If you have a day off, a summer Friday, or a few hours to kill on the weekend, consider heading out to the Rockaways to sample the goods at the concessions stands along the beach. The city rebuilt the stands at Beach 86th, Beach 97th and Beach 106th Streets that were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. Now, the beach is once again home to fun seasonal restaurants like Rippers, Motorboat and the Big Banana, Rockaway Taco, Caracas Arepa Bar, and Dicosmo's Ices.

Although the owners of Thai Rock are still repairing the damage to the dining room caused by Hurricane Sandy, they recently reopened the restaurant's spacious back deck. This is a fine place to enjoy some spicy Thai food and cocktails on a summer evening, and the deck hosts live music several times each month.

Bunker is one of the biggest dining surprises of the year. This is the new, no-frills Ridgewood Vietnamese restaurant from Eleven Madison Park veteran Jimmy Tu. He originally opened this storefront as a seafood supply company, but after the space was damaged by Hurricane Sandy, Tu decided to turn it into a restaurant. The menu includes Vietnamese favorites like banh mi, pho, and banh xeo, as well as dishes that you won't find at many of the city's more popular Vietnamese establishments. In her Hungry City review, Ligaya Mishan notes that Tu is serving "some of the best Vietnamese street-style food in New York." Make sure to try the shrimp chips. Note: The restaurant is not close to any subway trains (the nearest station is in Bushwick), so plan your travel accordingly. [Photo: Facebook]

In April, chef Michael Psilakis expanded his Greek hit MP Taverna to Astoria. The chef recently told the Times that he wanted to open in the neighborhood because, "It’s the center of Greek culture in New York.” The menu includes mezze, salads, burgers, and a number of lightly-prepared proteins, as well as things like a mixed grill plate and "Greek paella." The space has a tavern room downstairs with a long bar, plus a more formal upstairs dining room with plenty of tables for large parties.

At M. Wells Dinette, chef Hugue Dufour serves versions of classic bistro and diner dishes, as well as creations that don't easily fit into any category. The menu changes daily, but Dufour frequently offers a bone marrow & escargot tart, homemade terrines, and a version of Korean bibimbap topped with an oyster and raw egg. Make sure to order one of Bethany Costello's excellent pastries for dessert.