As we head into the dog days of summer, it’s time to chill out and enjoy summer Fridays and lazy weekends around the city.
Outdoor adventures are the perfect opportunity to catch up with friends, soak in the sun, and of course, eat good food. With continued concern about Covid, there’s no better time for a picnic!
Indulge in these delicious grab-and-go options that are conveniently located next to your favorite parks.
Your social media feed will thank you later.
Virgil’s Upper West Side: West Side of Central Park and Riverside Park
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Great Texan barbeque is here—without ever having to leave Manhattan! Although the Times Square location just opened, Virgil’s pop-up shop on the Upper West Side is the perfect spot to grab some ‘cue and enjoy at the park. Devour juicy, fall-apart smoked meats including Memphis Style Pork Spare Ribs, tender Texas Beef Brisket, and crowd-favorite Smoked Chicken Wings. For a less-mess option, get it on a sandwich with options like a Texas Beef Brisket Melt, Crispy Fried Chicken Sandwich, or Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich. Mouth-watering sides including Mac & Cheese, Collard Greens, and Buttermilk Biscuits. Rest assured, nobody will be left hungry.
Noz Market: East Side of Central Park
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The team behind Michelin-starred restaurant Sushi Noz opened a specialty and butcher shop called Noz Market and we couldn’t be happier. Available to-go Sashimi Boxes come in a variety of delicious options, along with maki rolls and chirashi bowls. There’s nothing better than great sushi, great vibes, and great company. Oh, and a great view of the city that never sleeps. Incredibly fresh, Noz Market’s offerings provide a light and easy meal perfect for a Sunday afternoon date in the park.
Manhattanville Market: North End of Riverside Park and West Harlem Piers
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New multi-concept food hall Manhattanville Market is turning heads in West Harlem. Bringing four culinary diverse brands to the neighborhood under one roof, this eclectic food hall is great for a smorgasbord-style picnic. The market features Sicilian pizzeria Benny’s Casanova, melt-in-your-mouth sandwiches from Butterfunk Biscuit, Mediterranean-inspired Shai Hummusiya, and healthy salad concept The Botanist. If you’re just as indecisive as we are, West Harlem’s new marketplace is the spot for you.
The Little Beet: The Battery
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The Little Beet in the Financial District is a great grab-and-go picnic opportunity for those taking in views of The Statue of Liberty at The Battery. Customizable and vegetable-forward bowls make easy and satisfyingly healthy lunch and dinner options. Diners can order a chef-made bowl such as the Beet Falafel bowl or Brussel Hustle Bowl, or build their own selecting a base of basmati rice, quinoa, or field Greens. For that added health factor, add veggies like roasted sweet Potatoes or cucumbers & chickpeas with feta, and then top with a protein including baked beet falafel, roasted chicken, or salmon poke.
Universal Taco & Wings: Piers 25-40 of Hudson River Park
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For those chilling with friends near Hudson River Park, Universal Taco & Wings makes a great to-go option. Offering eight incredibly unique taco combinations with flavors inspired from across the globe, this taco joint is guaranteed to satisfy any palette. Served on a choice of corn or flour tortillas, the Baja Style Shrimp is refreshing for a hot summer day. If you’re more of a chill girl who eats wings, try the Jamaican wings with jerk sauce and rum glaze, grilled Portuguese-style wings with peri-peri sauce, and classic Buffalo.
Le Pain Quotidien: Virtually Next To Every Park In The City
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An oldie but a goodie, Le Pain Quotidien is the best spot to grab French-inspired picnic goodies. With locations adjacent to Central Park, and others close to The Battery and Hudson River Park, this New York City staple is conveniently located to just about everything. The odds of passing a Le Pain on your early morning jog are about as high as running into your ex when you look absolutely disgusting from the night before. Pretty darn high. Serving a wide variety of sandwiches, salads, tartines, and bakery treats, Le Pain is practically the hallmark of instagrammable picnic foods.
Photography by: Svetlana Kuznetsova
