UPPER WEST SIDE — While the first day of spring was filled with snow, hungry New Yorkers starving for sun will be happy to know that the neighborhood's outdoor dining spots are starting to open for the year.
Check our list of the most popular al fresco eateries in local parks and when they'll be back in action.
Central Park
Tavern on the Green
West Drive and West 67th Street
Tavern's takeout window, which features drinks, coffee and snacks, has been open throughout the winter, but its seating area will reopen in April, with the exact date to be determined.
Outdoor seating at Tavern's dining room will reopen in May, said a spokeswoman for the restaurant.
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Loeb Boathouse Restaurant
East Drive and 75th Street, off the lake
The Boathouse restaurant, which opens onto the lake, will reopen for dinner on April 6, a staff member said. The outdoor bar will likely open the same day.
Le Pain Quotidien
Just above Sheep Meadown, off West 69th Street
This French cafe with outdoor seating perched above the Sheep Meadow has extended hours starting in mid-April. From mid-April to mid-January, Le Pain Quotidien is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The rest of the year it is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ballfields Cafe
South of Sheep Meadow, just off the 65th Street transverse
The Ballfields Cafe, which sits adjacent to the Heckscher Ballfields near the bustling Heckscher Playground, reopened on March 1 and will remain that way until Nov. 30, a Parks Department spokeswoman said.
Riverside Park
West 79th Street Boat Basin Cafe
West 79th Street and the Hudson River
The popular hangout along the Hudson and next to the famous Boat Basin hasn't offered an exact reopening date yet, but a Parks Department spokeswoman said it plans to reopen in March from noon to sunset. The hours will be extended in May.
From May through September, the hours are as follows: Mon.-Weds., 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Thurs.-Fri., 12 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Pier i Cafe
Hudson River and West 70th Street
Pier i staff expect the waterfront cafe will be back in action on Saturday, April 25, but that's a rough estimate and subject to change.
Ellington In The Park (formerly the Hudson Beach Cafe)
Riverside Drive and West 105th Street
The Hudson Beach Cafe is reopening as Ellington in the Park in mid-April, said new owner Glenda Sansone, who also owns The Ellington on West 106th Street at Amsterdam Avenue.