“Whenever spring comes to New York I can’t stand the suggestion of the land that come blowing over the river from New Jersey and I’ve got to go. So I went,” wrote Jack Kerouac. While we often share Kerouac’s hankering to skip ourselves out of town, when there’s a lingering warm sun and the cherry trees come alive we fall for the city and can’t seem to find a good enough reason to leave—at least not until we’ve had our fix of open-air dining.
To help whet your appetite for spring and provide a few alternatives to Manhattan’s popular alfresco spots, here are five of our favorite off the beaten path places for outdoor dining in Brooklyn.
 | Alchemy | 56 5th Ave | Take the 2, 3, or 4 train to Bergen Street | alchemybrooklyn.com Alchemy isn’t your typical precooked pub fare. This Park Slope tavern serves up jalapeño grits, corned beef hash and sunny side up eggs for brunch, and duck confit cassoulet for dinner in a casual, cozy setting. The restaurant’s patio is even cozier behind high wooden fences and moss-covered walls. |
 | Siggy’s Good Food | 76 Henry St. | Take the 2 or 3 train to Clark St. | siggysgoodfood.com Staying true to its name, Siggy’s has a good variety of vegan and organic options. The Brooklyn Heights eatery prides itself on providing fresh, local ingredients, which guests can enjoy outdoors along residential streets. While Siggy’s is not signed up for Dine in Brooklyn, it’s worth a visit for the chocolate chunk cookie and Jazz Night every Wednesday at 7pm. |
 | Aurora | 70 Grand St. | Take the L train to Bedford | aurorabk.com Aurora is a quiet Italian date spot just a few blocks from the East River. With brick walls and a dark wood interior, this homey atmosphere translates to their outdoor seating area. The restaurant’s garden is lush with greens and soft floral accents, which diners can enjoy between red wine braised boar or pork sausage with chickpea puree. |
 | My Moon | 184 N 10th St. | Take the L train to Bedford Ave. | www.mymoonnyc.com This Spanish tapas joint in the heart of Williamsburg is actually an abandoned warehouse, converted into a date-night dining locale. The restaurant’s low lighting and huge, wrap-around booths provide an intimate setting inside, but outside, wooden canopies and ample deck seating bring the night sky to My Moon swooners. |
Photos: Respective restaurants, Mad Monkey Marketing
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram