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An outdoor covered dining area.
The outdoor seating for While in Kathmandu in Ridgewood.
While in Kathmandu

Where to Dine Outdoors in Queens

These places are making the most of the borough’s relatively spacious land

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The outdoor seating for While in Kathmandu in Ridgewood.
| While in Kathmandu

Thanks to the general spaciousness of land in Queens, restaurants have been boasting sprawling patios decked out with towering trees and floral arrangements for years, but pandemic restrictions upped the ante. Though not every day in early spring is perfect for dining outdoors, here’s a handful of spots that are open early in the season.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

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Aliada’s street structure is so nice only the cold and rain will have you missing the indoors. Rattan pendant lights hang from the white wood ceiling, and green shrubs line the perimeter, creating a barrier between the dining space and street traffic. Upon sitting, servers bring out warm pita and yellow split peas, which you can follow up with other Greek and Cypriot classics like grilled octopus, sheftalia, and whole fish preparations. Either of the mixed meat and seafood platters showcase what the restaurant does best.

Cafe Turkiye Grill

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There are only a few cramped tables indoors so outdoor dining at Cafe Turkiye is de facto. Head to the back, where you’re led to a large, open patio with about a dozen tables, each with an umbrella. Turkish pastries — gozleme, borek, simit, pide — are the cafe’s specialty. Sample several in the Turkish breakfast spread, which also includes feta, kashkaval, and stringy dil peynir cheeses, sujuk (fermented sausage), egg, olives, and tomato salad with a cup of traditional coffee or tea.

Jiang Nan

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Perched right alongside the dining room wall, the outdoor space at this Sichuan-Huaiyang restaurant is an extension of the polished indoor decor with its dark wood floors and roof. The outdoor structure is divided into booths that can be closed off with wooden curtains so customers can enjoy Peking duck and assorted seafood dishes in privacy.

Veranda

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Between the beige wall, beige canopy, and beige table settings, the sprawling patio at this Mediterranean bistro feels like being on a cruise ship, but the spaciousness is unrivaled. It’s a prime destination for eating grilled octopus and lamb chops while enjoying a warm afternoon breeze.

John Brown BBQ

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This no-frills barbecue joint specializes in Kansas City-style meats, but don’t miss their sides like their melty mac and cheese and cake-like cornbread. Kick back with burnt ends, smoky brisket, and pastrami sandwiches, with a pint of Sixpoint in its sprawling backyard.

Kin’d

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The outdoor structure in front of Kin’d evokes strong garden vibes. Brambles of faux flowers climb up wooden posts and onto the roof, and a green rug demarcates the dining space from the rest of the sidewalk. Warm up with curry noodle soups, fried soft shell crab, crispy basil duck, and penang curry. Take advantage of the $12 or $15 lunch specials.

Paratha Wala

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This modern Indian restaurant’s funky and colorful Bollywood-inspired decor spills over into the backyard where a partially enclosed outdoor structure is designed with tapestry-covered lamp shades and wood that evokes a leopard’s pattern. The rest of the backyard and front sidewalk accommodate additional tables and chairs. Kale fritters and the chicken tikka bowl are local favorites.

Three silver tables and ten chairs sit inside a wooden structure.
The outdoor structure in the Paratha Wala’s backyard.
Paratha Wala

While in Kathmandu

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The team behind While in Kathmandu completed the construction of a spacious outdoor structure in the back patio in March. Gathered red and cream-colored curtains drape across sheer beige roofing, and the bamboo poles making up the front wall of the structure give a secret tropical feel. The Nepali spot offers five kinds of jhol momos including those with untraditional fillings like plantain and shrimp. Other favorites are the crispy masala chicken wings, and tender goat skewers grilled over open flames. fcmm3/20

Kimo's Kitchen

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Located two blocks from Rockaway Beach, Kimo’s Kitchen includes a spacious backyard where customers can bask in the breeze of the nearby ocean. It’s fitted with long communal picnic tables, and a turquoise mural of blue domed churches of Greece and the camels and pyramids of Egypt, illustrating the chef’s roots and his Mediterranean menu. Do not miss out on the restaurant’s signature falafel, whether they’re in rice bowl, sandwich, or mezze platter format.

Aliada

Aliada’s street structure is so nice only the cold and rain will have you missing the indoors. Rattan pendant lights hang from the white wood ceiling, and green shrubs line the perimeter, creating a barrier between the dining space and street traffic. Upon sitting, servers bring out warm pita and yellow split peas, which you can follow up with other Greek and Cypriot classics like grilled octopus, sheftalia, and whole fish preparations. Either of the mixed meat and seafood platters showcase what the restaurant does best.

Cafe Turkiye Grill

There are only a few cramped tables indoors so outdoor dining at Cafe Turkiye is de facto. Head to the back, where you’re led to a large, open patio with about a dozen tables, each with an umbrella. Turkish pastries — gozleme, borek, simit, pide — are the cafe’s specialty. Sample several in the Turkish breakfast spread, which also includes feta, kashkaval, and stringy dil peynir cheeses, sujuk (fermented sausage), egg, olives, and tomato salad with a cup of traditional coffee or tea.

Jiang Nan

Perched right alongside the dining room wall, the outdoor space at this Sichuan-Huaiyang restaurant is an extension of the polished indoor decor with its dark wood floors and roof. The outdoor structure is divided into booths that can be closed off with wooden curtains so customers can enjoy Peking duck and assorted seafood dishes in privacy.

Veranda

Between the beige wall, beige canopy, and beige table settings, the sprawling patio at this Mediterranean bistro feels like being on a cruise ship, but the spaciousness is unrivaled. It’s a prime destination for eating grilled octopus and lamb chops while enjoying a warm afternoon breeze.

John Brown BBQ

This no-frills barbecue joint specializes in Kansas City-style meats, but don’t miss their sides like their melty mac and cheese and cake-like cornbread. Kick back with burnt ends, smoky brisket, and pastrami sandwiches, with a pint of Sixpoint in its sprawling backyard.

Kin’d

The outdoor structure in front of Kin’d evokes strong garden vibes. Brambles of faux flowers climb up wooden posts and onto the roof, and a green rug demarcates the dining space from the rest of the sidewalk. Warm up with curry noodle soups, fried soft shell crab, crispy basil duck, and penang curry. Take advantage of the $12 or $15 lunch specials.

Paratha Wala

This modern Indian restaurant’s funky and colorful Bollywood-inspired decor spills over into the backyard where a partially enclosed outdoor structure is designed with tapestry-covered lamp shades and wood that evokes a leopard’s pattern. The rest of the backyard and front sidewalk accommodate additional tables and chairs. Kale fritters and the chicken tikka bowl are local favorites.

Three silver tables and ten chairs sit inside a wooden structure.
The outdoor structure in the Paratha Wala’s backyard.
Paratha Wala

While in Kathmandu

The team behind While in Kathmandu completed the construction of a spacious outdoor structure in the back patio in March. Gathered red and cream-colored curtains drape across sheer beige roofing, and the bamboo poles making up the front wall of the structure give a secret tropical feel. The Nepali spot offers five kinds of jhol momos including those with untraditional fillings like plantain and shrimp. Other favorites are the crispy masala chicken wings, and tender goat skewers grilled over open flames. fcmm3/20

Kimo's Kitchen

Located two blocks from Rockaway Beach, Kimo’s Kitchen includes a spacious backyard where customers can bask in the breeze of the nearby ocean. It’s fitted with long communal picnic tables, and a turquoise mural of blue domed churches of Greece and the camels and pyramids of Egypt, illustrating the chef’s roots and his Mediterranean menu. Do not miss out on the restaurant’s signature falafel, whether they’re in rice bowl, sandwich, or mezze platter format.

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