BEST RESTAURANTS FOR SPRING IN NYC

Now that Spring is here, I’m sure you all will be spending more time outdoors. There’s nothing I love better than to enjoy a meal outside, so I will be listing the best restaurants for spring in New York City. These are great spots for brunch, coffee and dinner. Make sure you send this to a friend or bookmark this the next time you visit NYC!

Top 10 cafes and Restaurants in New York City

• Five Leaves: I am starting this list strong with Five Leaves, a chill Greenpoint restaurant that offers New American fare with an Aussie accent & brunch options. Not only is it conveniently located down the block from me, but their lemon ricotta pancakes are to die for! There are some restaurants that become your staple and Five Leaves is one of those. You can never go wrong with dining here and brunch on the weekends is always a vibe. I will say that there usually is a long wait, but if you can come during the weekdays, then you won’t have trouble finding a seat.
• Devoción: Devoción is a popular coffee spot located in Williamsburg with carefully sourced Colombian coffee and delicious pastries served in a light-filled, brick-lined space with leather sofas. Due to the beautiful decor and the open lit space, this cafe is always packed. However, don’t let that deter you from visiting! Even if you decide to grab and go, their coffee will not disappoint. I’m also a fan of their guava and cheese croissant. I thought it would be on the sweeter side, but it was just right.
  

  

  

  
  
• Maman: Whenever I meet someone for coffee, I love suggesting Maman! Maman is a café, bakery, restaurant and event space and there are tons of locations in NYC! My favorite one has to be Soho. What’s great about Maman is that you can get a coffee for the morning or as an afternoon pick me up. You can also come here for lunch on the weekdays and brunch on the weekends. The cafes are beautifully decorated and the food here is always delicious!
• Sonnyboy: I finally got around to brunching at Sonnyboy and yes I’m glad I did! Sonnyboy is an Australian restaurant, located in the Lower East Side, serving seasonally-driven, global plates & cocktails, plus a happy hour. My favorite item is their burrata and fig toast and I would go back just for that. Like many NYC brunch spots, this place has a long wait, but you can make reservations in advanced or plan your schedule accordingly. Since this is not too far from Nolita and Soho, you can always shop around while you wait.

  

  

  
  
  

  

  

  *Photos credit to Dara Pollak

• Bonnie’s: I’ve heard amazing reviews about Bonnie’s and I was lucky enough to experience dining here last week with my friend, Dara Pollak. Bonnie’s is a Cantonese American restaurant from Calvin Eng located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It is near impossible to snag a reservation here, but I will admit it’s worth the hype. We ordered the following items:
  – tinned dace dip: tinned dace fish, fermented black beans + premium saltines
  – chrysanthemum green salad: chrysanthemum leaves, greens, creamy soy sesame + crispy shallots
  – dao gok: chinese long beans, fermented bean curd garlic butter + yauh ja gwai
  – fuyu cacio e pepe mein: cacio e pepe, fermented beancurd, black pepper + pecorino
  – cha siu mcrib: cha siu glaze, steamed ribs, chinese hot mustard, b&b pickles + milk bun
  
  I can’t even begin to rank the items because they honestly were all out of the world. The flavors were unique and I don’t think you can get these foods anywhere else. Definitely add this to your list and be persistent because I promise it’s an unforgettable dining experience.
  
  

  

  

  

  

  
• Lilia: Similar to Bonnie’s, Lilia is also a restaurant that is difficult to dine at. However, if you go on their website, you can find reservations that are several weeks out. I have also discovered that if you go to the restaurant in person, they will be able to help you make a reservation in advanced. Known for their delicious hand crafted pasta, Lilia has a reputation for a reason. I actually had an early dinner at 5 pm here. It was the perfect time because I was able to catch the sunset afterwards. I recommend sharing plates because it was difficult to choose from the menu items. My friend and I shared the following:– Roasted Leek Focaccia, Green Garlic Butter
  – Little Gem Lettuce, Italian Vinaigrette, Pecorino, Breadcrumbs
  – Sheeps Milk Cheese Filled Agnolotti, Saffron, Dried Tomato, Honey
  – Fettuccine, Lamb Sausage, Tomato Passato, Lemon, Pecorino
  

  

  

  
  

   

  The Roasted Leek Focaccia blew my mind and I wasn’t expecting it to taste that good! Also, the Sheeps Milk Cheese Filled Agnolotti was INCREDIBLE! I mean just look at the photo above. Please do yourself a favor and make a reservation now, order that and thank me later 🙂

  

  

  
• Qahwah House: If you love tea, then you have to try Qahwah House! It’s a laid-back hangout cafe located in Williamsburg, specializing in organic coffee grown in Yemen. The place also offers Yemen pastries, which I haven’t tried before. I ordered the Adeni Chai, which is Yemeni black tea, cardamom, nutmeg and milk. As a sweet tooth lover, I had to pair it with Khaliat Alnahl, which is a Yemeni dessert consisting of soft pull apart buttery cheese-filled rolls drizzled with honey. It was the perfect combination for something sweet, but not overwhelming. Qahwah House is often packed like many popular NYC coffee shops.  However, if you wait around, you will most likely be able to find seats. I highly recommend visiting as it’s a different experience from your typical coffee shop. The tea and pastries are also delicious and unique.
  

  

  

  
• The Greens at Pier 17: I am a huge fan of rooftop restaurants and sunset views, which makes it no surprise why I recommend The Greens. The Greens is a unique outdoor dining destination comprised of 32 ski-inspired private cabins with an emphasis on international cuisines, seasonal cocktails, and interactive programming, located at Pier 17 Seaport.  You can enjoy a variety of dishes and cocktails in your cabin outfitted with comfortable banquette seating, a virtual fireplace, electric heating, an air purifier, and chic décor. I ordered the following:– Spicy Caesar Salad: Gem Lettuce, Breadcrumbs, Lemon, Parmesan Cheese
  – Spinach and Cheese Empanada: Tomatillo Salsa, Lime
  – Roasted Faroe Island Salmon: Steamed Broccoli, Ginger-Chili Vinaigrette
  – Cavatelli: Pomodoro Sauce, Smoked Mozzarella, Arugula, Chili

  The portions were perfect to share with a friend and I felt extremely satisfied afterwards. I recommend making reservation around sunset so you can admire the beautiful views of the city.

• Restoration Hardware Rooftop: Dining at RH rooftop has been on my list for a while and I finally got a chance to experience a beautiful lunch there! If you’re not familiar, Restoration Hardware is an upscale American home-furnishings company. The restaurant is located in the Meatpacking District and is actually located in the furniture shop. With that being said, you can imagine how beautiful the lobby and entrance is. For lunch, my friend and I split the truffle fries and the avocado toast. Surprisingly, this filled us up because the portion for the avocado toast was basically made for two. We enjoyed a relaxing afternoon and admired the gorgeous decor. This is a great place to visit especially if you want to walk the Highline or go to The Whitney Museum of Art afterwards.
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  
• L`Avenue: I was invited to dine at L`Avenue, which is a French restaurant located at Saks Fifth Avenue. I added this to the roundup because people who usually visit New York also love to shop. And Saks Fifth Avenue is definitely a great place to do so. With a long day of shopping, sometimes it’s best to just eat at the restaurant at the retail store instead of going out and looking for a restaurant. However, this is also a great dinner spot for those wanting a nice evening out, whether it’s with friends or a date. The decor and ambiance of the restaurant is a mood. It’s warm, dark and intimate. I loved everything from the moment I walked in to the moment I walked out. And for those that love to take photos, get your cameras and phones ready because there is a photo opportunity at every corner. Remember to also go downstairs for the bar area!
  

  

  

  
  

  L`Avenue is exactly what you would expect from a French restaurant, fancy and upscale, yet worthy. I ordered the following:
  – avocado tuna
  -chicken spring rolls
  – spicy  thai beef
  – tom yam chili sea bass
  -famous cheesecake
  – Saks Smores

  The portions are great for sharing and it’s a dinner to be enjoyed, and not rushed. This is a place to splurge but I promise it’ll be one of your favorite dining experiences! And I honestly can’t wait to go back again 🙂