Outdoor dining is always a treat. When the weather turns warm in Connecticut's Greater Hartford area, there are many restaurants that offer outdoor dining, and many even serve up lovely views to go with their wonderful food. Here are my picks for the best places to dine outdoors in Hartford and the surrounding suburbs.
986 Farmington Ave., West Hartford, CT, 860-236-6195. The rooftop deck at this West Hartford Center gathering spot is one of my favorite places to enjoy a meal in the great outdoors. The rooftop bar is popular with the after-work crowd, and full table service is available for those who want to dine in the sunshine and watch the people go by below.
1555 Asylum Ave., West Hartford, CT, 860-231-8823. The Pond House Cafe in historic Elizabeth Park, America's oldest municipal rose garden, offers outdoor dining with serene views of the park's duck pond. The cafe's eclectic menu, which features many light and healthy selections, is perfectly suited to outdoor dining. Be sure to leave enough time to stop and smell the roses after your outdoor lunch or dinner.
971 Farmington Ave., West Hartford, CT, 860-218-2100. The spacious outdoor patio at Barcelona is West Hartford Center's most secluded place for al fresco dining. On hot summer nights, gather the gang and order a round of tapas or "small plates" to share.
500 Evergreen Way, South Windsor, 860-648-1100. What could be finer than sitting in the sun and gnawing on a big ol' bison burger? Dining outdoors at Ted's Montana Grill is the closest you can get to feeling like a cowboy here in Connecticut. Choose from 19 different bison burgers, bison pot roast, bison meatloaf and traditional cuts of bison steak. Beef is available, too, if you're a traditionalist.
26 Trumbull St., Hartford, CT, 860-244-2200. Though Vito's has a limited number of outdoor tables, the selling point here is that the restaurant overlooks downtown Hartford's historic and beautiful Bushnell Park. Share a pizza with friends, or linger over one of the restaurant's hearty Italian specialty dishes.
488 Farmington Ave., Hartford, 860-882-1839. The view here might not be great, but you'll only have eyes for the skewers of rotisserie-roasted meat anyway at this all-you-can-eat, pay-one-price, Brazilian-style steakhouse that has an extensive outdoor dining area.
999 Farmington Ave., West Hartford, CT, 860-233-1625. Bustling West Hartford Center offers a diverse selection of outdoor dining options for those who want to combine eating and people-watching. If you're not in the mood for a big meal, grab a slice or share a pie at one of the cafe-style tables outside Luna Pizza, which is known for its rustic pizza featuring fresh mozzarella.
1 Union Pl., Hartford, CT, 860-249-5100. When I go to Hot Tomato's, I like to order pasta entrees and their famous cheese-stuffed garlic bread--not exactly the type of light fare I like to enjoy outdoors. However, this downtown restaurant does have outdoor tables, so if you're better than me at avoiding the heavy carbs, head here for a noontime or evening meal under open skies.
110 Albany Tpke. (Route 44), Canton, CT, 860-693-4040. With a name like Simmer, you know this is the Farmington Valley's place to be on a hot summer night. Although the view is not terribly scenic, a few outdoor umbrella tables allow you to sample the restaurant's upscale cuisine in an outdoor environment.
Simmer's sister restaurant--Simmer Grille (124 LaSalle Road, West Hartford, CT, 860-233-1726)--also offers cafe-style outdoor seating in the summertime.
1274 Farmington Ave. (Route 4), Farmington, CT, 860-773-OPEN. There are four Wood-n-Tap locations in Greater Hartford, but only one has an outdoor deck that overlooks a "loch." For pub food, thirst-quenching brews and water views, you'll have to dine at the restaurant's Farmington location, but the Hartford (99 Sisson Avenue) and Southington (420 Queen Street) locations have outdoor patios, too.
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