Our critics pick the best places to dine alfresco
Warm weather can be fleeting, so when the mercury climbs above 70 we want to savor every second of the warm breezes and sun shining on our bare shoulders.
We flock to local pools, kick off our shoes and walk in the grass, trade our all-weather radials for bike tires and wait (and wait and wait) for a table on the deck, patio or sidewalk at our favorite restaurants.
Restaurants set up tables and chairs in just about any nook of outdoor space for dining alfresco. Today, we've asked our restaurant critics to pick their favorite places to dine in the great outdoors.
Now it's your turn. We want to know where you like to eat outside and why. Send the restaurant name and address along with your name, age and town to food@dailyherald.com (please put "outdoor dining" in the subject line) and we'll share our readers' choices in a future edition.
Atwater's at the Herrington Inn
15 S. River Lane, Geneva, (630) 208-7433, herringtoninn.com
Cuisine: Globally influenced American
Entree price range: $24 to $32
Setting: Flower-filled patio along the Fox River with a gazebo available for small private parties
Good if you want: To forget your daily cares and enjoy Champagne and brie crab cake, zesty lemon salmon and other exceptional fare for a romantic dinner or relaxing lunch
- Deborah Pankey
Brio Tuscan Grille
The Shops on Butterfield, 330 Yorktown Center, Lombard, (630) 424-1515, brioitalian.com
Cuisine: Italian
Entree price range: $12.95 to $29.50
Setting: Patio contains groups of cushy lounge seating and umbrella-topped tables overlooking The Shops on Butterfield
Good if you want: To take a break from shopping to nosh on seared steak bruschetta, flatbreads and toothsome risotto
Special events: Brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
- Jennifer Olvera
Cafe Pyrenees
Adler Square Shopping Center, 1762 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville, (847) 362-2233, cafepyrenees.com
Cuisine: French with global influences
Entree price range: $13.50 to $28.50
Setting: Debuting in late summer, a new outdoor deck topped with umbrella tables will offer gas heaters for extended-season use
Good if you want: French fare in a garden setting
Special events: 1990s Nights on Tuesdays, crepe specials on Wednesdays and tapas on Thursdays, with special wine and beer pricing
- Leah Zeldes
Don Roth's Blackhawk
61 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, (847) 537-5800, theblackhawk.com
Cuisine: Steaks, chops and fresh seafood
Entree price range: $16.95 to $33.95
Setting: Lovely, secluded patio in a two-acre garden away from traffic noise; a metal fire pit, taken from the original Blackhawk in Chicago, hangs from wood beams; a transparent tent protects the 80-seat outdoor dining room during inclement weather
Good if you want: Great steaks, summer specials such as soft-shell crabs in garlic butter and the famous spinning salad bowl
Special events: Live music after 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays
- L.Z.
Hackney's on Harms
1241 Harms Road, Glenview, (847) 724-5577, hackneys.net
Cuisine: American
Entree price range: $8 to $12
Setting: Situated in an old house and existing since before even your parents were born, the patio is surrounded by tall poplar trees (good for shade, not good for allergies) and a comfortable, homey atmosphere
Good if you want: A tasty Hackneyburger, fried onion rings or stuffed chicken while enjoying the summer breeze
- Izidora Angel
Jimmy's Grill
245 S. Washington St., Naperville, (630) 548-2500, jimmysgrillnaperville.com
Cuisine: Classic bar fare plus salads and wraps for the health-conscious
Entree price range: $8 to $25
Setting: Famous overflowing patio is daunting but always worth grappling for with an elbow or two; the view and ambience of downtown Naperville more than makes the patio worth the patience
Good if you want: To mingle with the mid-20s crowd on a weekend night and do some serious people-watching
- I.A.
Kona Grill
Oak Brook Promenade, 3051 Butterfield Road, Oak Brook, (630) 515-8395, konagrill.com
Cuisine: Hawaiian-tinged seafood
Entree price range: $10.95 to $30.95
Setting: Ignore the whir of traffic on the gracious patio adorned with wrought-iron furniture and a blazing fireplace
Good if you want: To join the after-work crowd snacking on Maui onion rings with chipotle-pineapple sauce, potstickers and blackened catfish tacos
- J.O.
Long Grove Cafe
235 Robert Parker Coffin Road, Long Grove, (847) 955-9600, longgrovecafe.com
Cuisine: Greek-American
Entree price range: $11.95 to $29.95; sandwiches $7.95 to $10.95
Setting: Umbrella-topped tables on serene deck overlooking landscaped duck pond with mature willows and gushing fountain
Good if you want: A peaceful setting to relax after shopping in Long Grove or a lovely destination for drinks and appetizers or dinner. Saganaki and chicken kebabs are excellent choices.
- Laura Bianchi
M.T. Barrels
98 W. Main St. (Route 72), West Dundee, (847) 426-4030, mtbarrels.com
Cuisine: American
Entree price range: $10.95 to $36.95
Setting: Vintage, former drugstore and speak-easy with second level, wooden deck overlooking Fox River; cast-iron umbrella tables and chairs
Good if you want: Microbrews and bar food or classic American entrees such as meatloaf with mashed potatoes, duck with cherry glaze, steaks and hearty sandwiches
- L.B.
Peggy Kinnane's
8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights, (847) 577-7733, peggykinnanes.com
Cuisine: Traditional Irish bar fare
Entree price range: $9 to $23
Setting: Imported chairs and tiles; a good-sized patio makes for easy beer consumption
Good if you want: Cold beer on tap, especially classics such as Boddingtons or Smithwick's, while you engage in conversation with friends or listen to a game that's on in the background
Special events: Weekend tribute bands; Irish Fest July 18 and 19
- I.A.