“The city that never stops” always takes a challenge and turns it into an opportunity. This summer was no exception. With Covid-19 restrictions banning indoor dining, New York restaurants are bringing the party outdoors with new sidewalk seating arrangements and patios that could compete with Paris café trottoirs and Roman piazzas. Since the city announced that restaurants could use outdoor space to reopen, close to 7,000 eateries requested a permit, and twenty-two streets became outdoor dining spaces on the weekend, including Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District, Times Square, Fifth Avenue in Park Slope and Arthur’s Avenue in the Bronx’s Little Italy.
For Italian food lovers, there is a vast array of eateries across the city who have opened their doors to welcome back loyal clientele, from Michelin-starred eateries like Carbone to pizzerias lucky enough to offer a private patio like Roberta’s.
Here’s our selection of restaurants where you can enjoy an authentic Italian meal alfresco – the silver lining of an unconventional summer.
Antica Pesa – The Brooklyn outpost of the iconic Roman restaurant is your next best destination if your Italian vacation plans were canceled. In addition to their classics such as cacio e pepe and amatriciana, their menu includes summery dishes such as pasta alla checca with heirloom cherry tomatoes, bufala mozzarella with black olives and insalata di riso, a tasty cold rice salad.
Antica Pesa (ph Will Engellmann)
Cipriani Downtown – This chic Soho restaurant expanded its coveted outdoor seating, a perfect spot for people watching while enjoying perfectly executed classic dishes such as beef carpaccio, homemade gnocchi, and their signature Bellini cocktail. Their Cipriani Club 55 location on Wall Street also offers outdoor dining in the spectacular terrace under the columns of the landmark building.
Cipriani Downtown (courtesy of Cipriani)
Felice – Felice’s two Upper East Side locations and their Wall Street restaurant bring rustic Tuscan charm outdoors. In addition to an extensive wine list and a menu of pasta and secondi, try the crostoni appetizers, with toppings such as stracciatella and zucchini, ricotta and figs, or the classic bruschetta.
Felice (courtesy of Felice)
Lucciola – A peaceful Upper West Side spot to enjoy genius chef Michele Casadei Massari’s menu in a new roomy patio. A summer fish menu – a tribute to Italian summers – includes fluke carpaccio, tagliatelle with lobster and salmon caviar, shrimp and avocado salad, and risotto pescatora. For a sweet ending, order the panna cotta with blueberry crumble.
Lucciola (courtesy of Lucciola)
Osteria San Carlo – This Thompson street eatery has set up a beautiful covered patio with wooden fences and planted flowers. The menu, a tribute to the cuisine of Piedmont, includes tajarin pasta with clams, scallops with fava bean and bagna cauda, a garlic anchovy sauce, and giardiniera, a traditional vegetable soup. Feeling adventurous? Try the snail risotto.
Osteria San Carlo (courtesy of Osteria San Carlo)
Redzôra – There is nothing more comforting than authentic cuisine from Emilia Romagna. Chef Stefano Secchi, an alum of Massimo Bottura, won’t disappoint with his daily prepared homemade spinach ravioli and strozzapreti (and we can’t forget the classic lasagna), all served to temporary outdoor seating at the charming Flatiron location.
Redzôra (courtesy of Redzôra)
Ribalta – Known for Neapolitan pizza at its best, Ribalta – located in Union Square – also offers a menu of Italian staples, including zucchini scapece, parmigiana, fried calamari, grilled octopus and one of the best pasta al pomodoro dishes in the city. Soccer fans can also watch Italian Serie A matches on outdoor TVs.
Ribalta (courtesy of Ribalta)
Sant Ambroeus – To the joy of their habitués, the Milanese restaurant’s Soho and West Village locations are back with extended sidewalk seating – serving morning espresso and brioche, lunch, and dinner. Dive right back into a Caprese or artichoke salad, a summer pasta with garden tomatoes and shallot confit or their legendary veal chop Milanese.
Sant Ambroeus Soho (courtesy of Sant Ambroeus)
Supper: Frank Prisinzano serves Italian comfort food in the picturesque outdoor area, from fresh salads and crostini to satisfying pasta dishes – including strozzapreti pasta with marinara sauce and fresh sheep’s milk ricotta. Prisinzano’s East Village spots Frank and Lil’ Frankie’s also offer outdoor dining.
Supper (ph Mo Daoud)