13 Outdoor NYC Dining Spots You Need To Hit This Summer

In New York City, the options for outdoor seating are slim — literally, because they are usually on the sidewalk, wedged between parked cars and storefronts. That's not always so bad, though: Taxi radios serenade us with Top 40 mood music at no cost, nearby trash cans provide efficient receptacles for the crappy crackers in the bread basket, and people-watching never, ever gets old.

That is, until you want to kick back, relax, and forget you're in a place that may just have more pizzerias than trees. Every summer, we start jonesing for true al fresco dining — the kind with tea lights, red baskets brimming with seafood, and maybe even some real grass (though, we're fine with some AstroTurf, too). We'll be the first to admit it, these gems are hard to find in the middle of New York; luckily, we've uncovered 13 of them. All you have to do is breathe in these refreshing options as you enjoy your meal amidst the sounds of the city.