may eats.

bikini weather may be here, but your bulging pants are telling a different story. get so high, leave a paper trail and steak out the goods with this list of may food picks:

so high.
the crew behind aspen, amalia and d'or are prepping highbar, a rooftop bar designed by icrave (responsible for the looks of loi, one little west 12th, STK). highbar will feature an indoor and outdoor area, couches, beds and a giant movie screen. the food menu resembles a backyard BBQ, and eating in bed is allowed. opens early may. hilton garden inn hotel. 790 eighth avenue. at 48th. no phone yet.


hot in the city.
just in time for starry nights is the renovated lobby bar at the empire hotel. rumored to be under the direction of jeffrey chodorow, the renovated rooftop bar will also open for the warmer weather. it will be complete with private cabanas, but alas. open to hotel guests only. like it's ever stopped you before. opens mid may. 44 west 63rd street. near broadway. 212.265.7400. www.empirehotelnyc.com


brooklyn babe.
details like red lights, italian chandeliers and handcrafted wine racks create the vintage, casual setting at abigail. chef and owner abigail hitchcock is prepping seasonal american meals to go along with her list of homemade cordials, artisan coffee and selection of teas. opens early may. 207 classon avenue. at st. john's place. brooklyn. 718.399.3200. www.abigailbrooklyn.com


steak out.
creston's bar & grill is coming into the former home of manhattan grille, the famed steakhouse which closed in 2006. original owner larry cresci, who also runs portofino grille, kept his hands on the space and is turning it into a spot serving up steakouse faves. opens early may. 319 east 53rd. at second. 212.888.6556.


paper trail.
even the french eat burgers. simon oren, who has perfected the french bistro concept in NYC (marseilles, nizza, nice matin) has taken over the former southern belle jezebel space to open five napkin burger. their specialty? super-sized burgers with what will no doubt be some mighty good tasting fries. opens mid-may. 630 ninth avenue. at 45th. 212.736.4536.


go greek.
greek resto uncle nick's is prepping for a nephew. and this one lives in chelsea. the goods (like stuffed grape leaves, mousaka and souvlaki) will be served up in the hell's kitchen branch. opens mid-may. 382 eighth avenue. at 29th. 212-609-0500.


garde manger.
sam martinez and jeff mancini know that if it ain't broke, why fix it? that's the case with new bistro elizabeth. the pair decided to keep the garden once occupied by previous tenant rialto, so what's new? a cedar floor, stone bar and retractable roof for starters. the small plates menu comes from chef john iconomou (country), and includes watermelon salad, spring lamb with hummus, crispy cheese burgers and a slew of season-inspired cocktails. now open. 265 elizabeth street. between houston and prince. 212.334.2426.