The weather has been so beautiful lately that we have been sitting outside everywhere we can, and often a place is chosen because it offers al fresco dining. Calling it dining is a stretch, Usually, such places are very casual. But there are some lovely patios in the better places around town that are worth remembering.
Our current favorite outdoor space in town is at Chemin À la Mer, the Donald Link restaurant on the 5th floor of The Four Seasons Hotel at the foot of Canal/Poydras. The food here is as fantastic as the space, which offers sweeping views of the mighty Mississippi. It’s a splurge, but well worth it. There is a raw oyster Happy Hour daily from 3-6pm.
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There are a lot of courtyards and patios in the French Quarter, but we have a few favorites. The outdoor spaces at Brennan’s and Broussard’s are two of the nicest. Brennan’s features the turtles which is extra fun, and the dining room surrounding it is enclosed in glass. The Bubbles at Brennan’s Happy Hour weekdays 2-6pm is one of the best deals in town.
Broussard’s has a courtyard that is much larger and even more beautiful. Originally part of a stables, this courtyard seems a world away from the busy French Quarter.
But the one that is perhaps a favorite in the French Quarter is the small patio at Irene’s. It’s enclosed by a brick wall with flowers everywhere. Irene’s is a lovely romantic restaurant, and the courtyard is a wonderful extension of the sweeping bar.
My favorite French Quarter outdoor space is more accurately two. There is an indoor courtyard and an upper balcony at Tableau, and I can’t decide which one I prefer. The interior courtyard also seems far from the madding crowd,
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but the upstairs balcony gives a bird’s-eye view of the activity below, which sometimes offers things you’re happy to be observing from a distance.
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A more leisurely and utterly pleasant outdoor experience is also found at another Dickie Brennan place Uptown. The Audubon Clubhouse was always a lovely setting, but the food was just ordinary. We still went because the place was so appealing. But now that Dickie Brennan took it over, it’s the whole package. It’s easy to park and there is just no downside to this.
Shaya is another place we could spend some time. The patio out back is completely enclosed in a tall white wall and even though I’ve never been to Israel, I could imagine such a space there. The food is as great as ever.
One of the most charming outdoor spaces in the city is the backyard at N7 which is as much a reason to go there as any. The food is eclectic and French, and the vibe is cool.
Maple St Cafe reminds me of a place you might find at the seaside of the Mediterranean. It’s not as glamorous as some of these others, but the food is really delicious and much more affordable than most all of these others.
Station 6 is a hip, casual and delicious restaurant with two outdoor spaces. We love them both. Started by Allison Vega and now part of the Aaron Burgau group, this stylish Metairie spot is a favorite.
Since most of our dining is done on the northshore where we live, I wanted to include somewhere there. Pardo’s is one of the most beautiful restaurants in the entire metro area. It has a California vibe with its casual but elegant breezy style. Outside a patio is enclosed by a tall white wall. There are tables and chairs for dining and sofas and chairs for drinking, and a fireplace for everyone. We love this place.
Larder Eatery gets an honorable mention here mainly because it's the inspiration for the list. The patio here is utterly unique and the food is delicious, despite the casual nature of food and service.
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Tom was never a fan of al fresco dining, I couldn’t disagree more.
