All summer long, we’re recommending where to eat and drink well on a New York City summer weekend, including great patios, one-off pop-ups, and easy day trips. We update the list every Friday. Have a recommendation for us? Let us know at [email protected].
Okonomi/Yuji Ramen: The small, hard-to-get-to Japanese restaurant, based in Brooklyn since 2014, is open at Nomad until at least October 27, as we reported. The restaurant has a very different vibe—a minimalist, brightly lit, narrow space with plenty of room—than its sister restaurant, but it has the same great food. Both daytime breakfast and evening ramen are available all day. Consider the five-menu Japanese breakfast with tortilla fish, egg, and assorted vegetables ($25). The shoyu ramen ($18) is pretty wonderful, too. I opted for tea, but Japanese beers and Dassai Blue Sake from the brewery upstate are also on the menu. 110 Madison Avenue, corner of 28th Street, Nomad
Large banks: Writer Paul Greenberg wrote for Eater NY about how the boat became a waterfront bar, Grand Banks, a rollicking tale about Alex and Miles Pincus, brothers determined to repurpose the Sherman Zwicker. The weather is perfect and although weekends are still empty, it could be a nice weekend for drinks and oysters on board. Pier 25 Hudson River Park, in North Moore, Tribeca
Dim Sum Palace: There’s something magical about eating out after midnight, and this massive Chinatown branch of a local chain does it right. It’s open until 3 a.m. and offers dim sum menus all day. And fresh seafood is plentiful, thanks to the tanks that line the back wall of the 200-seat restaurant. Looking for other late-night options? We’ve got you covered. 27 Division Street, between Market Street and Catherine Street, Chinatown
Fried Chicken by Charles: Picnic season is winding down, and nothing says summer picnic better than a bucket of fried chicken. Why not grab some to go from the flagship store of this venerable soul food joint, helmed by the legendary Charles Gabriel? With your order, head west along 145th Street to the massive Riverbank State Park, a rare urban state park overlooking the Hudson River that offers amenities like sprinklers, swimming pools (yes, two of them), soccer fields, and plenty of green space to relax on with your bucket of chicken. 340 W 145th St, corner of Edgecombe Ave, Harlem
