A summer picnic, barbeque on the grill, the sun shining just enough to warm your face, but not so bright that its make you squint. Those are meals that settle into our sense memories. You can create that feeling all summer long in these al fresco dining spots.
These restaurants go beyond scraping up a table and chairs to put outside. They go all-out on the sidewalk, rooftop or patio to make a meal feel like a mini summer vacation. The feel of dining outside is part of the decision to go there.
Austin
TNT Rooftop Restaurant, 5405 W Madison Street, (Rooftop)
Brookfield
Irish Times, 8869 Burlington Avenue, (Patio)
Skadarliya, 9237 Ogden Avenue, (Patio)
Mary’s Morning Mixup, 9110 Broadway Ave, (Patio)
Berwyn
(Roosevelt Road only)
Babygold BBQ, 6613 Roosevelt Road, (Patio)
Autre Monde Cafe & Spirits, 6727 W. Roosevelt Road, (Patio)
Forest Park
Fat Duck Tavern & Grill, 7218 Madison Street , (Patio)
O’Sullivan’s Public House, 7244 Madison Street, (Patio)
Francesca’s Fiore, 7407 Madison Street, (Sidewalk)
Caffe de Luca, 7427 Madison Street , (Rooftop)
Mexican Republic Kitchen & Cantina, 7404 Madison Street (Patio)
Charlie’s Restaurant, 7427 Roosevelt Road, (Patio)
Oak Park
Amerikas, 734 Lake Street, (Sidewalk)
Chicago Waffles, 726 Lake Street, (Sidewalk)
Hoja Santa, 722 Lake Street, (Sidewalk)
Scratch on Lake, 733 Lake Street, (Sidewalk)
Hemmingway’s Bistro, 211 N. Oak Park Avenue, (Patio)
Citrine Café, 100 S. Oak Park Avenue (Sidewalk)
Crepas Culichi, 1101 Lake Street, (Sidewalk)
Maya Del Sol, 144 S. Oak Park Avenue, (Patio)
Poor Phil’s, 139 S. Marion Street, (Sidewalk)
Avenue Ale House, 825 S. Oak Park Avenue, (Rooftop)
One Lake Brewing, 1 Lake Street, (Rooftop)
River Forest
Black Fodder Coffee, 349 Ashland Avenue, (Patio)
Riverside
La Barra , 2 E. Burlington Street, (Sidewalk)
La Estancia, 25 Forest Ave., (Sidewalk)