6 NYC Restaurants Putting LGBTQ Folks at the Front

It’s never a bad time to support an LGBTQ-run business, but during Pride Month this June, make it a point to stop into these proudly queer eateries and support some of NYC’s amazing out business owners and chefs.

If the wildly colorful brunch items (chili oil fried eggs!) on your Instagram feed haven’t lured you into this proudly LGBTQ-owned-and-run diner yet, book it to MeMe’s stat. A backyard garden is slated to open this summer, making the beloved Brooklyn restaurant even lovelier.

657 Washington Ave., Brooklyn; memesdiner.com

Founded by Brooklynites Doug Quint and his partner, Bryan Petroff, this colorful, unicorn-emblazoned soft-serve shop is known for cheeky cones like the Salty Pimp and the Dorothy, as well as decadent shakes served in rainbow cups. Recently, the Instagram-bait-y bright-orange Cheeto-dipped cones have probably made an appearance on your feed.

Multiple locations; biggayicecream.com

Home to the best cacio e pepe in possibly the entire universe, this adorable Italian eatery often has a significant wait time, but it’s so worth it. Helmed by couple Jody Williams (Buvette) and Rita Sodi (I Sodi), it combines the best parts of both restaurants for a vegetable-and-pasta-centric hub that even the New York Times has dubbed a “love story.”

51 Grove St.; viacarota.com

At this Spanish-and Italian-inspired restaurant in Harlem, executive chef Mimi Weissenborn leads the kitchen, where she works to inspire others in the queer culinary community. Stop by the outdoor patio happy hour (Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. and weekends from 3 to 5 p.m.) for discounted glasses of wine, charcuterie, cheese, oysters and more.

2211 Frederick Douglass Blvd.; vinaterianyc.com

Chef Hillary Sterling leads the kitchen at this NoHo hot spot, where she has perfected a wood-fired pie that perfectly meshes Neapolitan-style with New York—style pizza. Ingredients for her menu, including the grains used in her signature pizza dough, are sourced locally, infusing Italian ethos into a trendy New York eatery.

31 Great Jones St.; vicsnewyork.com