Outdoor Dining On Grand Street

If there’s one shared love all Brooklynites have, it’s dining outdoors! Most of the bars and restaurants in the Grand Street BID are lucky enough to have backyard space ideal for warm Summer days and cooler Fall nights; while others were able set up sidewalk and street seating. Our outdoor dining guide highlights all the available outdoor seating and is updated regularly to reflect available seating at our local restaurants and watering holes. Stop by to enjoy the perks of outdoor dining on Grand Street!

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If you’re looking to enjoy a meal away from the hustle and bustle, escape the busy streets by relaxing in one of our notable backyard dining areas

Outdoor Dining at Ammazzacaffè

Ammazzacaffè: This large yet cozy backyard space is used to serve excellent Italian specialties along with live music on select evenings. Take a break from the street and enjoy the ambiance of their secluded outdoor dining area while dining on cuisine that’s been featured on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list.

BK Jani: Stop by for an award winning burger from BK Jani in their cozy little backyard. They transformed the space to create an intimate dining experience.

Café Miguel

Taco Edition’s backyard

BK Jani

Taco Edition + Best Pizza: These two businesses share a backyard space, splitting it right down the middle. Behind the small storefronts is a bright and comfortable setting filled with greenery - perfect for enjoying either a taco or slice of pizza.

Mini-golf at Bushwick Country Club

Café Miguel: Grand Street’s newest Cafe has a gorgeous backyard filled with lush greenery. Try their Mexico City inspired dishes involving masa (corn dough), sopa (soup), and nopales (cactus), with proteins like chicken and ceviche to be rotated in occasionally.

A number of our bars have backyard seating as well as sidewalk service! Check out any of them for some tasty drinks and snacks.

Bushwick Country Club: Home to the pickelback shot, BCC has both the vibe and history of a classic dive bar. Check out their mini-golf located in their backyard while sipping on a frozen slushie.

Crystal Lake: Grab a table out front at Crystal Lake. This neighborhood staple is continuing to offer their happy hour drink specials from 5-8pm with pop-up BiTcHn KiTcHn serving up comfort food classics with a modern twist!

The Starlight Tavern: Check out the skee-ball inside before lounging in The Starlight Tavern’s backyard area. Enjoy a variety of cocktails amidst retro décor - and try classic bar staples like burgers and a skirt steak.

Blinky’s

Redd's Tavern: Redd’s Tavern is serving up specials in their backyard and small front patio. With a rotating food menu and daily cocktails designed by the bartenders, this local watering hole is well worth a visit.

Lady Jays

Blinky's: Blinky's is now well established on Grand Street with a big and lush backyard setup, perfect for hot summer evenings. Stop by & try one of their famous spicy margaritas.

Lady Jay's: This backyard is open for business and serving up rotating snacks to accompany their drinks. Shade from the trees couple with a large mural makes this space have great vibes.

Haven: This bar on Grand Street has a swanky interior and a small backyard to welcome everyone for the summer months. Play a game of pool and then take a seat out back to enjoy your drinks.

The Clonard: This Irish pub has sidewalk seating in front and a newly renovated backyard. Grab a beer and a burger or stop by for weekend brunch. This lively pub is the place to be (They are the featured photo for this article).

The Last Call: Formerly Koko's, The Last Call offers a variety of Japanese themed cocktails, sake, and yakitori in their gorgeous backyard. Enjoy there unique cocktails in a large space filled with seating set for big groups.

Be a part of the Action! Many of our restaurants have comfortable and cozy sidewalk setups, take a seat and dig in!

Thip Osha: This bright façade is enhanced by three outdoor tables complete with large umbrella for a shady experience. Enjoy elevated Thai dishes at one of their cozy seats.

Thip Osha

Link Thai: One of Grand Street’s best Thai restaurants has a few tables set up outside their storefront to enjoy their classic Thai dishes and comforting noodle soups.

Grand Morelos: The cheery sidewalk tables at Grand Morelos are occupied at all hours of the day by customers enjoying classic Mexican dishes and drinks beneath the shade of their awnings and umbrellas. This spot is a hidden gem for breakfast!

Alita Cafe: Enjoy a coffee and an egg and cheese biscuit outside on Grand Street. Alita cafe is serving up delicious drinks and homemade baked goods. Stay and sip at one of their few sidewalk tables and enjoy the neighborhood!

Dar525

Carneval: This lively Latin American bar and restaurant has a bounty of backyard patio seating. Upbeat music and warm tables and cocktails makes this the place to stop for good food and good vibes.

La Taqueria: This corner joint has several tables lined up alongside their storefront, serving classic Mexican food and tasty cocktails.

Mcondo Los Tacos: Located on the busy corner of Grand Street and Union Ave, outdoor tables at Los Tacos wrap around the block. Between the tacos, frozen drinks and shady tapestries seating fills up quickly!

McOndo Tacos

Mama Pho/SoJuice: Mama Pho and their sister store SoJuice share a small sidewalk dining area in front of their shop, offering Vietnamese classics and freshly squeezed juice.

Dar 525: Dar 525’s unique storefront has a built in wood clad patio complete with a roof which frames the main entrance. This seating area is perfect spot to shield yourself from the elements while chowing down on delicious Mediterranean cuisine.

Haab: One of the only storefronts in the BID without a storefront along Grand Street, Haab has the luxury of creating a small curbside oasis around the corner on Leonard Street. The colorful setup provides ample outdoor seating for customers to enjoy the extensive Mexican menu.

Welcome Café Zouave to 759 Grand Street

Welcome Café Zouave to 759 Grand Street! Owner, Jeremie Carrier, is bringing his vision of a French Bistro to Williamsburg with this new restaurant. Café Zouave aims to be a neighborhood restaurant open to all: a place where you can enjoy a French pastry and coffee in the mornings, and a steak dinner later in the day. Alongside Jeremie are his partners George and Sammy. The three met while working at a French brasserie over 20 years ago. They dreamed of partnering up one day to open up a restaurant together; two decades later their dream has finally come true.

Jeremie has been involved in restaurants his entire life. His family back in Evian, France has run restaurants and hotels for several generations. This shows in the way the bistro is decorated: the walls are adorned with ornaments from his homeland and family. Above the foosball table in the lounge area are 60 year old lights taken from his grandmother’s hotel. Alongside the walls are paintings his father painted, artwork from all over France, and even his father’s old smoking pipes hang in the back.

Running a restaurant “doesn’t feel like work” to Jeremie. He says that he “loves the freedom of running a restaurant” and “loves to speak to customers and see their critique of my dishes in real time”. It’s in these interactions Jeremie has found his passion; sharing food with people and enjoying conversation brings him joy. That’s been the case so far with Café Zouave, with Jeremie claiming the neighborhood has been very welcoming and community oriented. Stop by Café Zouave to check out their newly renovated space and try Grand Street's very own slice of France!

Sammy, George, and Jeremie

Mario's Pizza Opens on 812 Grand Street

Welcome Mario’s Pizza to 812 Grand Street! Owner, Mario Osorio, has been making pizza at a historic nyc pizzeria (Joe’s Pizza) for over 22 years. After decades of honing his craft, Mario decided to open his own pizzeria; bringing years of experience and his family alongside him.

Step into Mario’s Pizza and you’ll most likely be helped by either Kimberly or Yael; Mario’s eldest daughter and son. Yaztiri, his youngest daughter at 10 years old, handles the register. And in the back Mario’s wife Lucia is preparing the dough for Mario to work with. They’re a family-led operation from start to finish, with everyone chipping in. The actual pizza-making is left to Mario and him alone, with his son Yael still learning the ins-and outs of making pizza. 

Mario’s felt welcomed on Grand Street, already having regular customers only two months into being in business. He feels there’s a tight sense of community in the neighborhood, citing that as one of the major reasons he decided to open up on Grand. Be sure to swing by Mario’s Pizza for a slice!

Best Pizza Arrives To 800 Grand Street

Pepperoni Pie

Best Pizza has arrived on Grand Street! Founded by Frank Pinello back in 2010, Best Pizza has served Williamsburg as a premier slice-shop for over a decade. The original location on Havemeyer Street has been recognized as a staple pizzeria in New York City since its inception, and now they’ve expanded to a new location on 800 Grand Street.

Owner Frank Pinello never wanted to work in a pizzeria growing up. He had grown up with a love for cooking that he gained from his Sicilian family, who cooked everything from scratch. This led Frank to attend the Culinary Institute of America, where he graduated with hopes of working in fine dining. Post graduation, Frank started working at a pizzeria to save up and open his own restaurant. This changed after a stint at Roberta’s; there the owners approached him about opening a slice shop in Williamsburg. The rest is history.

Frank and Fernando boxing a fresh pie

13 years have passed since, with a Vice show, HUF collab, and multiple co-owned locations along the way. Now, Frank is excited about bringing Best Pizza to East Williamsburg. Opening the location on 800 Grand Street was different from Best Pizza’s other expansion efforts; 800 Grand Street is fully owned and operated by Frank and his partner Hugo, who started as dishwasher when Best Pizza first opened. Be sure to check out Best Pizza for a slice!

The Last Call Opens Its Doors At 588 Grand Street

Yakitori, edamame, & drinks. Photo: @thelastcallbrooklyn

The Last Call has opened its doors to Grand Street as the new bar in town. Since rebranding and opening at the end of November, The Last Call has brought a surge of Japanese culture to Grand Street through its Tokyo-style hi-fi audio setup and range of Japanese bar foods. If you remember this spot as Koko’s, don’t worry the same owners are still there taking great care of the customers and the space.

Noriko Jimbo, owner, has made it a point to bring a piece of her Japanese heritage to Williamsburg. The Last Call features yakitori skewers Thursday through Sunday and ramen Monday through Wednesday (provided by @brooklynramennyc). Jimbo returned to Japan last October to study at a yakitori school in Tokyo. For three intensive weeks, she studied yakitori culinary techniques for 14 hours a day. The result of those hours were brought back to Brooklyn, serving as the foundation for The Last Call’s menu of different cuts of yakitori skewers.

Photo: @thelastcallbrooklyn

Yakitori and ramen are not the only new aspects of The Last Call - they are also boasting a hi-fi sound system, inspired by Tokyo hi-fi audio lounges. The bar hosts DJs on Fridays and Saturdays, while bartenders handle the setlist every other day. Though not marketing themselves as a “hi-fi audio lounge”, BK Mag has featured them in a list of Tokyo-style audio lounges. This groovy spot is bringing a variety of new foods and sounds to Grand Street, be sure to check them out!

Cover Photo: The Last Call

Koko's Opens at 588 Grand Street

Bao bun from Koko’s

Noriko and her husband Diego recently opened Koko’s, a fusion restaurant serving Nikkei food, which is a Japanese-Peruvian culinary and cultural fusion. Diego’s brother, Cesar is the chef serving up unique bites that marry Japanese technique with Peruvian flavors. The couple, who are a Japanese and Peruvian duo, have brought a taste of their home in Peru to Brooklyn. In fact, Peru has one of the largest Japanese populations in South America.

Named for the couple’s daughter, Koko’s has transformed their space into a fun and chic hangout with ample table room, full bar and a backyard. Be sure to try the Machu Pisco cocktail along with a ceviche and bao bun, or any of the other tasty options! This family-owned spot has tons of heart and soul, and we’re so excited to give them a warm Grand Street welcome to the neighborhood.

Taste of Jerusalem Opens at 812 Grand Street

Grand Street BID welcomes it’s newest restaurant, Taste of Jerusalem to 812 Grand Street! Owner, Monir Naji is an East Jerusalem native, bringing years of experience in the cuisine and restaurant industry of his city to all of us in Brooklyn. Monir previously worked in construction, and transitioned back to the food industry when the opportunity to open his own restaurant arose. The space at 812 Grand has been in limbo for a few years, and the ultimate decision to close allowed Monir to snag this awesome storefront. His passion for food led him through his career transition, and is seen in the fresh and flavorful dishes he serves.

The space may be small but is packed with warmth and the smell of fresh Israeli cuisine. An open counter setup provides a welcoming atmosphere and allows customers to choose toppings and chat as they select their dishes. Not to mention the fresh shawarma and rotisserie chickens rotating on a spit in the background, and the extra large, freshly fried homemade falafel. Monir takes pride in the freshness of his food, which is all Hallal! In addition to platters and sandwiches, there is an assortment of fresh baked goods including baklava, spinach and cheese pies, mamoul, and rice pudding.

If you get the chance, be sure to stop by Taste of Jerusalem and try some of Monir’s incredible food, we’re pretty sure you’ll get hooked!

GRAND STREET BID OUTDOOR DINING GUIDE

New York City is still enjoying the outdoor dining scene! Most of the bars and restaurants in the Grand Street BID are lucky enough to have backyard space ideal for warm Summer days. While others were able set up sidewalk and street seating. Our outdoor dining guide highlights all the available outdoor seating and is updated regularly to reflect available seating at our local restaurants and watering holes. Stop by to enjoy the perks of outdoor dining on Grand Street!

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Sidewalk seating isn’t for everyone! If you’re looking to enjoy a meal away from the hustle and bustle, escape the busy streets by relaxing in one of our two notable backyard dining areas

Outdoor Dining at Ammazzacaffe

Both Ammazzacaffe and BK Jani were listed by The Infatuation as some of the best spots to dine outside in Williamsburg.

Ammazzacaffe Ammazzacaffe is using their revered backyard space to continue serving excellent Italian specialties along with live music on select evenings. Take a break from the street and enjoy the ambiance of their secluded outdoor dining area. Reservations available!

BK Jani Stop by for an award winning burger from BK Jani in their recently opened backyard! They transformed the space to create a cozy dining experience. Ranked at the top of backyard dining in Williamsburg, this spot is a must.

Taco Edition Taco Edition recently opened their beautiful backyard! Behind the small storefront is a bright and comfortable setting perfect for enjoying their awesome mexican food.

Koko's Koko's is serving up Nikkei cuisine, Peruvian and Japanese fusion, in their colorful interior and gorgeous backyard. Enjoy there unique cocktails and seafood centric menu including an awesome sushi bar at a cozy outdoor table.

Cozy Backyard at Taco Edition!

A number of our bars have backyard seating as well as sidewalk service! Check out any of them for some tasty drinks and snacks.

Crystal Lake Grab a table out front at Crystal Lake. This neighborhood staple is continuing to offer their happy hour drink specials from 5-8pm with new pop-up BiTcHn KiTcHn serving up cofort food classic with a modern twist!

Redd's Tavern Redd’s Tavern is serving up specials in their backyard and small front patio. With a rotating food menu and daily cocktails designed by the bartenders, this local watering hole is well worth a visit.

Grab a drink and relax in Blinky’s backyard oasis

Blinky's Blinky's is now well established on Grand Street with a big and lush backyard setup, perfect for hot summer evenings. Stop bya, try one of their famous spicy margaritas, and say hello!

Lady Jay's Lady Jay's backyard is open for business and serving up rotating snacks to accompany their drinks. They’re also currently working on spicing up the outdoor setup by doing mural projects on the seating partitions. Stay tuned for pictures!

Haven The newest bar on Grand Street has a swanky interior and a small backyard to welcome everyone for the summer months. Play a game of pool and then take a seat out back to enjoy your drinks.

The Clonard This irish pub has sidewalk seating for the warmer months! Grab a beer and a burger or stop by for weekend brunch. This lively pub is the place to be.

Brand new backyard setup at The Clonard

Be a part of the Action! Many of our restaurants have comfortable and cozy sidewalk setups, take a seat and dig in!

Link Thai One of Grand Street’s newest Thai restaurant has a few tables set up outside their storefront to enjoy their classic Thai dishes and comforting noodle soups.

Thip Osha This bright façade is enhanced by three outdoor tables complete with large umbrella for a shady experience. Enjoy elevated Thai dishes at one of their cozy seats.

Chongkho Along with their takeout and delivery services, Chongkho has limited sidewalk seating available for lunch and dinner. Stop by for fantastic Thai staples and a friendly face at this family owned restaurant.

Grand Morelos The cheery sidewalk tables at Grand Morelos are occupied at all hours of the day by customers enjoying classic Mexican dishes and drinks beneath the shade of their awnings and umbrellas. This spot is a hidden gem for breakfast!

Brooklyn Standard Deli Brooklyn Standard is a neighborhood staple with fresh sandwiches, wraps, and much more from the grill. Grab a coffee and grub and enjoy outside at one of their stylish sidewalk tables or in the backyard.

Alita Cafe Enjoy a coffee and an egg and cheese biscuit outdide on Grand Street. Alits cafe is serving up delicious drinks and homemade baked goods. Stay and sip at one of their few sidewalk tables and enjoy the neighborhood!

Carneval This lively Latin American bar and restaurant has a bounty of backyard patio seating. Upbeat music and warm tables and cocktails makes this the place to stop for good food and good vibes.

La Taqueria This corner joint has several tables lined up alongside their storefront, serving classic mexican fare and tasty cocktails.

Mcondo Los Tacos Located on the busy corner of Grand Street and Union Ave, outdoor tables at Los Tacos wrap around the block. Between the tacos, frozen drinks and shady tapestries seating fills up quickly!

Mama Pho Mama Pho recently has a small sidewalk dining area in front of their shop, offering Vietnamese classics.

Dar 525 Dar 525’s unique storefront has a built in wood clad patio complete with a roof which frames the main entrance. This seating area is perfect spot to shield yourself from the elements while chowing down on delicious Mediterranean cuisine.

Haab One of the only storefronts in the BID without a storefront along Grand Street, Haab has the luxury of creating a small curbside oasis around the corner on Leonard Street. The colorful setup provides ample outdoor seating for customers to enjoy the extensive Mexican menu.

Map out your next visit to Grand Street for outdoor dining!