It’s summer in the greatest city in the world, so Panorama suggests if you’re planning to go out to eat that you really go out to eat, by sampling the best patio dining Boston has to offer. Come July, every restaurant in the city with a spare patch of ground sets up a few tables, throws on some tablecloths and calls it a patio. But since all patios are not created equal, we’re offering this quick rundown of what we consider Boston’s elite options for dining “out.”
Stephanie’s On Newbury
190 Newbury St.,
617-236-0990 One thing that patio dining
particularly lends itself to is the vantage
point it gives diners to engage in that most
visually delicious of pastimes: people
watching. Since there’s no better place to
do so than on glitzy Newbury Street,
Stephanie’s patio is ground zero for gazing
at the beautiful people while you scarf down
delectable comfort foods such as burgers,
meatloaf, salads and other favorites
elevated to a high level of sophistication.
Henrietta’s Table
One Bennett St.,
Cambridge, 617-661-5005 Frequently lauded
for its lovely outdoor patio, Henrietta’s is
nestled within a courtyard in the middle of
The Charles Hotel. But what really makes the
spot popular is that its food is as fresh
and natural as its surroundings. Henrietta’s
specializes in using local fruits,
vegetables and meats from nearby farms and
markets, and, in fact, the Harvard Square
Farmers Market can be found just down the
steps from Henrietta’s, giving you the
option of taking home some of the freshness
for yourself.
L’Aroma Cafe
85 Newbury St.,
617-412-4001 Many of us treat a cup of
coffee like nothing more than a source of
rocket fuel to be snatched up and consumed
on the go as part of our fast-paced lives.
This charming independent coffee shop takes
its lead from the outdoor cafes of Europe
that invite coffee drinkers to sit a spell,
breathe in the energy of the city and enjoy
their drink. Patrons at L’Aroma are able to
enjoy distinctly Italian coffees, pastries,
gelato, paninis and more while taking a
break from their busy day.
EASTERN STANDARD
Hotel Commonwealth, 528 Commonwealth Ave.,
617-532-9100 Eastern Standard boasts a
covered patio that provides an oasis of calm
sophistication amidst the fervor of pre-Red
Sox action, located, as it is, just blocks
away from Fenway Park. The restaurant, one
of the recent additions to the
now-burgeoning and renovated Kenmore Square,
may be in the heart of baseball activity,
but specializes in French country-style
dishes and seafood, such as oysters and
clams and items like the exotic “Good Plate
of Offal,” which tempts adventurous diners
with small squares of delicacies such as
rabbit sausage and head cheese.
The Hungry i
71½ Charles St., 617-227-3524 In contrast
to many of Boston’s patios, Hungry i’s
couldn’t be more removed from the hustle and
bustle of everyday life. Sometimes the value
of patio dining isn’t in what you can see,
but in your ability to hide away from the
rest of the world with the one you love. The
Hungry i—long considered one of Boston’s
most romantic eateries—knows this, and
that’s why their patio is a quiet and
secluded spot replete with greenery and
statues at the back of the restaurant.
Whether you’re there for a relaxing brunch
or a romantic evening, there’s no better
spot in Boston to dine in tranquility and
peace, away from the demands of the real
world.
Hamersley’s Bistro
533 Tremont St.,
617-423-2700 Located just next door to the
Boston Center for the Arts, Hamersley’s has
food so good that patrons enjoying a
pre-show nosh can be forgiven for hoping
that the leading man breaks a leg and the
understudy’s nowhere to be found. Long
lauded as one of Boston’s finest
restaurants, Hamersley’s boasts a garden
patio where guests can look out at the
trendy and artsy neighborhood of the South
End while enjoying French-American cuisine
and seasonal desserts (such as chocolate
truffle layer cake with lemon verbena ice
cream and raspberries or lavender creme
brulee).
Spread your
—Sarah Brickley |
Tremont 647
647 Tremont St.,
617-266-4600 Dining out is lots of fun, but
one big problem is that your favorite dining
companion usually isn’t welcome—that’s
right, we’re talking about your dog. At
Tremont 647, however, the pooch problem is
solved every Saturday between 2 and 5 p.m.,
when the funky American bistro hosts Doggie
Days on the Patio. While you chow down on
ribs, steaks, fish and other tasty delights
from hot chef/owner Andy Husbands, your best
friend can enjoy his or her own vittles,
courtesy of Polka Dog Bakery—everything from
canine quiche to the Dogmopolitan (made with
real lamb broth) for Fido. And by night,
this swank South End hot spot is perfect for
cocktails and mingling with locals.
Publick
House
1648 Beacon St., Brookline,
617-277-2880 By now, you’re no doubt
thinking, “All that’s well and good, but
what about beer? Is there no place where I
can simply kick back in the open air and
sample some of the world’s finest beers and
maybe enjoy a few l cheeses at the
same time?” Glad you asked, because we’d be
remiss in omitting Brookline’s Publick
House, one of local beer drinkers’ most
beloved houses of worship. This
restaurant/pub specializes in exceptional
Belgian and Belgian-style beers you won’t
find anywhere else, as well as only the best
microbrews, while also delivering a menu
that goes well beyond standard pub fare,
boasting such dishes as the aforementioned
artisinal cheese sampler and pistachio
crusted scallops.
LTK
225 Northern Ave.,
617-330-7430 LTK is the newest restaurant
concept from New England seafood institution
Legal Sea Foods, and it’s appropriately
located near the South Boston waterfront so
that once you place your order, they can run
across the street with a rod and reel and
catch your dinner there on the spot. Okay,
that’s not true, but LTK does embrace modern
amenities such as plasma screen menus, and
individual iPod ports for their tables so
that you can program individual tunes for
your dining party. Given LTK’s proximity to
major waterfront concert venue the Bank of
America Pavilion, however, you may want to
skip the iPods, sit out on the patio, and
see if you can pick up the sounds of
whoever’s playing that night as you munch on
tasty appetizers, entrees and desserts.
Dick’s Last Resort
Quincy Market, Faneuil
Hall Marketplace, 617-267-8080 Dick’s is
located in the heart of Boston’s outdoor
dining mecca, Faneuil Hall Marketplace,
where dining on the patio means you’re in
the middle of a slew of restaurants, bars,
shops and most of all, people. The somewhat
chaotic vibe, though, perfectly fits Dick’s,
which is known for its wacky and sassy
waitstaff and generally convivial atmosphere
which never takes itself too seriously.
Throw in heaping amounts of tasty
appetizers, wings, seafood and other
delectable grub, and you’ve got a patio
scene that will remind you of those
boisterous backyard parties with friends
from years gone by.
The Living Room
101
Atlantic Ave., 617-723-5101 An ideal spot
for those who want to chill out with friends
and take advantage of a Boston summer night
by the water, The Living Room is located
literally steps away from Boston Harbor.
This relatively new establishment serves a
full menu of sandwiches, appetizers, entrees
and desserts, but is best known for being as
relaxing a venue for a first date or a night
out with friends as its cozy name would
suggest. If the sea breezes get too cool,
you can always step inside and enjoy the
plush cushioned couches, but the seaside
ambiance will likely be enough to keep
patrons on this patio all summer long. 
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