With the Labor Day weekend behind us summer has unofficially drawn to a close. In the opinion of the brilliant minds at TableXchange we maintain that September is the most spectacular month to be in New York City and dine out. The weather is still warm enough to sit outside day or night but not overbearing like July and August.  It is not too late to join a friend and grab a bite to eat outdoors at some of our favorite summer joints.With the arrival of September we have many new things in store for TableXchange. We have the successful expansion into Chicago and Los Angeles under our belts and are looking to introduce a number of great new features including a blackberry and iPhone application so you can access reservations on the go. We are also expanding again! Soon enough you will be able to find us cities all across the country and soon the globe.

Autumn also means new restaurant openings and the city is abuzz with restaurant news. Andrew Carmellini of A Voce fame is soon to open another winner in the Lower East Side. Keith McNally has his sights set on a restaurant around the corner and even uber-chef Gordon Ramsey has his eye on a more casual neighborhood bistro to supplement his chic namesake restaurant. After a brief 6 week closure, Daniel also returns with a redesigned interior to celebrate the restaurants 10^th anniversary as one of the finest restaurants in the city - ipso facto the world.

As always, TableXchange hopes to make available the reservations every diner covets. Check back often for updates and new restaurant additions.

Happy dining

TableXchange

We at TableXchange like to think of ourselves as the next OpenTable, the next Apple, even the next Google - Sergey has nothing on us. We know it’s a tall order but guys can wish, can’t we? The first step to that $100 billion dollar market capitalization and global prominence is expansion outside of our home territory of New York.Over the past few months our inboxes has been inundated with emails asking about expansion plans. Our next step is dual pronged in nature. We are proud to announce new service in Los Angeles and Chicago. Beginning July 25, residents of the Golden State and all Tablexchange users will be able to post and preview dinner reservation for the weekend of August 1. Never again will you need to wait 2 hours for a table because Tom Cruise or Paris Hilton decided to dine at Spago that evening.

We are also opening our Chicago service on August 1^st with reservations available August 8^th. Windy city residents know very well the quality of their fine cuisine. Fine dining establishments like Tru and Charlie Trotter’s will now be at your finger tips, rather than a 4 month in advance phone call away.

As always, we encourage all our users to send feedback with suggestions for our next wave of expansion.

Happy dining in cities across the country.

TableXchange Management

Restaurateurs spend millions of dollars building out their space to meet the aesthetic particulars dreamed up at the restaurant’s conception. Recently, many new comers have gravitated towards the farmhouse theme, including 100 Acres and Mas (Farmhouse). As any New Yorkers can attest, in the warm summer weather the real outdoors is better than the faux barn house  facade of hay stacks and wood paneling. The creative team over here at TableXchange put their heads together to bring you a list of our favorite (dare we say best) outdoor seating restaurants in Manhattan. Al fresco has never been better and here is why:

5) River Café

We think it is only appropriate to start over in Brooklyn. Our much loved, edgy, (other) favorite borough across the river who only wishes she was part of Manhattan. The River Café is as close to our beloved isle as you can get while still residing across the river. Nestled directly under the Brooklyn Bridge, patrons have sweeping views of the Bridge, the City and the world famous skyline. On a warm weekend evening travel by land, by sea or by dirigible as this restaurants stands at # 5 on our list of outstanding al fresco dining.

4) i Trulli

Owner Nicola Marzovilla’s Southern Italian restaurant brings you the finest from the Apulian region. The very large patio out back is also one of our favorite places for a glass of wine and a lamb ragu primi. Nicola also owns Enoteca Vino directly across the street and the selection of moderately priced wines at i Trulli just makes us even more interested in dining in the fresh air. Every Thursday they invite patrons to a garden party of appetizers and unlimited wine for only $30 which we highly recommend.

3) Sushi Samba 7

Located in the heart of the village on 7^th avenue, the roof deck floor of Sushi Samba is an out door diner’s delight. Sit back, relax and enjoy the plethora of fine sake and fresh maki rolls.  The Latino-Asian fusion cuisine is still one of the most innovative mash-ups in NYC and keeps people coming back for more.

2) Pastis

Restaurateur Keith McNally transplants a boisterous Paris bistro into the heart of the Meat Packing district with a delectable out door seating area. The (often celebrity) guests arrive in droves and the decibel level can at time be deafening, but the food and drinks are worth the trek.  In the summer months the outdoor patio is one of the hottest seats in town at any hour of the day or night

1) Da Silvano

The crème de la crème of al fresco dining. Restaurateur Silvano Marchetto opened up shop over 30 years ago and celebrities arrive in droves for his signature dishes. What more could a TableXchange user want than sipping fine Chianti and eating succulent lobster, washed down with a glass of limoncello all while sitting outdoors next to the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow or Uma Thurman? It is al fresco heaven in the West Village.

There you have it folks, our favorite places to dine outdoors in the summer time. There were many runner ups including Blue Water Grill and Il Buco but we could not fit them all on this list. If we missed some leave us a comment and share your favorite al fresco dining scene.

Often times people are anxious to dine out but do not know where to eat. Any one of a number of sophisticated restaurants will suffice for you and wife, or your husband, or your friend, or that lady you picked up at Rose Bar two nights prior. Maybe, just maybe, the $50 Per Se reservation is too over the top for this occasion. On evenings like this we welcome you to check out our newest offering from TableXchange; Five for Five Fridays. Every excuse you have not to dine out that evening just flew out the window. Get ‘em while they are hot. Every Tuesday at noon EST (starting 6/24), we will offer five select reservations from TableXchange sellers for the upcoming weekend at only $5! As always if you have any questions feel free to reach out to us at support@tablexchange.com. In the meantime happy Five for Five Friday dining.