 Nothing thrills us more than stumbling on a hidden restaurant garden—probably because, as New Yorkers, we often have to do without our own little patch. So with the warm weather here to stay, get some green—both on the plate and around the table—at these hidden gems.
 Le Jardin 25 Cleveland Place, btw Spring and Lafayette Sts., 212-343-9599
This classic French bistro has an expansive outdoor area, paved with stones and covered in grape vines. French menu staples like tuna tartare, bouillabaisse and a croque monsieur are reproduced faithfully, alongside a selection of regional wines. And then there are profiteroles or crème brulee for dessert, although the cute French waiters might proffer all the sweetness you need.
 Jeeb 154 Orchard St, btw. Rivington and Stanton Sts., 212-677-4101
With an entrance tucked below ground level, it’s easy to walk right past Jeeb on the Lower East Side—but don’t. Head downstairs, past the kitchen and outside to a spacious back garden, where Thai classics are served alongside an innovative “Thai tapas” menu. At $5 or $6 a plate, you can— guilt-free—order a round of salmon dumplings, crab cakes and chive pancakes before delving into the wider menu of authentic curries, noodles and roasted-duck specials.
 Max 51 Avenue B, btw. Third and Fourth Sts., 212-539-0111
This beloved East Village Italian spot consistently hits the mark on three basic measures: quality, price and garden! The only trouble is deciding: the creamy mozzarella Caprese salad or the tomato bruschetta? Homemade gnocci or rigatoni with eggplant? From the meat group, there’s also a veal shank, chicken cutlet and meatloaf just like Nonna used to make. Portions run large and the bill’s comparatively small, so don’t forget your order of tiramisu for dessert.
 Gnocco 337 E. 10th St., btw. Avenues A and B, 212-677-1913
There's Italian-American and then there's Italian-Italian food, which can be perfectly sopped up while sitting underneath the ivy (and the stars) in Gnocco's back garden space. Start with baked artichoke hearts stuffed with goat cheese, or paper-thin octopus carpaccio among the antipasto, then move on to homemade pastas, thin-crust pizzas topped with fresh mozzarella, or entree selections of beef, pork, lamb, fish and Cornish hens. Nobody said the choosing would be easy.
 Quartino Bottega Organica 11 Bleecker St., btw. Bowery and Lafayette Sts., 212-529-5133
For the vegetarians in your social circle, Quartino is a good bet (the menu does have fish as well). The back garden space isn't enormous, so you’ll need good timing to snag a table. The menu emphasizes light, healthy and organic fare, with whole wheat sandwiches and pasta dishes like homemade taglierini with avocado and tomatoes. Plus, there's a good selection of wines, served by the bottle or—as the name suggests—by the quartino.
 B Bar and Grill40 E. Fourth St. at Bowery, 212-475-2220
By Manhattan standards, the 3,000-square-foot garden at this Bowery bar (which was formerly called, well, Bowery Bar) is positively enormous. Covered in climbers and fairy lights, you’ll quickly forget that beyond those high walls is the bustling Bowery. Choose from six kinds of martinis or spring for a $35 pitcher of sangria—from there on in, making friends will be a snap. Bar bites and Latin-style fare is served from brunch until 1 a.m.
 I Coppi 432 E. Ninth St., btw. First Ave. and Avenue A, 212-254-2263
You can’t get more quaint that a flowery, brick-walled garden to enjoy the brick-oven dishes at this East Village Tuscan eatery. Simply dressed pizzas share roasting space with branzino, baby chicken and fennel-and-rosemary potatoes; a solid wine list makes the trip all the merrier. There's also a brunch menu with Tuscan–New York fusion numbers, like a tomato-basil-and-egg-topped pizza and a panettone French toast with strawberries and mascarpone.
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