When the weather turns toasty, Chicagoans develop a yearning for outdoor dining. And area restaurateurs are happy to oblige.
In fact, after a much-too-wet May, restaurateurs are desperate to oblige.
“The rainy days have definitely put a damper on things, no pun intended,” says Paul LoDuca, owner of Mare in River North. “Although the afternoons have been pretty good. We find that we do really well for lunch this time of year; once it gets hot and humid, very few people will sit outside for lunch–though dinner business picks up then.”
Perfect outdoor-dining weather is an elusive commodity. Sometimes it’s too hot. Or too cool. Or too buggy. Or it rains. These are precious days, Chicago’s outdoor dining season. Civic duty demands we make the most of the opportunity.
Naturally, we’re here to help. Here is our far-from-inclusive list of outdoor dining options, from sidewalk cafes to rooftop perches to gardenlike patios. We’ve grouped the restaurants according to the type of outdoor experience they offer, rather than by cuisine.
Much as we hate to resort to scare tactics, Labor Day is only 12 weekends away.
Street scenes
(Sidewalk cafes that make you feel a part of the city.)
Avanzare, 161 E. Huron St., 312-337-8056. One of the oldest sidewalk cafes in Chicago, and still one of the nicest. The dining area is defined by tall, see-through dividers that cut down on wind without harming the view and are equipped with soft lighting. The cafe sits on relatively placid St. Clair Street, so street noise is minimal.
Brasserie Bellevue, Sutton Place Hotel, 21 E. Bellevue Pl., 312-266-9212. Great people-watching at this Gold Coast sidewalk cafe at Rush Street and Bellevue Place. Outdoor menu is very limited, including a few sandwiches, salads and soups.
Bravissimo, 508 N. Clark St., 312-644-1427. If you ask me, the fake-grass carpet has to go, but otherwise this restaurant’s smallish sidewalk cafe is pretty neat, if a touch cramped. Good pastas and fantastic, cracker-crust pizzas (my favorite is the pear-gorgonzola) are the culinary draws.
Cassis, 160 E. Huron St., 312-255-1600. At street level of the Radisson Hotel and Suites Chicago is a 60-seat space decorated with trees and striped awnings, intended to evoke a sense of Provence. Complete menu of southern French dishes is available outdoors.
Centro, 710 N. Wells St., 312-988-7775. The sidewalk cafe is ringed with flower boxes on tall stands, providing a measure of intimacy free from passing strollers. Internal traffic is another matter; Centro is very crowded almost all the time and the outside area endures overflow from the SROs waiting for tables. On the plus side, you have a great vantage point from which to gawk at the oft-elegant folks who frequent this place. Kitchen specializes in massive portions of good, old-fashioned Italian food at modest prices. Waits can be substantial.
Four Farthings Tavern & Grill, 2060 N. Cleveland St., 312-935-2060. The Penny Lane Cafe, done with umbrella tables, flower-filled planters and latticework, is open for lunch and dinner daily; there’s even a kids’ menu, a boon to parents looking for a respite after touring nearby Lincoln Park Zoo. The cafe is a popular destination for Sunday brunch too.
Gypsy, 215 E. Ohio St., 312-644-9779. Gypsy’s sidewalk cafe is tucked into a curve of its building, substantially reducing the traffic noise from busy Ohio Street. Menu is eclectic American and is particularly good with fresh fish; the wine list is terrific and dozens of varieties are available by the glass or by the two-ounce “taste.”
Harry’s Velvet Room, 534 N. Clark St., 312-828-0770. This funky, gothic dining spot takes an equally playful approach to its 12-table outdoor cafe, set off by theater-style velvet ropes and dotted with terra-cotta planters. Menu includes tasty pizzas with honey-wheat crusts, carpaccios of various species and fair-to-middling pastas. The restaurant encourages cigar-smoking after 10 p.m., so be prepared.
Hat Dance, 325 W. Huron St., 312-649-0961. About eight tables are spaced under a wide canopy flanking the restaurant entrance. Full menu served at lunchtime, limited menu available at dinner–though you can put together a pretty good meal that way. Menu is a blend of Southwestern and Mexican dishes, and seasonings can be pretty lively.
Il Toscanaccio, 636 N. St. Clair St., 312-664-2777. The former Rue St. Clair is reborn–finally–as a rustic-Italian restaurant with one of the prettiest open-air cafe and sidewalk cafe spaces around. The outdoor patio seats 70, but when the doors are swung open most of the dining room gets at least some outdoor feel. Hint: Try the European-style breakfast.
Kitty O’Shea’s, Chicago Hilton and Towers, 720 S. Michigan Ave., 312-922-4400. A pleasant oasis on Michigan Ave., close to museums and Grant Park. Irish pub menu includes shepherd’s pie, Irish stew and poached salmon (along with burgers and sandwiches), and you’ll find Harp’s and Guinness on tap. Inside, there’s live entertainment nightly.
Maggiano’s Little Italy, 516 N. Clark St., 312-644-7700. Dine under a large awning, surrounded by flowers and shrubs, at the original Maggiano’s or its spinoffs at Old Orchard Shopping Center or Oakbrook Center. Full menu of bountiful pastas, terrific sandwiches and other goodies are available.
Mare, 400 N. Clark St., 312-245-9933. There’s seating for 40 at this colorful cafe, featuring umbrella-covered green tables topped with salmon tablecloths, amid fresh flowers and ivy-filled planters. Coastal Italian fare emphasizes seafood.
Nick & Tony’s, 1 E. Wacker Dr., 312-467-9449. Enjoy the riverfront view from Nick & Tony’s spacious, street-level plaza, set with wrought-iron furniture and flower boxes. Order from the menu, or grab takeout from the bakery. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Papagus Greek Taverna, 620 N. State St., 312-642-8450. The sunny outdoor cafe is a perfect setting for Papagus’ menu, dominated by grilled items. Order a few mezedes (small dishes) such as grilled calamari, pick a good, inexpensive Greek wine and pretend those breezes are coming from the sea.
Ristorante Vita, 217 W. Huron St., 312-587-8899. Opening next week is this 40-seat sidewalk cafe in the heart of River North’s gallery district. Menu is a mix of Italian-American and contemporary Italian dishes, from chicken Vesuvio to focaccia sandwiches.
Scoozi!, 410 W. Huron St., 312-943-5900. Dine under the big tomato (the restaurant’s visible-for-blocks signage) against color-splashed walls at this always-crowded casual restaurant. Outdoor cafe features a downsized trattoria menu filled with light appetizers, pizzas, salads and pastas.
Tuttaposto, 646 N. Franklin St., 312-943-6262. This Mediterranean restaurant’s outdoor deck offers dining “L fresco,” so named for the “L” tracks a few feet away. By special arrangement with the CTA, trains drive extra slowly and quietly past Tuttaposto. Yeah, right. Excellent food and a beyond-the-norm wine list, though.
Via Veneto, 3449 W. Peterson Ave., 312-267-0888. Via Veneto is so popular on Saturdays it’s a shame the sidewalk cafe can’t last year-round. Imaginative pastas and well-chosen, courteously priced wines (including seasonal features that are outstanding bargains) are the draws here.
Yvette, 1206 N. State Pkwy., 312-280-1700. What’s called Chicago’s first outdoor cafe sits here, although no sidewalk space is involved: When the weather cooperates, the doors swing open, bringing the warm temperatures in. Live entertainment is featured in Yvette seven days a week, and there’s no cover. Bistro menu is moderately priced, and there’s a three-course prix-fixe for just $19.95.
Whitehall Place, Whitehall Hotel, 105 E. Delaware Pl., 312-944-6300. Opening mid-June is a 64-seat cafe serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Menu is somewhat more abbreviated than that of the main dining room, but still offers substantial variety.
Garden settings
(Off-street patios, decks and gardens, offering a bit more privacy and intimacy.)
Cafe du Midi, 2118 N. Damen Ave., 312-235-6434. A tall privacy fence shields this brick-lined garden from the noise of passersby. In the center of the space is a fanciful Eiffel Tower, bedecked with twinkling lights. The bistro menu includes vegetable tarts, pastas and fresh fish.
Carlucci, 2215 N. Halsted St. 312-281-1220. One of the nicest gardens in Chicago is the spacious, trellis-covered space adjacent to Carlucci, a sophisticated, urban-hip restaurant.
Daily Bar & Grill, 4560 N. Lincoln Ave., 312-561-6198. A funky Lincoln Square neighborhood restaurant in a bright yellow building, with a menu offering sophisticated home cooking. The garden patio, which seats 50, is filled with flowers and potted plants; white Italian lights twinkle at night.
Danilo’s, 464 N. Halsted St., 312-421-0218. Enjoy specialties such as pepper steak, halibut with artichoke sauce and veal chops bearnaise on a lovely, landscaped wooden deck.
Eat Your Hearts Out!, 1835 W. North Ave., 312-235-6361. A flower-filled private garden sits behind the dining room of this cute Wicker Park spot, whose food ranges from a vegetable, goat cheese and polenta sandwich to free-range chicken over Caesar salad. Open for lunch and dinner.
The Garden Restaurant, Art Institute of Chicago, Michigan Avenue at Adams Street, 312-443-3600. Opening mid-June, this tree-lined courtyard within the confines of the Art Institute has room for 250, and a menu that includes burgers, pizza du jour and entree salads. Live jazz is featured on Tuesday evenings, weather permitting.
I Tre Merli, 316 W. Erie St., 312-266-3100. This New York import draws a trendy, dressed-to-thrill crowd on a regular basis. The area is set back from the street, which cuts down on noise. Menu is full of simple and delicious Italian fare, in particular the grilled vegetable plate.
Lutz Continental Cafe & Pastry Shop, 2458 W. Montrose Ave., 312-478-7785. Few people know that this venerable (since 1948) spot does more than carryout; but not only is there a restaurant, there is also a 75-seat enclosed garden, featuring a menu of open-faced sandwiches, soups, crepes and special entrees.
O’Briens, 1528 N. Wells St., 312-787-3131. A strikingly handsome space, O’Briens’ outdoor patio is brick-lined, with teakwood furniture and forest-green canvas umbrellas. A gazebo bar on the patio means waiters don’t have to scurry all the way indoors to fill beverage orders.
The Pepper Lounge, 3441 N. Sheffield Ave., 312-665-7377. The Garden is a 75-seat outdoor patio space that continues the Pepper Lounge’s ’50s supper-club ambience as the “L” rumbles nearby. Portobello mushrooms in Grand Marnier sauce and grilled veal chop are menu highlights.
Piatti, 215 W. North Ave., 312-266-2929. A lovely, walled-in courtyard, complete with waterfall, is a pretty and very romantic setting for chef/owner Sami Signorino’s imaginative Mediterranean tapas, perfect for light grazing or more substantial meals.
Piatto Verde, 334 W. Chicago Ave., 312-335-3739. This sister property to Pane Caldo on Walton Street offers vegetarian Italian food in a very congenial setting. The trellised patio in back–it seems an extension of the dining room itself–is even more congenial.
Relish, 2044 N. Halsted St., 312-868-9034. “Ron’s Secret Garden” is a secluded, 50-seat courtyard just beyond the host stand. Cherry trees, flowers and soft lighting add to the romantic atmosphere. The American menu is imaginative and very lively, and Relish’s desserts are worth a trip by themselves.
Un Grand Cafe, 2300 N. Lincoln Park West, 312-348-8886. The outdoor patio, separated from the street by an iron fence, is very popular in summer. Outdoor seating is strictly on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early. Open for lunch and dinner.
Great views
(Something to look at besides each other.)
Boondock’s River Shanty and Bait Shop, 1177 N. Elston Ave., 312-384-3200. This super-casual shack along the Chicago River’s North branch offers pretty water views and the occasional glimpse of skyline from its boatyard, set with picnic tables, ping-pong tables and even beach volleyball. (Boatyard is set to open mid-June.) The menu ranges from such offerings as the half-pound Godzilla burger and spicy chicken wings to oyster po’ boys and jerk chicken.
Dick’s Last Resort, North Pier, 435 E. Illinois St., 312-836-7870. Plenty of hearty food (ribs, chicken, crablegs, burgers), cold beer, wisecracking staffers–and, as the menu points out, absolutely no class. But Dick’s Dock, the outdoor patio that’s actually floating in Ogden Slip (along the Pier’s south side) is a great place for a nibble and a brew, with the city skyline looming in the background.
Esplanade Express, Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers, 301 E. North Water Street, 312-464-1000. The hotel’s contribution to the outdoor scene is a lovely patio that directly overlooks the Chicago River and has a great view of the Centennial Fountain and Arc. It’s open daily until 9 p.m., serving a menu of sandwiches, salads and a daily pasta.
Park Place Cafe, 2651 N. Stockton Drive (in Lincoln Park), 312-871-3123. Dining under the sun and stars alongside North Pond in Lincoln Park, with the city skyline in the background. Lunch is served daily (it’s a brunch on Sunday) and dinner is available Mon.-Fri.
Pegasus, 130 S. Halsted St., 312-226-3377. The rooftop garden of this Greektown restaurant offers an unparalleled view of the city skyline. Full menu is not available, but there are a good assortment of appetizers, and there’s a full bar and piped-in music.
River Edge Cafe, Hyatt Regency Chicago, 151 E. Wacker Drive, 312-565-1234. As the name suggests, this outdoor cafe is right on the river–a grassy stretch on the south bank, just east of the Michigan Avenue Bridge. Menu features sandwiches and salads and a wonderful view of the river. Open for lunch only.
South Pier, 6401 S. Lake Shore Drive, 312-241-7437. Most people don’t even know this place exists. It’s a little cafe just east of Lake Shore Drive (yes, east; you’ll miss the turn if you blink) serving a menu of light sandwiches, burgers and a handful of entrees (ribs, steak, fish and pasta). The views of the lake and Jackson Park outer harbor, either from the veranda or the patio, are terrific. And there’s live music on weekends in the bar area, which opens up to overlook the harbor. Open daily.
When it rains
(Weather-protected patios, where an unexpected shower won’t dampen your spirits.)
Avanti Populo, 1620 N. Damen Ave., 312-772-7100. In summer, the enclosed patio space gives up its removable windows and becomes an open-air veranda that overlooks the landscaped garden. The menu, dominated by appetizers and light pastas, is just right for summer nibbling.
Blackhawk Lodge, 41 E. Superior St., 312-280-4080. The rustic decor here is just a front for sophisticated American food, and some of the best dry-rubbed ribs in the city. The outdoor porch is screened in, covered with a roof and hung with ceiling fans; rain, heat or bugs won’t deter outdoor service.
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba, 2024 N. Halsted St., 312-935-5000. The outdoor patio at this always-crowded tapas restaurant now has a retractable tent to keep things dry even when the weather won’t cooperate. Tucked away from the street, the patio’s walls are splashed with wild colors, echoing the festive decor inside. A great place to sip wine and eat tapas; the trouble is, everyone else thinks so, too, so be prepared to wait for a table (reservations not accepted for outdoors).
Emilio’s Tapas, 444 W. Fullerton Ave., 312-327-5100. A terrific tapas restaurant with a south dining room fronted by French doors that swing open during polite weather, providing diners with summer breezes and second-floor views of the bustling street traffic below.
Ina’s Kitchen, 934 W. Webster St., 312-525-1116. Elaine’s Garden is the name of the enclosed patio space attached to Ina’s Kitchen. When the weather’s right, the doors roll back and the place becomes a huge screened porch; when the weather misbehaves, the roof keeps the rain away and, in extreme cases, the air-conditioning switches on. Open for breakfast and lunch only.
Northside Cafe, 1635 N. Damen Ave., 312-384-3555. Attached to the restaurant is a tall atrium with removable glass panels. In summer, the entire front wall comes down–but the roof panels remain for rain protection. Very informal menu of sandwiches, appetizers and some pastas.
Winnetka Grill, 64 Green Bay Rd., Winnetka, 708-441-6444. This North Shore fixture offers al fresco dining under a large tent. Rain can’t get in, or under (there’s a full wood floor) bugs are excluded, and the space even can be air-conditioned when temperatures warrant. Menu is more upscale than the prices would suggest.
In the burbs
Bacino’s, 1504 N. Naperville Blvd., Naperville, 708-505-0600. Best known for its pizza, the Bacino’s in Naperville also features a rather sophisticated menu of Italian food. The rooftop cafe is pleasant, though the view is minimal–high fences actually shield diners from the acres of parking lots below. Time your visit right, though, and you might catch a pretty sunset.
Bistro Banlieue, 44 Yorktown Convenience Center, Lombard, 708-629-6560. The east side of this charming restaurant is home to a flower-filled outdoor patio. Portable heaters keep things cozy even if the evening temperature drops precipitously. Very good food too.
Bogart’s Charhouse, 17265 Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park, 708-532-5592. This very popular, mid-priced steakhouse has a streetside patio, surrounded by a small picket fence and set with umbrella-topped tables. Tables are available to the first person to grab them, so arrive early or prepare to wait.
Convito Italiano, 1515 N. Sheridan Rd., Wilmette, 708-251-3654. The Spanish-style architecture of the Plaza del Lago shopping center forms a pretty backdrop for Convito Italiano’s outdoor terrace, a nice place to sip wine and sample the menu’s lighter Italian creations.
Don Roth’s, 61 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, 708-537-5800. Behind the restaurant is a flower-filled patio with a lighted fountain and wrought-iron furniture. You can even spot the kitchen’s future tomatoes growing nearby. Regular menu is featured. Not many people can say they’ve had scrod al fresco.
Harry Caray’s in Wheeling, 933 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, 708-537-2827. Both Harry Caray restaurants–the downtown original and this north-suburban offshoot–offer outdoor dining and a menu of American and Italian-American specialties. But in Wheeling, the outdoor patio is a two-level space dubbed “the bleachers,” featuring wrought-iron furniture and Budweiser-logo (what else?) umbrellas.
Los Amigos, 904 N. York Rd., Elmhurst, 708-530-8226. This budget-priced Mexican restaurant, where every entree is less than $10, makes a point of using no lard or preservatives in its food–two big reasons the place is so popular. Enclosed outdoor deck seats 50 and is decorated with flower-filled planters.
Mill Race Inn, 4 E. State St., Geneva, 708-232-2030. Most of the dining at this riverview restaurant is indoors, but the Gazebo, which serves drinks and nibbles, has an open deck that overhangs the Fox River. Nice natural setting, lovely views–especially at sunset.
Original Gino’s East, 1321 Golf Rd., Rolling Meadows, 708-364-6644. Who can resist pizza alfresco? Not many, so arrive early for seats at this fenced-in patio with umbrella tables. Open for lunch and dinner.
Pier 550, 550 Green Bay Rd., Highwood, 708-266-0550. This seafood and steak restaurant offers a large outdoor dining area with plenty of shade trees and flowerbeds.
Seasons of Long Grove, 314 Old McHenry Rd., Long Grove, 708-634-9150. The Napa Valley patio, open for lunch only, features red brick walls supporting grapevines, a fountain and flower-filled planters. Menu is mostly sandwiches and salads, plus California wines by the glass and a lemonade list that includes a dozen varieties. Children’s menu available.
Spasso, 514 W. Liberty St., Wauconda, 708-526-4215. Spasso offers a screened-in porch decorated with hanging flower baskets and twinkling white lights–a delightful setting for the kitchen’s very impressive Italian food and thoughtful wine list.
