Frankie & Vali’s serves big NY-style slices out of their little pizzeria in Bed-Stuy.

El Mitote serves the Upper West Side’s best Mexican food, including Guadalajara-style dishes like brothy black beans.

KIT is a queer-run restaurant incubator in Prospect Heights that hosts a wide range of pop-ups every week.

Bar Meridian in Prospect Heights is a great spot for outdoor drinks or to meet up for a first date.

Porcelain is a casual cafe in Ridgewood serving Korean, Taiwanese, and Chinese food all day.

When in the mood for exciting ceviche and other raw seafood dishes, consider Mexican spot Tacos Güey in Flatiron.

If you want to learn about sake and get a little rowdy all in the same evening, Sake Bar Satsko in Alphabet City is a great place to be.

If you’re looking to eat grilled shrimp and drink copitas full of excellent mezcal until 2am, prioritize Aldama in Williamsburg.

Contento is an exciting place to have dinner in East Harlem - they serve Peruvian dishes and the restaurant was built with accessibility in mind.

Accidental Bar in the East Village is where you should go to learn about sake with a side of snacks.

Sunny’s is a historic saloon in Red Hook with live music and a nice backyard.

Izzy Rose is a casual bar in Clinton Hill with a secluded backyard and a menu of cocktails, natural wine, and vegan empanadas.

The Honeywell is a fun cocktail bar in West Harlem with a backyard that's perfect for dates.

Rhodora in Fort Greene is a wine bar committed to producing zero waste, and they serve a lot of interesting natural wine.

Troost is a neighborhood bar in Greenpoint with cocktails, natural wine, and a great backyard.

Cafe Alula in Greenpoint serves Lebanese food all day, and it’s a particularly nice to place for a working lunch or a coffee date.