Spring Alfresco: New Yorkers Bring Middle Eastern Flavors to Backyard Tables

On Saturday afternoon, in the community gardens of Carroll Gardens, the air was thick with the scent of za’atar and charcoal. Brooklynites gathered around folding tables, passing platters of grilled chicken dusted with the Middle Eastern spice blend, a homemade touch that’s cropped up on more brownstone stoops as the city finally shrugs off its gray spring. School let out for many families this week, and the urge to celebrate—with food, outside—has overtaken city blocks from Astoria balconies to Harlem rooftops.

The season’s first real warmth has made New Yorkers restless for the kind of meals that belong outdoors: grilled meats, bright salads, and, increasingly, frozen desserts churned at home. Lemon sorbet, tart and icy, made its debut at several Prospect Park picnics this weekend, with coolers full of Mason jars surfacing near the Long Meadow. “You feel like you’re somewhere far away, even if you’re just a few blocks from Flatbush Avenue,” said Sarah Elbaz, a Flatbush resident who spent Sunday sharing her za’atar chicken recipe with neighbors.

Restaurants are responding to the alfresco moment with new pop-up menus and sidewalk setups. In the East Village, Lebanese bistro Sumac & Salt launched a Sunday-only grill menu, sending wafts of sumac and lemon into the street. Meanwhile, Greenpoint’s farmers’ markets are reporting a run on fresh herbs and lemons, as home cooks snap up ingredients to recreate the flavors of their favorite Mediterranean meals at home.

It’s more than just the food—there’s a citywide longing for the conviviality of shared meals under an open sky. On Thursday evening, families in Riverside Park lingered long past sunset, passing around homemade pita and cold yogurt dips, children darting between picnic blankets. For a city always in motion, these spring evenings feel like a collective exhale.

With June’s festivals and block parties on the horizon, expect backyard grills and fire escapes to remain fragrant with za’atar and lemon for the next few weeks. In a city known for its high-rise isolation, this is the season when New Yorkers reclaim the outdoors—one meal at a time.