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Most New Yorkers try to escape the city for the Fourth of July. But for those who want to actually stick around and celebrate the holiday in our fair city, there are plenty of July 4th events happening throughout the boroughs. Our favorites include food and drink, naturally, whether it's outdoors with views of the fireworks or just eating some barbecue. Here are all the food-and-drink parties and specials you need to know about for the holiday weekend.
Summery fare at Saxon + Parole
In addition to the regular meat-centric menu at the Bowery restaurant, there will be special cocktails like the Chiki Merica (potato vodka, blue curaçao, lemon juice, simple syrup and watermelon puree), as well as festive grub like BBQ pork ribs, crispy wings, a whole chopped hog and a churros sundae with vanilla, chocolate and pistachio ice creams on the Fourth from 2pm to 7pm.
A playful luau at the Dutch
What better way to celebrate independence than with a luau? This Soho spot is making a party out of it with mini golf, piñata bashing and hula hooping from 11am to 9pm, with cocktails like macadamia mai tais and the tequila-melon XXX readily available to loosen up the games. Food specials include smoked-brisket egg rolls with strawberry barbecue sauce and hot fried chicken with Hawaiian rolls and pineapple jam.
A pig roast at Atlantic Social
The Dale Talde restaurant is celebrating on July 1 with all-you-can-eat pork, along with the usual burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, BBQ chicken, corn on the cob and tomato-and-cucumber salad. Wash it all down with a game or two of beer pong.
Watermelon soft serve at Dominique Ansel Kitchen
Dominique Ansel's done it again. NYC's dessert genie has made wishes come true with an adorable watermelon soft serve plopped right inside a hollowed-out watermelon slice, topped with a dash of sea salt and little chocolate "seeds." He's bringing the What-a-Melon to NYC for the weekend only (July 1st through 4th), after the treat recently became a hit in his Tokyo shop.
Live jazz at Maison Premiere
For the Williamsburg bar-restaurant's annual party, diners can nosh on Texas-style smoked brisket, whole-baked crawfish, cast-iron cornbread and blueberry-and-peach cobbler. There will be live jazz in the verdant backyard, and of course, plenty of cocktails available. The party starts Tuesday at noon and lasts until 2am.
A grilling party at Rider
James Beard Award-winning chef Patrick Connolly is hosting this fete and serving a whole-grilled Boston mackerel seasoned with spring onions, bee pollen and Aleppo pepper that diners can enjoy right on the restaurant's new alfresco tables.
Rooftop pizza at Allora Alto
Atop the Bernic Hotel in Midtown East, get an unobstructed view of Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks and nosh on shared plates of homemade crostini and chicken-parm pizza while downing sherbet cocktails.
A sit-down meal at Il Buco Alimentari
Chef Garrison Price puts an American bent on his usual Italian fare for a $45 three-course July 4th meal: Start off with a watermelon salad, choose between a lobster panino or lamb ribs with sides of sweet corn, hot chili pepper salad and potato salad, and finish it all off with burnt honey cheesecake with blueberry sorbet.
Backyard barbecue at Salvation Burger
Join April Bloomfield's fun-loving burger crew for an outdoor barbecue with bottles of Coney Island Mermaid pilsner and your typical cookout grub. The party starts at noon.
Lobster feast with a side of fireworks at the Brooklyn Barge
Get close-up views of the fireworks right on the East River. The waterfront bar will offer three different seating options–the barge for $250, picnic tables for $200, garden district for $150–that come with a lobster dinner and open bar. There will also be a standing area for a $50 entrance fee that includes two drinks (beer or wine) and popcorn.