I still think its better than Franny’s, icluding the price. at $7 & change you can’t beat it. Decent service, good apps, great beers & a roof deck to dream from. Service needs a little push, Ici, great brunch.
I’ve been to Sahara many times… so glad to hear it getting the credit it deserves. Very large, very packed out seating area. That’s a good thing (if the seating area is large and packed out, there’s a reason), and a bad thing (not the fastest service, very noisy). Fantastic food.
I love ici. I think the person who had a bad time there just got unlucky— the food is great & the people are really nice.
I totally disagree about Ici. Been there many times and one of the things I’ve always liked, in addition to the food, is the service. The waitresses are nice and seem to remember you when you come back. Sorry you had a bad experience, but try it again.
I went in Graziella’s once, but no one was helpful, kind of ignored me. That was weird, but maybe it should be tried again?
diner and marlowe!!! not a big fan of williamsburg, but I LOVE 2 spots. always good food, great service, good people watching. and a cool view onto the river. indoor and outdoor. used to live down the street and now i drive to get my fix.
i disagree with poster about ici – i’ve been twice this week for lunch and the food was spectacular and the waitress was perfectly fine and quite nice. also both times were with multiple children under 3 and they were very accomodating and good natured about it…