best outdoor eating/drinking in cambridge/somerville?

[roarlaura]

The weather is gorgeous again and I want to be eating and drinking outside! Where are the best patios or gardens in Cambridge or Somerville? The Middle East and Tavern on the Square aren't cutting it. I'm open to anyplace with good food, and availability of hefewiesen a huge plus.

[bella_sarda]

Tory Row in Harvard Square has outdoor seating, good beer selection, and pretty decent food.

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Tory Row
3 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 02138

[MC Slim JB]

Too new to get much attention here yet, but the food / drinks are really good and the patio plenty nice at Area Four, the Lumiere chef/owner's second go at an urban restaurant, near Kendall Square.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

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Lumiere Restaurant
1293 Washington St., West Newton, MA 02465

Area Four
500 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA 02139

[somervilleoldtimer]

The Neighborhood Restaurant on Bow Street in Union Square, Somerville. Absolutely lovely with grapes growing overhead, and the world's biggest brunch.

[Aromatherapy]

Gran Gusto's patio is on a very ordinary street but pleasant enough.

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Gran Gusto
90 Sherman St, Cambridge, MA 02140

[justbeingpolite]

Really? No one's mentioned Oleana? Really?
Great patio. And they've got Schneider ‘Edelweiss’ Organic Hefeweizen, Germany!!!!

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Oleana
134 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA 02139

[gansu girl]

3rd post down from original - "garden oasis" is the truth, if you can get a table out there!

GG
http://www.semisweetonline.com

[justbeingpolite]

Sorry. I looked, but missed it. Definitely a garden oasis, has been since it was Daddyo's. Great food, though perhaps not as pub/barry as the OP intended.

[rshock]

Oh how I miss Daddyo's. Sitting in that garden with a plate of Huevos del Diablo? == Best. Breakfast. Ever.

[dulce de leche]

I think some restriction has been lifted because there are so many more patios than there have been in the last few years.

It's almost the exception in Harvard Square NOT to have an outdoor space.

Aside from those already mentioned, Grendel's Den, OM, Up Stairs on the Square, Border Cafe, Daedalus, Veggie Planet (tiny space), all of which serve alcohol and which have some good things to eat. Without alcohol: Crema Cafe, Flat Patties, Bertucci's, Algiers, Cardullo's.

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Flat Patties
81 Mount Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138

Crema Cafe
27 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 02138

Veggie Planet
47 Palmer St, Cambridge, MA 02138

Bertuccis
280 School St Ste G100, Mansfield, MA 02048

[teezeetoo]

Dantes is my pick. like the food, love the patio

[msackton]

Pizzeria Posto (the new pizzeria/wine bar in Davis) has 4-5 tables on the sidewalk, although they don't (yet) have a permit to serve alcohol outside.

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Pizzeria Posto
187 Elm St, Somerville, MA 02144

[MC Slim JB]

Lot of good ones mentioned already. Don't forget the new Rialto patio, the Legal Sea Foods terrace, Henrietta's, Noir, ArtBar, the Blue Room's weekday lunchtime barbecue (a bargain), the Red House, the Neighborhood (okay, I snuck some Somerville in there), Atasca, Zephyr, Algiers, Casablanca, Hi-Rise (Harvard Square), Harvest, UpStairs on the Square, and the Russell House Tavern (though I didn't notice this on a few prior visits, not sure where it's tucked away).

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

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Red House Restaurant
24 Union Sq, Somerville, MA 02143

Blue Room
1 Kendall Sq Ste B2001, Cambridge, MA 02139

Russell House Tavern
14 JFK Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

[scratchie]

The Red House? Really?

Russell House Tavern is in the former Finagle a Bagel, which I guess is the former Tasty?

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Red House Restaurant
24 Union Sq, Somerville, MA 02143

Russell House Tavern
14 JFK Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

[MC Slim JB]

The Russell House Tavern was most recently a Z-Square; don't recall what it was before that. The Tasty was right at the beginning of JFK Street as I recall, nearer to Out of Town News, where the Citzens Bank now is. I haven't dined at the Red House recently, but I always liked its patio, especially for weekday lunch.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

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Red House Restaurant
24 Union Sq, Somerville, MA 02143

[scratchie]

Yeah, you're right about the Tasty; I guess it's part of the bank now:

http://homepage.mac.com/aglee/2001/20...

I guess Russel House used to be part of the Wursthaus? I was confused by the little alleyway that is next to it. Was that added after the Wursthaus closed?

[MC Slim JB]

Memories fade, but I thought the Wursthaus was in that same Citizens Bank block, mostly upstairs (with some first-floor space); the RHT is in the separate but contiguous brick building next door at 14 JFK.

I just discovered that the Wursthaus was owned by the Cardullo's clan: never knew that! Seems they killed the golden goose with a failed second restaurant on the Cape.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[scratchie]

Feel free to refresh your memory with the photo I posted.

[MC Slim JB]

Thanks, I'd missed that. That does bring back memories!

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[mohotta]

RIP Wursthaus!

[jgg13]

wasn't the wursthaus space an abercrombie for a while, or am I mixing things up a bit myself?

[scratchie]

I think the A&F was where the bank is now, i.e., where the Tasty and the liquor store were in the photo I posted.

But I could be wrong... the shops in Harvard Square have changed so much in the last 10+ years that it's hard to keep them straight.

[MC Slim JB]

Yes, it was an A&F before it was the bank.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[jgg13]

Thanks. Looking at your picture is so surreal - while I remember those spots, I simply can't picture it as being harvard square. How things have changed.

[rlh]

Happened onto the patio at Red House overlooking the outdoor Beer Garden at Charlie's Kitchen on yesterday's perfect summer evening. The bargain $1 oysters from Virginia were fine and competently if slowly shucked, but pale in flavor compared to more local options. The cocktails were nice, especially the Aperol Moon (with gin, St. Germain, and lime plus bubbly water). Lobster abounds and the simple steamed one was fine as was a decadent appetizer serving of lobster carbonara. Server Kelsey was great - we'll return for the location and experience again.

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Charlie's Kitchen
10 Eliot St, Cambridge, MA 02138

Red House Restaurant
24 Union Sq, Somerville, MA 02143

[CreativeFoodie42]

This a great overview although I'd also like to mention Dante, OM (although not a huge fan of the food, their patio is really nice), and Charlie's Kitchen.

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Charlie's Kitchen
10 Eliot St, Cambridge, MA 02138

[Canadian Tuxedo]

In regards to the RHT outdoor seating, it's in the alley on the Papyrus side of the restaurant, in front of their alternative entrance. Just a small number of tables (maybe about ten?) in the same space Z-Square used for the purpose.

[julieapfel]

what about Charlie's Kitchen? They have a big patio and lot's of beer.

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Charlie's Kitchen
10 Eliot St, Cambridge, MA 02138

[okra]

Cambridge Common has a few outdoor tables in the sun... Go for the beer list.

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Cambridge Common
1667 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138

[yumyum]

We've got a lot of sidewalk seating in the Ville ... Temple Bar, Christophers, Precinct all have outside tables. That's not my favorite outside scene, being on the sidewalk. Oleana is the best option of all if you are looking for a garden oasis. Dante is best if you are looking for a river view and some killer pasta. Shay's is great if you are just looking to drink.

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Oleana
134 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA 02139

[chickendhansak]

Don't forget the smoking! (At Shay's that is.)

[LeoLioness]

Does Shay's let you smoke on the patio?

[chickendhansak]

I've seen it, but I can't say I've paid attention recently.

[momoftwo]

yes, they do, sometimes with cigars it can get smokey, especially if there is no breeze

[LeoLioness]

Good to know (saying this as a smoker, sorry!)--very few places to enjoy a drink and a smoke at the same time.

[chickendhansak]

In the summer I've seen the small patio absolutely crammed with smokers. You'll make a lot of friends while you're at it!

[viperlush]

What you don't enjoy the lovely view of Central Square and Mass Ave and it's inhabitants when you eat? :)

Try Cambridge Brewing Company over in Kendall. Choose wisely and their food is good. According to their website they start serving their hefewiezen seasonal tomorrow.

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Cambridge Brewing Company
1 Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA 02139

[momoftwo]

well, I always plug Shay's on JFK in Harvard Square, cute little patio, great beer and wine (only) and decent pub food