With summer here, I'm declaring a personal moratorium on eating and drinking indoors. Bring on the bees and the balmy summer months: I pledge to drink outdoors, eat outdoors and socialize under the stars until the snow falls.
It's no secret, Minnesotans have a passion for patios. One could almost call it an obsession -- or at the very least, a predisposition for communally imbibing whenever the mercury rises above 45 degrees.
Luckily, the Twin Cities scene is home to a great number of worthy patios, from rooftop (Brit's, Stella's) to classic (W.A. Frost, Jax) to lakeside (Lord Fletcher's). This summer, a few new spots are out to make a name for themselves.
Here are five patios that I'm excited about. They run the gamut from a small Asian eatery that flew under the radar last summer to this season's next blockbuster rooftop bar.
Loring Kitchen Al fresco: Located on picturesque Loring Park, this restaurant was tailor-made for park views. Sitting under the flashy Eitel apartments, the Loring Kitchen has filled the building's courtyard with high- and low-top tables, which overlook a cluster of evergreens on the park's rim. And don't forget about the open-air portico, basically a four-season glass porch running the length of the dining room. Look for live music and outdoor cooking later this summer.
Best seat: The courtyard is comfy, but the porch actually gives you a wider view of the park.
Info: 1359 Willow St., Mpls. 612-843-0400. www.loringkitchen.com.
Pittsburgh Blue Al fresco: In Maple Grove, this steakhouse is known as the less expensive cousin to downtown's Manny's. After three years, its owners finally built a patio they think will be the envy of their drab suburban neighbors. While it's located at a busy interchange, the sprawling patio is barricaded by walls of trees and capped with a heavy-duty wooden trellis. Check it out during the daily late-night happy hour (starts 8 p.m. Mon.-Thu., 9 p.m. Fri.-Sat., all day Sun.).
