New York City's Best Outdoor Dining Spots

Let's admit it, more times than not, eating in New York City is more about the ambiance than the food itself. And whenever you eat outside, or "al fresco," Manhattan's best outdoor dining spots are sure to put a premium on their food. Well, here are a few of the places in New York where the atmosphere actually comes close to meeting the expectations of prices they serve. So if you're looking for a place with good food and a better ambiance, you'll definitely become a repeat customer at any of the following venues.

The Grocery - 288 Smith Street, Brooklyn, New York
Located in Carroll Gardens, The Grocery is one of Brooklyn's, and New York's, best al fresco restaurants in the city. Before we even get to the atmosphere, you must know that I have never heard a single person complain about the food at this place. From the chocolate fig cake to the duck and the goat cheese ravioli, this place gets rave reviews for its eclectic and decadent menu. I will personally recommend the duck breast with Kasha-trust me, you won't be disappointed. And as you drown yourself in great wine selections and palatable food choices, take in the beautiful garden you're eating in. There you will find a bar wrapped around a tree, lush plant life and tremendous landscaping that adds as much serenity and peacefulness to a meal as any other place in the city.

PJ Clarkes On the Hudson - 4 World Financial Center, New York, NY
If you don't work in the Financial District, you're probably not that familiar with the World Financial Center (WFC), which is just on the other side of West Side Highway from the World Trade Center buildings. Full of exquisite restaurants, one of the WFC's afterwork favorites is PJ Clarkes, which during the summer months, offers some of the best al fresco dining there is in New York City. You can grab a nice little table right off the Hudson River, as the outdoor wait staff brings you some of the best finger foods and entrees there are at WFC. A favorite of many is the ice-cold oyster platter. Personally, I'm a big fan of their of their mini-burgers, and if you're down for a big meal, The Cadillac Burger is sure to have you coming back again and again. PJ Clarkes also boast some tremendous seafood, and their Raw Bar Sampler can satisfy every semi-pescetarian's desire. They also have a very popular weekend brunch without the long wait, and what's better than brunch on the water?

The Frying Pan - Pier 66, at W. 26th Street, New York, NY
This is not the classiest of the outdoor dining places in New York City, but it still remains one of the best. Legend has it that this outdoor barge turned bar was salvaged from the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay and brought to Chelsea Piers to serve dive-bar-goers for all eternity! The indoor part of The Frying Pan offers lounging and music, often with live performances. Nevertheless, outside on the water is where all of the fun goes down. Their burgers, which belong in my "Burger Hall of Fame," get dealt out like club flyers, and there's not a bite of beef that doesn't get chased by some form of liquor. For ambiance, The Frying Pan has a 16-foot observation deck that makes this place not only a great place to find someone "interesting," but also it's a great place to charm the heck out of them. With the views of the Hudson, other waterfront venues, and the outlandish characters that make this place so lively and entertaining, it's hard not to succumb to the all around comfort and charm of The Frying Pan.