Outdoor Restaurants In Forest Hills To Enjoy This Summer

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — Outdoor restaurants are the epitome of summertime leisure, when residents can sit back with good food and even better company. Enjoy the season with these outdoor restaurants around Forest Hills. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Nick’s Bistro

Address: 104-20 Metropolitan Ave.

Nick’s Bistro is a full-service bar and restaurant that, according to the bistro’s Facebook page, provides “unique” Greek-American cuisine amid a contemporary bistro setting. The owners, Mario and Alfred, set out with the goal of creating an elegant establishment intended to make diners feel right at home. Nick’s Bistro lights up the night, the page notes, welcoming all patrons with the promise of authentic, homestyle Greek cooking.

Nick’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, coffee and other drinks and is open 11:30 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, until 10:30 p.m. on Fridays and from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on the weekend. On Yelp, one review mentioned the restaurant’s accommodation of her pups, with another user lauding Nick’s for its “cool” outdoor seating and that metered parking is “pretty obtainable” during the day.

Banter Irish Bar and Kitchen

Address: 108-22 Queens Blvd.

Per the Banter website, the Irish bar and kitchen seeks to recreate the traditional Irish pub scene with a modern menu that features twists on old-time Irish favorites, such as bubble and squeak dumplings and Jameson spring rolls. Banter is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and as early as 8 a.m. on the weekend.

Yelp reviews recommend Banter’s outdoor seating, located off of Queens Boulevard, on “a beautiful day.” Fun fact: Banter’s reportedly serves the city’s largest Irish whiskey selection — 79 and counting.

Munch

Address: 70-19 Austin St.

Located on the bustling strip of Austin Street, Munch serves traditional American eats such as burgers, sandwiches, 12-inch pizza pies, wings, salads, shakes, smoothies and a selection of appetizer-sized bites affectionately dubbed “munchies.” All meat is halal.

Yelp reviewers recommend Munch’s Five-Alarm Burger with a side of sweet potato fries, and Munch’s owner, Pavit Sethi, is responsive to less favorable reviews. Outdoor seating comes with an elevated view of the adjacent street. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, as well as Sunday, and until midnight on Friday and Saturday.

The Grill

Address: 107-12 70th Rd.

The Grill promises “the area’s best Mediterranean cuisine” on its Facebook page, the menu for which includes vegetarian kebabs, grilled octopus, steak, Chilean sea bass, scallops and other eats. Diners are invited to unwind with friends or family over brunch, lunch, dinner or drinks.

According to one Yelp review, the restaurant was accommodating of the Yelper’s Maltese — good news for those dining with their furrier friends. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, until midnight on Friday and Saturday and from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday.

Cabana

Address: 107-10 70th Rd.

Cabana guarantees “a truly legendary experience” for its diners, per the restaurant’s website.

“Some restaurant companies claim to be the biggest or the best in the marketplace. Cabana does not need to make such claims — because Cabana created a market,” the restaurant says.

Yelp reviews recommend going for dinner and note that, although on the pricier side, Cabana’s food is worth the price. Other reviews recommend a coconut mojito to start, ceviche with a side of plantains as an appetizer, the churrasco skirt steak for the main course and Cabana’s tres leches cake for dessert. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, as well as on Suday, and until 11 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Outdoor seating is located right in front.

Lead image via Pixabay