Let's Compile a Guide to Outdoor Dining Options - al fresco

Yesterday was a very fine day, so I stopped by Mario's on Taylor Street for frozen lemonade. Across the street and a few steps east is a little Thai place called Thai Bowl with tables outside under lacy trees, and it got me thinking ahead to the many charms of summer nights. Why is it that so many of the most memorable meals of my life have taken place outdoors in summer? Most of these meals have been at home with fresh produce, a grill, and the sounds of crickets and tree frogs. But some have been on urban verandas or in the gardens of restaurants and bars, followed by a long stroll on city streets.

My search did not yield any thread devoted to mapping out summer outdoor dining options. I'd be interested to pull together suggestions from members of the forum.

It may not be some peoples style but on a hot summer night eating outside at El Barco with a margarita in hand, fresh fish on the table and the mariachi music blasting all while cars buzz down ashland, it can really feel like your in Mexico. Its always been one of my favorite summer stops.

This is a great question! Here's a list of places in Wicker Park/Bucktown. The atmosphere varies greatly at these options near Division, Damen and Western El Stops on the Blue Line, but the following have outdoor tables:

upscale patio/recommended food:
Cafe Bolero (Cuban, 2252 N. Western Ave) The mussels come with feta.

* Jane's 1655 W Cortland - great food, metromix claims they have a patio *(but I haven't seen it).

MAS 1670 W Division (Latin-inspired) we've loved every pork and lamb dish we've had here

Recommended food, somewhat-less-upscale outdoor dining:
Irazu (Costa Rican, 1865 N Milwaukee) Great vegetarian burrito. Plastic tables in front.

Handlebar 2311 W North --interesting vegetarian, african stew and fish specials. Beer garden out back.

Cold Comfort Cafe & Deli 2211 W North Avenue -- good breakfast, tables out back

Sultan Market 2057 W. North Ave http://www.chicagofalafel.com/ (arabic, turkish, middle-eastern) Plastic tables on the side.

Silver Cloud 1700 N Damen http://www.silvercloudchicago.com/ Comfort food, decent beer selection

Toast 2046 N Damen Avenue -- good breakfast, tables out back

Been, OK food:
Mac's 1801 W Division -- bar food, decent beer selection including a hand pump

Adobo Grill 2005 W Division -- ok upscale mexican. We thought too expensive and moles were a little salty/not as complex as other pricey places

Las Palmas 1835 W North -- ok food, especially with coupon -- we liked the tequila and pineapple-glazed skirt steak over rum-soaked plantains

Smoke Daddy (BBQ) 1804 W. Division (now owned by Dunlay's group -- eeek. previously good, haven't been recently)

Places with outdoor dining that we have not eaten:
Bob San 1805 W Division / Mirai 2020 W Division
Feast 1616 N Damen (very nice looking patio)
Scylla 1953 N Damen (a few tables out front)
Meritage 2118 N Damen (patio seating)

Outside this neighborhood, some of my favorite outdoor options are in Greektown (Athena, Pegasus, Greek Islands).

Thanks, griffin's wife. I had no idea about any of the places you listed, but I suspected that just scratching the surface here on the forum would bring out a plethora of options. To add to your list:

Burt's
8541 N. Ferris
Morton Grove
(847) 965-7997

Apparently their outdoor dining area is open all year. Just ask. Sharon even told me that some people enjoy winter dining al fresco, er, al frio. The excellent pan pizza is hot enough that it could withstand the challenge, I think. You might want to take a page from GWiv's book and bring along some fresh jalapenos, just in case.

Moody's Pub
5910 N. Broadway
Chicago
(773) 275-2696
Sat. until 2AM
Sun until 1 AM

Moody's interior has always struck me as coming from the popular Sticky School of barkeeping. Their good burgers and outdoor beer garden are a draw nevertheless. (I understand there is a fireplace in the winter.)


Tapas Barcelona
1615 Chicago Avenue
Evanston
(847)866-9900

There are a few other Evanston spots that serve outdoors, but this is my favorite. The tapas are consistent, the service generally professional and friendly. I tend to order the same things over and over (including fried chorizo-stuffed olives, cold tortilla espanola, cod with spinach and potatoes, and profiteroles). I have heard a few complaints about specific dishes there, but most people like the place well enough. The outdoor space is oddly located next to the pool of the neighboring residential hotel, creating a tease on really hot nights. But I have never seen anyone swimming there, and hey, the lake is only a couple of blocks away if you can't stand it. They will take reservations, IIRC, for parties of a certain size, but better arrive early if you want a seat outside.

Lutz Cafe and Pastry Shop
2458 W. Montrose
Chicago
(773)478-7785

Their website says the garden is now open, but I was in there the other day and the cafe was still closed for remodeling. The young woman at the counter said that the garden would open when the cafe remodeling was complete, hopefully sometime in June. I see that they offer breakfast on weekends, but in truth, I have only taken out from the pastry shop, so I cannot vouch for the cafe offerings.

Garden Restaurant
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S. Michigan Avenue
(312)553-9675
11:30-3:00 PM
every day through early fall, weather permitting

In the Loop, the classic summer lunch choice is the McClintock Court Garden at The Art Institute. It's a shady courtyard around Carl Milles's Fountain of the Tritons, and, while the food is far from exciting, I have never ordered anything bad there, either. One must arrive a few minutes before they open in order to avoid a long wait. Another problem is that, within proximity of great art, it is hard to eat without feeling pressure to rush the meal and hit the galleries. In that context, waiting for a table just seems stupid. This month's Art Institute bulletin also says that the restaurant is open for jazz on Thursday evenings from 4:30-7:30. According to the bulletin, reservations are not neccessary and there is no cover charge or minimum, but seating is held for restaurant patrons.

Question: Does anyone know of an Indian or Pakistani restaurant with outdoor seating? [/img]

In the Loop, the classic summer lunch choice is the McClintock Court Garden at The Art Institute...while the food is far from exciting, I have never ordered anything bad there, either.

I must respectfully disagree. The food is almost invariably wretched, always overpriced, and the service is usually borderline hostile.

sundevilpeg- I concur that the servers at the Art Institute Garden Restaurant appear quite stressed, and I have typically waited too long for food to be served. (My impression is that the kitchen tends to be overwhelmed in the summer and that that has an impact on the servers.)
However, I have overlooked this and the pedestrian menu because I am not inclined to hold the Art Institute to the same standard of food and service I would expect elsewhere. MikeG's rule applies here, I think. (Roughly, the rule states that if there is a reason besides food to eat in a place, one should not eat there.) I would spin this a bit more softly and say that if there is a reason besides food to eat in a place, one should not expect much of the food. But, as the culinary aspirations of the restaurant do not match the standard of the setting, it may certainly be a disappointment to many patrons.

For dining in the southern suburbs, nothing beats the patio dining at Bamboo Blue in Homewood. If you are in a pizza mood, the original Aurelio's, across the street from Bamboo Blue, has outdoor dining as well.

Suzy

Bamboo Blue
18147 Harwood Avenue
Homewood, IL 60430
708-799-4700
http://www.bambooblue.biz

Aurelio's Pizza
18162 Harwood Ave
Homewood, IL 60430-2102
(708) 798-8050

So many places have tables and chairs on the sidewalk, nearly every place on the fast-growing Roscoe strip does, for instance, so I'm trying to think of places with really nice permanent outdoor spaces. Here are ones I make a point of going to:

Here's a post about Lutz, at least as it was pre-renovation.

Corosh is a bar in Wicker Park with perfectly okay pub grub and Italian food and a really pleasant, rustic garden.

1072 N. Milwaukee, Chicago
Tel: (773) 235-0600

Bistro Campagne inherited the really nice tree-shaded space that Villa Kula, the previous occupant, had put in. When the kids were younger and likely to emit random earsplitting shrieks, that was a place we could go and eat nice food where nature would absorb most of the noise. That made up for the fact that I didn't care for the food much at first (I think it has improved a lot over time).

Bistro Campagne
4518 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago
Tel: (773) 271-6100

Kitsch'n on Roscoe and Volo, owned by the same folks and opposite each other on Roscoe, both have gardens out back. Kitsch'n's is pleasant enough but Volo's is much more handsomely designed, tables on one side and little covered nooks on the other. If only the AC unit wasn't back there making noise at the same time...

Kitsch'n on Roscoe
2005 W. Roscoe, Chicago
Tel: (773) 248-7372

Volo
2008 W. Roscoe , Chicago
Tel: (773) 348-4600

Twisted Spoke has a deck overlooking Grand which allows office workers in the Loop to escape a little (without being completely away).

Twisted Spoke
501 N Ogden
312-666-1500

Finally, the single best place to dine under the stars in the Chicago area, the train takes you right to the gate and oh, by the way, the house band there is pretty darn good too:

http://www.ravinia.org/

Good call, Mike. There are a plethora of places with a few sidewalk tables but very few that have a great permanent outdoor space.

My favorite outdoor dining area in the city, while it may not be my favorite food, is Chief O'Neils. Many people enjoy the food much more than I do.

Best,
Michael

Chief O'Neill's Pub
3471 N. Elston Ave.
Chicago, IL
773-473-5263

another Roscoe Village gem:

Village Tap - we've been once this season already./ Excellant burgers - fresh ground beef, cooked to order. Great quesadillas (HUGE!) with fresh salsa. For the kiddos - a $3 grilled cheese that comes with way too many fries. (not to mention the 26 drafts available!) The seating is all picnic tables, but they do have high chairs.

I would also add the patio to Kid-friendly restaruants. the owners 5 year old was wiping down the tables under her dad's supervision. The inside just has high tops, so I would only bring the kids when it's warm. You can then head next door for gelato and Double Rainbow ice cream.

Village Tap
2055 W Roscoe St,
Chicago, 60618 -
(773) 883-0817
http://thevillagetap.com/

Oh yeah, Village Tap. Which in turn reminds me of another beer garden I should have thought of in the first place:

Resi's Bierstube
2034 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago
Tel: (773)472-1749

Another place with a unique charm: Taqueria El Potosi.

Taqueria El Potosi
3710 N. Elston Ave.
(773) 463-2517

Some other places near me with patios or backyards which I don't consider especially charming compared to the ones I mentioned before, but at least they exist, which on a sunny day is enough:

Jury's
4337 N. Lincoln, Chicago
Tel: (773) 935-2255

Costello Sandwich and Sides
2015 W. Roscoe St., Chicago
Tel: (773) 929-2323

Fizz Bar & Grill
3220 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago
Tel: (773) 348-6000

Wave (W Hotel -- LSD at Ontario) has outside dining with nice views of the lake. The service is questionable (a lot of the servers appear to be hired for appearance only) but it is a great place to look at the lake, drink some sangria, and have some tapas.

Also, it is very dog friendly, with water bowls and sometimes biscuits provided. Once they were even nice enough to give my Germ. Shep. a ball I think they were trying to get on his good side.

In Glenview, you can eat outdoors at Periyali Taverna. It's an unprepossessing place that clearly used to be a Red Lobster, and the outdoor part is just a fenced-off section of parking lot but they have fenced it off very well and it is pretty pleasant sitting there. Service is very good for the price range. The waiters warn you if you try to order fish that's been frozen, for example.

I like the Art Institute garden too. I usually go there with two of my aunts and the servers deal with them very well. If I had to wait on those women, I'd stab them both in the eyeball. They must make about a dozen complaints per meal. (The food is always "too spicy." WTF?) One probably gets worn out waiting on people like that.

I've always enjoyed Pegasus' rooftop. Appetizers only.

From the Pegasus web site:

"If it’s a beautiful night and you are visiting us between Memorial Day and Labor Day, you won’t want to miss experiencing our rooftop. With 160 seats and a full bar, it offers diners a beautiful unobstructed Eastern view of of the Chicago Skyline. This alfresco dining is unmatched in the city.

In the evening hours, guests can choose from the extensive hot and cold appetizer menu. Methzethes are Greek-style tapas. Guests enjoy ordering several since they are meant to be small tastings. It’s easy to make a delightful meal from many or a just a few of these."

http://www.pegasuschicago.com/alfresco.asp

Feast was mentioned above by Griffin's wife as a place she hadn't tried.
Their patio is beautiful--fenced in with lots of trees around but still with a people-watching view of Damen. I'd give the food a B+ (they always have interesting items on the menu--usually interesting-good but sometimes interesting-strange).

Cafe Baba Reeba on Halstead at Armitage. O.K., so the tapas are kinda average but they have great sangria and a very cheerfully painted, nicely enclosed patio.

Kuma's (2900 W. Belmont) had a sign the other night when I was there saying they will soon be opening a patio.

Sip Coffee house on Grand at Ogden has a very nice outdoor space (plus strongly-brewed coffee and good zucchini bread).

Roseangelis on Wrightwood has a big outdoor garden seating area. I really like the food there (not to mention the big portion size). I took a big party of my extended family (multiple generations--read, pain in the a%$%) there this past summer and they were extremely accomodating.

Bucktown pub on Cortland (best kept secret in Bucktown, plus 2 blocks from my house so I'm a little reluctant to plug it too much, lest it get crowded) has a big patio.

Mike G wrote:Bistro Campagne inherited the really nice tree-shaded space that Villa Kula, the previous occupant, had put in. When the kids were younger and likely to emit random earsplitting shrieks, that was a place we could go and eat nice food where nature would absorb most of the noise. That made up for the fact that I didn't care for the food much at first (I think it has improved a lot over time).

As of two days ago, the outdoor space at Bistro Campagne was decidely not ready for warm weather - the whole yard was ripped up and a large section of it was excavated down a few feet. Anyone know what's going on?

Fillay

Boka has a very large outdoor patio with half-covered and half open air. Very attractive with a great bar.

I have a very narrow comfort range when it comes to temperature, 68-72 degrees, and I dislike high humidity, so I mostly think there are about six weeks of weather -- three in the spring and three in the fall -- when it's pleasant to dine outdoors in Chicago.

I'm also not enamored of sidewalk cafes on busy streets where you get bus fumes with your dinner and bums sidling up to beg for spare change. Here a few places with nice, private garden spaces for those all-too-brief days for al fresco dining.

Timo
312/226-4300
464 N. Halsted St., Chicago
Newly Italian-slanted version of Thyme with the same lovely enclosed garden. Now the wood-grilled rotisserie Amish chicken comes with porcini sauce.

Carmichael's Chicago Steak House
312/433-0025
www.carmichaelsteakhouse.com
1052 W. Monroe St., Chicago
Casual steakhouse has a great outdoor courtyard and a menu of Choice-grade Certified Angus steaks. Also potent martinis and excellent shrimp de Jonghe.

Cerise
312/645-1500
www.levyrestaurants.com
Le Méridien Chicago
520 N. Michigan Ave. (entrance on Rush), Chicago
Undersung French spot with a walled veranda hidden away on the fifth floor of a Mag Mile hotel.

Don Roth's Blackhawk
847/537-5800
www.donroths.com
61 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling
Spinning salad, steaks, prime rib, Boston scrod and creamed spinach on a rear patio where a metal fire pit, taken from the original Blackhawk in Chicago, hangs suspended from wood beams.

Construction noted in this thread. The construction is a lot farther along than it was in March but not ready for use very soon. It does look as though there may be a patio in front of the garden room, though.

If you want to venture a tiny bit out of the city, we love Poor Phil's outdoor seating (tons of outdoor tables--probably 30 or so). It's on a nice quiet street (Marion), a couple-block walk from the Harlem el stop. Just try not to sit at the northernmost tables or you will get hit with exhaust from the kitchen (not too stinky, but hot). They have 40 beers on tap, including two cask-conditioned ales. Oysters (decent quality, but not spectacular) are 50 cents apiece from 2:30-6:30 on weekdays. Yes, I know it's a hotel restaurant, but it's still good. It's one of our regular beer and burger (or fish sandwish) hangouts (since we live in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago with not much close by). If you see us there with our big, fluffy Newfoundland or ugly but friendly Rottweiler, come say hi (for those with dogs, keep in mind they make you keep them on the sidewalk side of the barrier).

Arco de Cuchilleros on Halsted has a little patio in back that we've enjoyed on summer evenings.

Had lunch in the back outdoor patio of Letizia's Natural Bakery today. Inexpensive (for the quality/quantity) paninis (lots of options to make your own, from prosciutto to capicola, veggies, mozz., basil pesto, etc.), and I had a mongo cranberry-almond paste cookie worth crushing and snorting. They have a sidewalk patio, as well, but the street noise is a strike. The back patio has better ambiance.

Letizia's Natural Bakery
2144 W Division
Chicago
773-342-1011
www.superyummy.com

When this thread first appeared, I was actually doing a similar search myself. My initial search turned up Socca which was mentioned in this thread.

However, my friends and I ended up at Sola, which also has a very nice outdoor dining area on Byron. It was a gorgeous evening when we went, but there was a slight chill in the air that evening so we opted to dine indoors. Being that the restaurant is on Byron even though it has a Lincoln Ave address, the area seemed tucked away from the Lincoln Ave traffic.

Sola Restaurant
3868 N. Lincoln Ave. @ Byron
Chicago. IL 60613
call (773) 327-3868

Last week, Cathy2, helen, The Duchess of Birmingham and I were in for a pleasant surprise when we visited GNR-nominee Fonda del Mar. They have a nice large patio out back that is resplendent in shades of orange, gently lighted, and decorated with half the hull (lengthwise) of someone's speedboat, planted with petunias (There's got to be a good story behind that, but I didn't ask). The food has been covered elsewhere.

In Wicker Park there's also Pontiac. I don't even remember what the food was like, but I recall the people watching was fantastic.

And, Roscoe Village's Four Moons has a small outdoor section and better than average bar food.

I think a list of outdoor dining places in Chicago could probably go for miles and miles, but here are a few more random additions...

Another addition to the Wicker Park list..

Northside Bar & Grill
1635 N Damen Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 384-3555

...they have an awesome Bloody Mary. and I've always enjoyed the food there too.


in Lakeview, a fusion Chinesesque place called Ping Pong ... its a modern decor place that is great for people watching.. food is average (but at less than $10/entree its inexpensive too). Its also BYOB, but making that even more convenient is a wine store right across the street called Valhalla. You can literally sit down then go grab a bottle of chilled wine yourself... Valhalla is owned by the same people as Ping Pong, so they have selections that go very well with the cuisine... And when you buy your bottle there Ping Pong doesn't charge you a corkage fee (plus you're paying retail price for the wine, not restaurant pricing)...

http://chicago.citysearch.com/profile/1 ... gpong.html

Ping Pong
3322 N Broadway St
Chicago, IL 60657

also in Lakeview, Arco de Cuchilleros ... one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago... Tapas. warm and cozey inside, they have a nice fenced in patio in back that's nice to eat at...

3445 N. Halsted St.,
Chicago IL

right next door to that is X/O... they have a huge fenced in patio in back... they also have a nice Tiki bar area. there's a whole other thread somewhere about the place if you want to know more...

X/O
3441 N. Halsted St.,
Chicago IL


back in the loop...

Artists' Cafe
412 S Michigan

..not sure what to say about it.. its a good place to relax and spend some time drinking wine.. dineresque food. somewhat coffeehouse-ish maybe...

and now for a place I don't recommend...
Park Grill Cafe... the outdoor cafe version of Park Grill... its on top of the ice skating rink in the summer months. The patio area is great, scenery is great.. but the food and service have been horrible the two times I've been there. It seems like they're trying to operate it with no kitchen whatsoever... Plastic silveware, burgers can't be cooked to order, etc. Though I add to that, a lot of people I work with like it a lot and go there regularly.

Park Grill Chicago
11 North Michigan Ave

LTH,

Blue Elephant on Devon has a nice little outdoor seating area. Comfy chairs, even for the XXL size person, and though it fronts both Devon and an empty lot has a slightly secluded feel.




I've only had one solo lunch, though if my soyu drenched 'Thai' Basil Chicken and bland peanut butter laden Roti/Masaman Curry is any indication I suggest sticking to menu basics and/or drinks. I should point out ingredients were fresh, service was fine, just that, and once again I'm going on one lunch, the preparation was Betty Crocker Asian.

Enjoy,
Gary

Blue Elephant
1235 W Devon Ave
Chicago, IL 60660
773-262-5216

We'd be interested in recommendations for outdoor dining north side of the loop. Good food and people views...

Tavern on Rush and Carmine's probably offer the best people watching. Located next to each other on Rush St both have outdoor seating with a view of the intersection known as the "Viagra Triangle."
You'll see flashy cars and flashy people. Beware the urban cougars in their natural habitat.

Carmine's probably has the better food of the two.

Along Howard Street are numerous outdoor options:

Deta's Cafe
7555 N. Ridge
(773) 973-1505

La Cucina di Donatella
2221 West Howard
773.262.6533

The Fish Keg (outdoor only)
2233 W. Howard St.
(773) 262-6603

Good To Go - Jamaican Jerk & Juice Bar
1947 W. Howard
773-381-7777

Gateway used to have an outdoor space - anybody know if Amphora or African Harambee has one?