2024 Summertime Eating & Drinking
Friends near and far often text me wondering where they should dine. Whether it's a rare date night with their spouse, a special occasion, or a first date looking to make a good impression.
I’m not really sure why people trust my opinion (perhaps I never told them about a third date to Vieques or the intense 36 hours in Portland, Maine...) But then again, those dates were good, just perhaps not with the right people. Luckily this isn’t dating advice. After all, most of the people reading this are probably married with 2-3 kids... what's up Popina regs!! Whatever the occasion, it's my list of the fun places I go for summer enjoyment and guaranteed good eating and drinking.
There are more to be added here, but I kept it "short" because I find the need for some spontaneity. Start at one place and see what happens. Summer is Popina’s busiest season, so going out isn't at the top of my list, so with that, I'll add us to the list too - happy summer, and see you soon.
Check out this handy map of Popina's Summertime Drinking + Dining Recs
1. Late lunch at Frenchette followed by cocktails at Manhatta for sunset.
2. All the seafood at Penny followed by all the dessert at Claud
3. Overstory before dinner, but also after dinner
4. Bike ride throughout Red Hook stopping at Hometown BBQ & Strong Rope for a beer with a view. End with nightcap at Seaborne
5. Crush a bottle in Frankie’s backyard followed by a pizza & calzone at Lucali
6. Ferry to Greenpoint for Taqueria Ramirez
7. Dinner at Four Horseman followed by drinks & dancing at Nightmoves
8. Grabbing a sandwich from Pisillo then heading over to Governor’s Island
9. Catch a movie at Metrograph followed by dinner at Cervos or their new spot Eel Bar.
10. Defonte's sandwich + Jacob Riis Beach
11. Sunday at Dead Rabbit with plenty of guinness and whiskey
12. Wine + Cheese at Della’s followed by jazz at Django
13. BYO Dinner at Peking Duck House or Wu’s
14. Martini at Nat King Cole Bar or Baccarat followed by museum
15. Breakfast at Pearl Diner followed by coffee at Black Fox + ferry to City Island
16. Afternoon martini Bemelman’s Bar followed by burger at JG Melon.
17. Fort Greene hop around: Sailor, Theodora, LaRina, & Romans
18. Snacks at Torrisi followed by dinner at Estela
19. Dinner at Claro followed by shuffleboard at Royal Palms.
20. Lunch at Hirohisa followed by a walk around Soho
21. Sandwich at A&C Super + Beer at Grimm or Talea
22. Lunch at S&P followed by afternoon at McSorley’s
23. Snacks & cocktails at Bar Goto then Le French Diner for dinner
24. Pizza at Mel’s & a walk on the highline
25. Cocktails & the entire dessert menu at Crown Shy then iPic Seaport
26. Cocktails at Attaboy followed by Shu Jiao Fu Zhou or Mám
27. Jeremy’s Ale House + Seaport stroll
28. BlackTail Pop-Up
29. Picnic in Prospect Park with sandwiches from Winner
30. Snacking around Arthur Ave before checking out New York Botanical Garden
31. Late night meetup at Great NY Noodle Town or Blue Ribbon
32. Long lunch at King followed by Morgenstern’s ice cream
33. Seafood tower & steak frites at Balthazar
34. Lunch at Marea followed by a stroll in Central Park or cocktails at salon at Per Se
35. Check in on two institutions: Randazzos Clam Bar and L&B Spumoni Gardens
36. Red Hook Tavern Burger then Sunny’s for live music.
37. Chinatown bop including Mei Lai Wah, Noodle Village, and Tasty Dumpling
38. Weekday breakfast or lunch at Golden Diner
39. Donahue’s + Tomi Jazz
40. Explore Flushing’s Chinatown
41. Dinner at 4Charles followed by west village jazz
42. Barbuto + mini-golf
43. Beach then pool/cocktails at Rockaway Hotel. Maybe even stay the night
44.Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge for margaritas at Gran Electrica if coming from Manhattan or stop at Temple Court if coming from Brooklyn
45. Breakfast at Russ & Daughters Cafe or Barney Greengrass
46. Great bottle of wine at the bar at Eleven Madison Park
47. McCarren Park hang followed by dinner at Kru
48. Pizza Tour: L'Industrie + Mama’s Too
49. Stroll from Battery Park along the water to Grand Banks for some oysters & muscadet
50. Ferry to Sunset park for a taco tour: el branco tacos, rico tacos, tacos matamoros
51. A good ol' backyard meal at Popina