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For Those Who Live to Eat

Austin

Tips for Dining, Eating, and Food Shopping in Austin, TX

Results will be limited to the last year and sorted newest first.

Good Outdoor, Al Fresco, and/or Patio Dining Experiences?

The weather in Austin is so lovely for most of the year, I thought it would be useful for the CH community to compile a list of places(restaurants, bars, coffee shops) with outdoor seating. The food should, of course, be good (if not great!), but the focus here is really on the outdoor experience. If you are so inclined, details about the outdoor setting (casual, classy? plastic chairs? covered? live music? heat lamps?) and why you particularly like the place, as well as tips on the food, would be greatly appreciated!

I'll start:

-Vivo: Beautiful patio with lush landscaping and waterfall. Known for their puffy tacos; my meal was forgettable, however - so not bad, not great.

-El Chile: Casual covered outdoor patio; plastic chairs, each draped with a Mexican blanket (which I appreciated when the night got breezy). Solid Tex-Mex fare.

-Shady Grove: Large and largely uncovered patio area with lovely oak trees; nice and shady ;-) If I remember right, they have live music outside at times as well. Decent burgers and American food with a southwest twist.

-Maudie's Milagro in Westlake: Lovely second-floor covered wooden deck seating with wood-burning fireplace (I doubt they light it in the summer months.) Decent Tex-Mex.

-Bess Bistro: Haven't actually eaten on the patio, but met a friend at the bar and saw the patio on the way in. Wooden deck, heat lamps, strings of tiny white lights - the effect was very pleasant. Hope to go back soon and experience it fully.

I know there are tons more out there, so please, fellow 'hounds - fill in the blanks! :-)

    20 Replies so Far

    1. Mansion at Judges Hill has a great front porch for coffee and dessert. Trio at the 4 Seasons has without a doubt the best view in the from their patio(BTW, their hamburger is a real winner). Billy's on Burnet has a deck but not too interesting , Russel's bakery next to Andersons coffee (forget the street name) has an outdooor with a canopy.

        1. re: singlemalt

          Ooh yeah the newish Russell's location on Kerbey Lane! I drove by it the other day and thought the patio looked really nice, but it was closed. Is there food any good, or should I stick to coffee/baked goods there?

            1. re: Aloo0628

              The lunch menu is limited to soup, sandwiches and salads. We stopped there for lunch on Saturday. The soups of the day were tomato bisque and chicken enchildada. I had the bisque and enjoyed it, along with half a sandwich. Everything was nice and fresh. I don't know if the lunch and dinner menus are the same.

            2. Freddie's - casual, but oh so much fun. The food is pretty blah, but their queso and ice cold Lone Stars stand out.

              Sampaio's on 45th has a nice quaint patio. Reviews on the food vary here, but i like the coffee crusted pork tenderloin, their salads, and anything with chimichurri on it.

                1. I keep a list handy for those beautiful temperate days:

                  1886 Café
                  Dog and Duck
                  Fino
                  Hickory Street
                  Hula Hut
                  Madeleine
                  Mansion on Judges Hill
                  Maudie's
                  Moonshine
                  Mother Egans
                  Mozart
                  Oasis
                  Roy's
                  Shoal Creek Saloon
                  Shoreline
                  Siena
                  Sweetish Hill
                  Thai Tara
                  Trattoria Lisina
                  Trio
                  Whole Foods
                  Z-Tejas

                    1. re: Paul Silver

                      Nice list! Some places not mentioned....

                      El Taquito
                      El Mercado
                      Polvo's
                      Juan in a Million
                      Jorge's
                      Baby A's in North Austin
                      East Side Pies
                      Sam's
                      Rudy's
                      Green Mesquite

                        1. re: Paul Silver

                          Santa Rita Mexican Restaurant on 35th has very nice front and back patios. They're opening a new location near 360 down south fairly soon and I understand it will also have a nice patio.

                            1. re: Paul Silver

                              Though a little far, I would add the Iguana Grill, 2900 Ranch Road 620 N, Austin, TX‎ - (512) 266-8439‎. What a view! Very relaxing place to be.

                              • Iron Cactus in the Galleria Mall
                                McCormick & Schmicks in the Domain
                                Waterloo Ice House
                                Little Woodrow's

                                  1. I'd add
                                    Manuel's (Jollyville)
                                    San Francisco Bakery
                                    to the list!

                                      1. re: peddani

                                        manuel's jollyville is a really great al fresco spot, but for the past year the food has really gone downhill.

                                          1. re: peddani

                                            Also North, in The Domain, Peddani - when they roll up the windows in nice weather, it's a great open air dining experience. Cru, just across from North, also has outside tables....

                                            • I'll add:
                                              Buenos Aires Cafe
                                              Cafe Medici
                                              Central Market (the Central location)
                                              Dog Almighty
                                              El Arroyo
                                              Fliphappy Crepes
                                              Food Heads
                                              The Grove
                                              Mighty Fine
                                              P. Terry's
                                              Phil's Icehouse
                                              Salvation Pizza
                                              Tacodeli
                                              Torchy's Tacos

                                                1. re: nyc_girl13

                                                  I would add Z Tejas both the central location and the one in the Arboretum area (great views)

                                                  • Add Matt's El Rancho. I've only eaten there once though. Chuy's on Research has nice outdoor seating as well.

                                                      1. i'm shocked nobody's mentioned blue dahlia, on e. 11th. it's definitely one of the most pleasant outdoor eating experiences in austin.
                                                        another is fino. delicious, upscale food, nice outdoor area.
                                                        and casa de luz, if you're down with hippie cuisine.

                                                          1. Lunch out back on the patio at Triumph Cafe (on Spicewood Springs Road between Mesa and Mopac) is always an absolute delight on a lovely Austin Spring day...

                                                              1. Goodness! I shouldn't be surprised that Austin has so many outdoor gems, but this really is quite a response. Thank you everyone! And I hope this thread will stay alive as the restaurant scene in Austin keeps growing and changing! :-)

                                                                  1. re: Aloo0628

                                                                    Thanks for starting this - I'll definitely use it. It is funny that the list was started in Feb and no one posted about it since April. A little too caliente for al Fresco was this summer!

                                                                      1. re: rudeboy

                                                                        Paggi House is supposed to have a really nice patio, too.

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