Relish summer at these 4 Twin Cities outdoor dining oases

Looking to make the most of summer with a spot to dine al fresco? Here are four great spots with great food.

August 16, 2019 at 2:47PM
The screen porch at the Zumbro Cafe in Minneapolis.
The screen porch at the Zumbro Cafe in Minneapolis. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Brooklyn

This handsomely remade golf clubhouse destination includes a sunny, well-appointed patio overlooking the links. In the kitchen, the D'Amico and Partners crew is in premium All-American mode, with double-patty cheeseburgers, fish tacos, steak sandwiches and walleye chowder. There's a Friday night fish fry (beer-battered Alaskan cod) for $16; $12 for kids ages 12 and under. Lunch and dinner daily, Sunday brunch.

8700 Edinbrook Crossing, 763-315-8535, brooklynedinburgh.com

Grand Catch

Instead of sidewalk tables, the patio — snug, secluded — is out back, an ideal warm-weather setting for exploring chef Sameh Wadi's obsession with seafood boils (shrimp, crab, mussels, clams, lobster tail), filtered through Cajun and Asian sensibilities. Don't miss the shrimp toast — or the crab dip — and don't overlook brunch, with its winning versions of lobster avocado toast, crab Benedict and shrimp and grits. Dinner daily, weekend brunch.

1672 Grand Av., St. Paul, 651-348-8541, grandcatchmn.com

Holman's Table

The location is unusual, a 1939 Moderne-style limestone airport terminal. Not surprisingly, the patio has a priceless view, overlooking the runway at the St. Paul Downtown Airport. The contemporary American fare ranges from farro-quinoa a.m. bowls to steak tartare and grilled oysters. Also on the menu? Helicopter rides, and dinner-flight packages. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

644 Bayfield St., St. Paul, 612-800-5298, holmanstable.com

Zumbro Cafe

The always-in-demand outdoor space at this Linden Hills institution isn't a patio, it's a charming, mosquito-free screen porch. Talk about an ideal summertime platform for enjoying the kitchen's superb pancakes, chicken-wild rice hash, frittatas, Benedicts, tuna melts, turkey club sandwiches and other classics. Breakfast and lunch Tuesday through Sunday.

2803 W. 43rd St., Mpls., 612-920-3606, zumbrocafe.com

about the writer

Rick Nelson

Reporter

Rick Nelson joined the staff of the Star Tribune in 1998. He is a Twin Cities native, a University of Minnesota graduate and a James Beard Award winner. 

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