Ellington in the Park Menu Guide | Outdoor Dining Upper West Side 2026
The season opens on April 23rd. If you have not visited before, the Our Story page covers what makes the venue what it is. What this post covers is more practical: what to order, what to drink, which specials are worth planning around, and when to arrive to get the most out of the experience.
The food menu covers more ground than most people expect from a park bar. The range is broad enough for a long afternoon of sharing plates or a full meal.
For lighter eating, the Roasted Beet Hummus and the Guacamole and Chips are both worth ordering early. The Falafel Bites and Sweet Chili Sprouts hold up well as shared plates across a table.
Among the handhelds, The Park Mac is the one to start with — shredded lettuce, American cheese, dill pickles, and Ellington's special sauce. The Crispy Fried Chicken Sandwich with buttermilk chicken, coleslaw, and spicy mayo is a solid choice. The Lobster Roll on brioche with chips and coleslaw is the order for an occasion or a treat.
Tacos cover the range well. The Crispy Fish with mango cucumber salsa is the standout. The Pulled Carnitas with salsa verde and the Wild Mushroom taco with portobello, shiitake, crimini, red cabbage, and goat cheese both hold their own — the latter works well for anyone eating vegetarian.
The pizza menu runs to three options. The Hudson — caramelised onions, fig, arugula, and prosciutto, is the one to try first.
For groups with children, the kids menu covers chicken fingers, hot dog, quesadilla, salmon, mini burgers, and mac and cheese, each served with fries or salad at $12.
What to Drink
The cocktail list is suited to the outdoor setting.
The Riverside Margarita — tequila, lime, lemon, and agave — is the natural first choice.
The Sunset Spritzer with Aperol, prosecco, and soda is well-suited to a long afternoon.
The Park Mule with Skyy vodka, lime juice, and Fever Tree ginger beer is a reliable session drink.
The Spicy Frida — infused tequila and Fever Tree grapefruit — is the one for anyone who wants something with more bite.
On draft, the options cover Radeberger, All Day IPA, Sam Adams Seasonal, Allagash, and Weihenstephaner Helles on the lower level. Pitchers are $36. Table kegs run $70 and can buckets are available for groups. Cans include Montauk Summer, Heineken, Coney Island IPA, Dogfish Seaquench, Michelob Ultra, Truly, and others.
Opening time is 11am daily. The bar is positioned so that the water is directly in front of you from both levels as evening falls. Getting there around 6pm on a clear day and settling in for the hour before dark is the visit that sticks with people longest. Weekday evenings, particularly Tuesday through Thursday, offer more room than the weekends without sacrificing the atmosphere.
On Saturdays, the upper level fills earlier than most visitors expect. Arriving before 1pm is the practical call if you want to choose your table on that level. No reservations are taken — the venue runs on walk-in availability only.
The party reservations page handles bookings from 20 to 500 guests, with reserved areas available for large gatherings that pre-order from the catering menu. For a summer birthday, a corporate outing, or any group occasion where outdoor scale matters, the venue handles it in a way that a rooftop or private dining room cannot replicate.
Dogs are welcome on a lead throughout the outdoor space, a detail worth knowing ahead of a visit.
The FAQ page covers the pet policy and other practical questions.
After the Season Ends
When Ellington in the Park closes in November, The Ellington on Broadway at 2745 Broadway takes over as the year-round option — the sister restaurant open every evening and at weekends for brunch. Full details, menus, and table bookings are on their website.
Opening Day and How to Get There
The 2026 season starts on April 29th with the Opening Day event. The venue runs Monday to Sunday through the season. Enter via the stairs or ramp at 103rd Street and Riverside Drive, full directions and transit info are on the location page. Opening hour updates during bad weather are posted to the Instagram account.
Check out our other blogs here:
The Only Bar Actually Inside Riverside Park- The Ellington In The Park