Welcome to the second installment of Immaculate Infatuation’s New York Summer Guide. Hopefully, you downloaded last year’s edition and found it to be an indispensable resource all season long, leading you to excellent food and drinks and only minor sunburns. If this is your first time seeing one of these things, or for that matter stumbling across Immaculate Infatuation, we’re pleased to meet you, and might we add that you are also very good looking. Now go download our app.

For the 2013 edition of our Guide To Killing It This Summer, we’ve decided to maintain essentially the same format as last year’s book, but also tried to fill more of the pages with things that are actually useful to you. For instance, we’ve nixed the “new restaurants” section, mostly because about half of the ones we put in last year never ended up actually opening. Whoops. Sorry if you’ve been trying to find the phone number to Brooklyn Fare Manhattan since last July.

We also added a few new sections that should make your friends and loved ones super impressed with your newfound ability to craft the perfect summer Sunday or pick out an awesome bottle of wine. So whatever you do, take all the credit and do not tell them that you have this thing. Actually, on second thought, that doesn’t bode well for our plan to have it spread via word of mouth. Tell a lot of people, but only strangers.

Nailed it.

Here's to having the best summer ever, again.

Stang, Steinthal & the entire Immaculate Infatuation team.

INTRODUCTION

Our list of the best back yard, patio, rooftop, and garden dining that New York City has to offer. Restaurants with four rickety tables on the sidewalk need not apply.

SUMMER EATING: THE BEST OF THE PATIO SITUATIONS

1

THE PINES The Pines opened last September, and this summer will be your first opportunity to scope out this restaurant’s excellent back yard area. There’s a bit of a different thing going on out here as compared to what they do inside, and we like it.

In the garden, the menu and drinks are a tip of the hat to the summer vibes of Northern Spain, complete with wood grilled eats and some excellent Spanish ciders. No word on whether or not men in attendance will be required to wear tiny bathing suits and fanny packs, but we’re betting it’s encouraged.

284 3rd Ave., Brooklyn,NY 11215718-596-6560

GRAN ELECTRICAGran Electrica was on our list of new restaurants in last year’s guide, but this is the section they really belong in, thanks to the prime patio that sits directly under the Brooklyn Bridge. This place is home to some of the better Mexican food in New York, and they also have an excellent list of creative cocktails. Proximity to Brooklyn Bridge Park also makes Gran Electrica an ideal destination for dinner after a day spent outside.

5 Front St., Brooklyn,NY 11201718-852-2789

JOHN BROWN SMOKEHOUSEJohn Brown Smokehouse is a glorious place in Queens where you can eat smoked meat and drink beer out of a giant glass boot, all while listening to a guy named Pork Chop Willie play the blues. And what the f*ck else do you want from life if not that? Oh, and try to get there before they run out of the burnt ends. That’s the stuff that John Brown smokes best.

10-43 44th Dr.,Long Island City, NY 11101347-617-1120

LOBSTER JOINTWe missed putting this one in last year’s guide and felt like real assholes about it after making our first visit in like, late September. This Lobster Joint might not be anywhere near a real beach (it’s in Greenpoint), but it is about as close to a real-deal clam shack as we have in this city. The Connecticut style lobster roll is excellent, and is especially hard to beat on a hot Sunday afternoon with one of their lobster claw bloody marys in hand.

1073 Manhattan Ave.,Brooklyn, NY 11222718-389-8990

DO OR DINEDo Or Dine is a restaurant after our own hearts, mostly because they don’t take themselves too seriously, and their menu often features things like foie gras donuts and a dish called “All Pork Everything.” They also have a nice back patio with some “street art” on the wall, because that sh*t is EDGY.

Make sure to swipe through the photo gallery on the left to the photo of “A Fish and Some Chips,” which is one of the more popular things to eat here. That should give you a pretty good idea of how Do Or Dine gets down.

1108 Bedford Ave.,Brooklyn, NY 11216718-684-2290

PIG & KHAOAt this point, it really isn’t breaking news that a Top Chef alumnus has opened a restaurant, because there are about 250 Top Chef alumni by now. It’s pretty much the same thing as saying, “Oh hey, remember that kid from Season 12 of American Idol?” Of course you don’t.

Regardless, Pig And Khao is a solid Asian (don’t say fusion, don’t say fusion) Fusion restaurant that opened this winter, and they have some nice outdoor space – a rarity down here on the Lower East Side.

68 Clinton St., Manhattan, NY 10002212-920-4485

JONES WOOD FOUNDRY Jones Wood Foundry is a dark English gastro pub on the Upper East Side that serves classic English food like haddock & chips and bangers and mash - not exactly the kind of establishment you’d expect to see on a guide to summertime eating. But JWF happens to have an amazing little five-table garden tucked behind the restaurant, and it’s a great place to have a meal and a few drinks from their well-curated beer and wine list.

A word to the wise: go for brunch. Nobody seems to think of Jones Wood Foundry as a daytime spot, so you can usually nab a table outside without a wait.

401 E. 76th St.,Manhattan, NY 10021212-249-2700

THE CANNIBALThe Cannibal will make you fat. It will also make you more awesome. This meat-centric bar and restaurant is built for badasses, serving a heavy-duty carnivore’s menu with an endless list of high alcohol beers and “lots of car bombs.” If you have a beard and a penchant for bare knuckle fighting, you’re going to love it here. What’s funny though is that you’ll also find a lot of classy looking ladies at The Cannibal, enjoying the drinks and maybe some beef heart tartare. God bless those ladies.

That patio behind the restaurant is covered, so mark this place down as Perfect For one of those rainy days in July.

113 E. 29th St.,Manhattan, NY 10016212-686-5480

VINEGAR HILL HOUSEStill one of the very best, yet also still very annoying if you don’t show up right when they open. We will always love Vinegar Hill House, even though the waits can be ridiculous and they are sometimes mean to us. It’s just too good to give up.

The restaurant just started taking reservations for parties of four or more about a month ago, so here’s to hoping that makes the process of getting in for dinner a little less traumatic.

72 Hudson Ave.,Brooklyn, NY 11201718-522-1018

THE FARM ON ADDERLEYThe Farm On Adderley is not an actual farm, but they do the local/seasonal thing very well. Everything this place serves is thoughtfully sourced and very high quality. We like it best for brunch, when the huge back patio is in full effect. Dinner is solid too, and it’s even a good spot for breakfast, for all those times that you find yourself in Ditmas Park on an early weekday morning.

1108 Cortelyou Rd.,Brooklyn, NY 11218718-287-3101

FRANKIES 457This is the original Frankies Spuntino restaurant, and it’s a New York summertime standard. Sitting in the back yard with a plate of meatballs and some of their house made cavatelli with sausage is pretty much the best thing ever.

457 Court St., Brooklyn, NY 11231718-403-0033

THE GOOD FORKThe Good Fork is back in action after Hurricane Sandy tore it up back in October. That’s good news for everyone in Red Hook, and anyone who's looking to make a day out of having an excellent meal that will benefit a local business. While you're at it, go check out a few other places in the ‘hood too. Red Hook is a quick ferry ride from pretty much anywhere, and we hear you can even get there by bus, though we’ve never tried such a thing.

391 Van Brunt St.,Manhattan, NY 11231718-643-6636

GALLOW GREENGallow Green is the bar and restaurant that sits on top of The McKittrick Hotel, home to Sleep No More. And even though it’s open to the public (no ticket required), it is most definitely a part of the show. The whole experience is an extension of the Sleep No More theme, like a 1930’s outdoor restaurant set, complete with actors in character that will probably say some weird sh*t to you at some point during your visit. Or maybe they're not being weird at all - it just seems that way because you've been drinking absinthe out of a punch bowl for the last two hours. The '30s are awesome.

530 W. 27th St.,Manhattan, NY 10001212-564-1662

ROCKAWAY TACOIt’s been a miserable year for the Rockaways. We’re all aware of the struggles people continue to face in the wake of Hurricane Sandy’s destruction, and Rockaway Taco is no exception. Over the past five years, this place has become a huge part of the Rockaways culture. Everyone comes here: the locals, the surfers, the hipsters…it’s a melting pot of humanity in the best possible way. And thankfully, Rockaway Taco has reopened. Once again, you can chow down on the best fish tacos money can buy in New York City. This summer, make sure to try and take at least one trip to Rockaway. Hang out at the beach, spend money at local businesses, and bring positive energy to the good people of our city.

95-19 RockawayBeach Blvd.,Rockaway Beach, NY347-213-7466

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, ligula suspendisse nulla pretium, rhoncus tempor placerat fermentum, enim inte-ger ad vestibulum volutpat. Nisl rhoncus turpis est, vel elit, congue wisi enim nunc ultricies sit, magna tin-cidunt. Maecenas aliquam maecenas ligula nostra, ac-cumsan taciti. Sociis mauris in integer, a dolor netus

CREDITS

2

Cool photos, right?

There’s more where that came from.

Download the full experience, including over 175 photos,interactive maps, and some ideas on how to build the best dayever.

PDFs are so 2007.

Because not every outing has to involve a meal.Or so we're told.

SUMMER DRINKING: BARS

SOAKED AT MONDRIAN SOHOEven though the name might imply it, this place is unfortunately not a water park for slutty adults. It is, however, the best rooftop situation in New York City. The Mondrian is the tallest building in Soho, and Soaked occupies the entire roof, offering 360 degree views of the entire city. You’re probably going to wait in line to get in, but it’s probably worth it for the views alone.

Oh, and “Soaked” is apparently a reference to the booze soaked fruit drinks that the bar specializes in. You’ll want to have a few of those.

9 Crosby St.,Manhattan, NY 212-389-1000

SWEET AFTONYou probably haven’t been to Sweet Afton, but we’re willing to bet you’ve been to at least one of the other bars that this group owns: Wilfie & Nell, The Wren, The Penrose, and Bua. Sweet Afton is their venture into the somewhat developing “scene” in Astoria, and we like it a lot. As is the case with the rest of the places these guys run, Sweet Afton can get very crowded. But if you work it right and get there early, happy hour on the patio certainly doesn’t suck. The food isn’t half bad either.

30-09 34th St.,Astoria, NY 11103 718-777-2570

MULBERRY PROJECTMulberry Project will always be an Infatuation favorite, thanks to their amazing bespoke cocktails and a great outdoor area. There are some nice small plates available for snacking too, which we recommend taking advantage of so that you can have more drinks. You want more drinks.

149 Mulberry St.,Manhattan, NY 10013646-448-4536

SPUTYEN DUYVILSpuyten Duyvil is going to take you to school. Just when you thought your newfound enthusiasm for Sierra Nevada made you and expert on the subject, these guys will educate you on all kinds of beer from all over the world that you've never even heard of. The back garden is a great place to drink, and this place is just a few steps from Fette Sau. We recommend pairing the two destinations whenever possible.

359 Metropolitan Ave.,Manhattan, NY 11211718-963-4140

THE IDES AT THE WYTHE HOTELWilliamsburg is the new SoHo, and it’s places like The Ides that have all those super cool fashion types riding the L train to Bedford with the rest of us. The Ides is the rooftop bar on the sixth floor of the uber-hip Wythe Hotel, which makes us uncomfortable just because we had to use those words to describe it. But the cocktails here – specifically anything containing tequila – are really well done, and actually cheaper than they might be at a rooftop hotel bar in Manhattan. Come between 6pm and 9pm to get in on all the action, as that’s when The Ides is usually popping off.

80 Wythe Ave.,Brooklyn, NY 11249718-460-8000

RAINES LAW ROOMRaines Law Room is easily one of the coolest, most impressive cocktail bars on the isle of Manhattan. Through an unmarked door on the bottom floor of an old townhouse, you’ll find a drinking establishment full of several different themed rooms. It actually kind of reminds us of Sleep No More, but with fewer masks and less kidnappings. Our favorite room isn’t the parlor with the plush couches and curtains, the lounge with the fireplace, or the super cool kitchen space where all the drinks are created…it’s the lush back garden. Get a fizzy summer cocktail and enjoy life outside.

48 W. 17th St.,Manhattan, NY 10011

BLUE RIBBON BEER GARDEN Brand new for summer 2013, Team Blue Ribbon has opened up a 60-seat outdoor space at the Thompson Hotel Lower East Side. It’s got everything: beers, BBQ, ping pong, and plenty of board games. This is a huge addition for the ‘hood.

190 Thompson St.,Second Floor,Manhattan, NY 10012212-466-0404

SUMMER DRINKING: WINES

Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean you have to switch over to cheap rosé and wine coolers. Here are a few wines for your warm weather repertoire that you’ll love drinking, and that will also make you look like an extremely refined and desirable human when you bring them to a party.

RED

FLEUR DE CALIFORNIA PETITE SIRAH 2008 - $13-$16

This might be the ultimate utility wine. It’s a ridiculously drinkable Petite Sirah, and at the price point, you should have some on hand at all times. We’ve yet to meet someone who doesn’t absolutely love this stuff.

Get it from: Millesima Wines, Upper East Side

OLGA RAFFAULT - CHINON LES BARNABES, 2009 - $23-$26

A great wine for easy afternoon drinking or grilling up some food. This became a Stang favorite after first having it at Daniel. We then started drinking it on the regular, especially if we were cook-ing up some chicken and didn’t want to have a white. It’s rela-tively light and a little bit earthy.

Get it from: Union Square Wines

DASHE 2010 ZINFANDEL DRY CREEK VALLEY - $14-$18

This is the wine you want if you’re eating red meat this summer. It’s a Zinfandel from Sonoma, which means it’s big and spicy and perfect with your skirt steak. But it’s also really smooth and balanced, which means it’ll also do fine for that Sunday evening on your couch.

Get it from: Garnet Wines, Upper East Side

WHITE

THE RED HOOK WINERY SENECA LAKE RIESLING 2009 - $20-$26

The Red Hook Winery got absolutely devastated by Hurricane Sandy, but they’ve miraculously managed to re-open and are back in busi-ness making fantastic wines with New York grapes. This 2009 Riesling is one of their best. Drink it because it’s good, but also because this local business needs all the local support it can get.

Get it from: Astor Wines

FAUSSE PISTE 2011 VIOGNIER “THE MINERAL SELECTION” - $20-$23

We love wines from the Pacific Northwest, and we also love Viog-nier. So it’s no surprise that we love this wine. Fausse Piste is a winery owned and operated by a Portland raised chef, who also just opened a tasting room/restaurant called Sauvage in down-town PDX.

Get it from: Union Square Wines

PIERRE MATROT, BOURGOGNE BLANC, 2010 - $19-$22

We’ve started to get into white burgundy (Chradonnay) more and more lately. The problem is that it can be a bit daunting to choose one if you don’t know much about producers, locations, and/or French words. One good little bit of knowledge is that 2010 was a good year, and you can get it at a good price. So start there.

Get it from: Sherry Lehman

ROSE

LINI 910 ROSE LAMBRUSCO - $14-$16

We featured the white Lambrusco from Lini 910 in last year’s guide, and we’ve since discovered their Rosé, which we also like a lot. It’s a little bit fruity but also dry. Buy it for a nice change up from the typical rose choices at your liquor store.

Get it from: Vino, Gramercy

ANTICA TERRA ERRATICA PINOT NOIR ROSE 2011 - $52-$56

This is a very expensive and very strange rosé. As a matter of fact, it’s not technically rosé at all. It’s some kind of anomaly that exists between red and white wine…sort of like a very, very light pinot noir. This isn’t a bottle for everyone, but it’s interesting. Bring it to a party and you’ll seem refined and mysterious.

Get it from: Sherry Lehman

SUMMER DRINKING: BEERSCraft beers are taking over and it’s a beautiful thing. With so many microbrews now available at pretty much every bar, restaurant, and bodega in the city, we thought we’d single out some of our warm weather favorites.

bronx

Captain Lawrence

Blue Point Summer

Cithaca flower power

BRONX PALE ALE

Bronx Brewery is the new “it” beer in town and is about to be everywhere, both on tap and in tallboy cans. The Bronx Pale Ale is a deep copper beer that looks about on par with how tan you’d like to be all summer. It’s tasty, and drinks lighter than it looks.

BLUE POINT SUMMER ALE

Blue Point is one of our favorite local breweries. Their Toasted Lager is our go-to, all day, every day beer, and we also love the Blueberry Ale (especially during summer). However, it’s the light Summer Ale that makes the guide. It’s easy drinking and available in pretty much every bodega around NYC.

CAPTAIN LAWRENCE KOLSCH

Sticking with the local theme, there isn’t a Brewery that’s more exciting in New York right now than Westchester’s Captain Lawrence. We are fans of their entire lineup of brews, but the one we drink most often is the Kolsch. It’s light, but has a little bit of bite, some hops, and a touch of fruit. It finds a nice home in between lager and ale.

ITHACA FLOWER POWER IPA

Being that Steinthal went to college up in Ithaca, this beer is both near and dear to his heart (although it didn’t exist when he went to college, and it wouldn’t have mattered because he only drank the cheap sh*t in those days). Regardless, Ithaca Brewery is special, and Flower Power is their best and most widely distributed brew. A large bodied beer with a tropical twist, this IPA sports a hint of pineapple, grapefruit, and honey, making it perfect for warm weather escapades.

Summer Solsitice

Abita

Smuttynose

strongbow

ANDERSON VALLEY SUMMER SOLSTICE

Talk about a summer sundae of deliciousness, this may be the ultimate warm weather treat. All the way from California comes the the Anderson Valley Summer Solstice. It tastes like a boozy creamsicle, with a sweet, malty, creamy feel, and a clean finish. It’s the ideal poolside beverage.

SMUTTYNOSE VUNDERBAR PILSNER

Smuttynose rules. Their New Hampshire brand of micro brewing is tremendous and in addition to making delicious things to drink, each beer comes with funky name and fun packaging. Their Vunderbar is everything you expect from a lager, but in a light, crisp pilsner with a kick of spice. It’s money in the bank for warm weather sipping.

ABITA LIGHT

We won’t judge your Coors Light, as we’ve been known to Tap The Rockies in the sweltering heat of summer too. However, if you want to drink a light beer with a little more character, go with Abita Light. Imported from New Orleans, Abita Light is crisp, refreshing, and only 118 calories. You should never be drinking Michelob Ultra again.

STRONGBOW HARD CIDER

Yup, that’s right. We drink cider from time to time. It’s a great way to kick off an evening, while in the company of good friends. We particularly like Strongbow Hard Cider,  a cider with a crisp and refreshing taste made from apples that is gluten free. We recommend enjoying it over ice.

The folks behind Immaculate Infatuation.

CREDITS

Created and Written by Chris Stang & Andrew Steinthal

Designed and Developed by Edith Levin

Produced by Mike Mignano

Co-Produced by Hannah Christ, Ryan Muir, and Greg Spitzer

Photography by Ryan Muir

Front cover by Nick Bilardello

Writing:

Chris StangAndrew Steinthal

Photos:

All photos except Rockaway Taco photos taken by Ryan Muirwww.ryanmuir.com

Rockaway Taco photos courtesy of Robert Wagner

CREDITS

Copyright 2013 EATS Athletic Club LLC

immaculateinfatuation.com@immaculateinfat

ISBN 978-0-9894914-0-2

Thank You:

Thank you Edith Levin for putting up with our complete disregard for deadlines and for bringing this Summer Guide to life.

Thank you Hannah Christ for your years of service as our Vice President of Going To College. Good luck with Ryan Gosling.