By Scene Staff on Thu, Jun 25, 2015 at 12:23 pm
Take a little bit of our advice: We've been on just about every patio in Northeast Ohio —and we love them all — but certain conditions call for certain settings, whether that's the forecast, the meal, or the company. So take our expert advice on where to plant your fanny, all run through our very scientific evaluation process in search of maximum pleasure.
By Douglas Trattner
When you feel like getting Porcoed outside for a change - Porco Lounge
We're so used to getting "Porcoed" indoors like the rest of the gang at Porco Lounge & Tiki Bar (2527 West 25th St., 216-802-9222, porcolounge.com), the magical little tiki bar in Ohio City, that we tend to forget about the oasis-like patio out back. Then again, we tend to forget everything after a few Mai Tais or Pain Killers. (Photo via Instagram, shumskiparty)
When you want to drink good beer with 1,000 friends - Hofbrauhaus
Hofbräuhaus Cleveland (1550 Chester Ave., 216-621-BEER, HofbrauhausCleveland.com) is one of just a handful of officially sanctioned offshoots of the Munich original here in the States. And it's one of the best, especially now that the 1,000-seat beer garden has been unveiled. Grab a liter of hefeweizen, a few pretzels, and settle in for an authentic beer garden experience. (Photo via Hofbrauhaus, Facebook)
When you feel like eating Brazilian fare in a secret garden - Batuqui
Batuqui (12706 Larchmere Blvd., 216-801-0277, batuquicleveland.com), a Brazilian bistro concept, inherited the attractive Victorian on Larchmere that was home to Vine & Bean and Bon Vivant, which means it also inherited an enchanted garden patio. Enjoy skewers of grilled pork, garlicky Portuguese sausage, and feijoada, the celebratory dish of black beans, sausage, ham, rice and crispy farofa. (Photo via Batuqui, Facebook)
When you want to eat killer 'cue: with a sky view - Sterle's Country House
The attractive beer garden at Sterle's Country House (1401 East 55th St., 216-881-4181, sterlescountryhouse.com) has always been a sweet spot to pop in for a cold beer on a hot day. But now, Thursdays through Sundays, it also happens to serve the best barbecue in Cleveland proper. That's when items like pork ribs, beef ribs, corned beef, and bratwurst roll off the grill and out of the smoker. (Photo via Sterle's, Facebook)
When you want to dine outdoors in iffy weather - Nighttown
Nighttown (12383 Cedar Rd., 216-795-0550, nighttowncleveland.com) at the top of Cedar Hill in Cleveland Heights seems to build new patios by the day, and many of them are covered, allowing guests to dine alfresco without the fear of being screwed by Cleveland's fickle weather. (Photo via Nighttown, Facebook)
When you've had just about enough of West 25th Street - Market Garden Brewery
On some Saturdays (and we're not complaining here), the main drag through Ohio City can get pretty congested with shoppers, tourists, and lookie-loos. That's the perfect time to duck into the beer garden at Market Garden (1947 West 25th St., 216-621-4000, marketgardenbrewery.com) for a quick refresher. After a few tall Pearl Street Wheats, the crowds don't seem so bad. (Photo via CleveScene archives)
When you want to impress your snotty East Side pals - Tartine Bistro
Let's face it: Eastsiders can be a tad judgmental when it comes to the far-West Side dining scene. But even the most jaded of urban explorers will leave Tartine Bistro (19110 Old Detroit Rd., 440-331-0800, tartinebistro.com) in Rocky River with newfound respect. The compact brick-paved courtyard is the ideal spot to sip wine, snack on small plates, and make some new friends. (Photo via Yelp, tsgcleveland)
When you want to feel like a Parisian in your own backyard - Le Petit Triangle Café
The little patch of sidewalk fronting Le Petit Triangle Café (1881 Fulton Rd., 216-281-1881, lepetittrianglecafe.com) may be slender, but its quietly urban setting on an out-of-the-way block in Ohio City is hard to top. Share brunch here with a loved one and leave the rest of the world behind, much like a mini vacation from home. (Photo by Jill S., Yelp)
When you want to remember that Cleveland has a Great Lake- Whiskey Island Still & Eatery
It's not always easy to get to enjoy that big, blue body of water to our north thanks to eons of horrendous city planning. One of the few enjoyable access points is Sunset Grille at Whiskey Island, which is now officially called Whiskey Island Still & Eatery (2800 Whiskey Island, 216-631-1800). The beer selection has never been better, the music is always live and festive, and the sunset views are Instagram gold. (Photo via CleveScene archives)
When you just want to relax with a great cuppa joe - Rising Star (Ohio City)
There's no arguing that the best cups of coffee in Cleveland are being brewed and poured at Rising Star Ohio City (1455 West 29th St., 216-273-3573, risingstarcoffee.com) and all of its locations. But we recommend grabbing a cup and a seat out front of the #hingetown staple to watch the steady stream of coffee fanatics who make daily pilgrimages to this seminal shop. (Photo via Facebook)
1422 Euclid Avenue, Suite 730
Cleveland, OH 44115
