😎 Best restaurant patios

Table Talk Restaurant Patios Ratatouille-Stuffed Tomatoes July Happy Tuesday and welcome to the table In in the modern day s Family Meal I m rounding up of my favorite restaurant patios around Atlanta Rough Draft Dining Reporter Sarra Sedghi brings you a recipe for ratatouille-stuffed heirloom tomatoes created by Whoopsie s chef and owner Hudson Rouse No need to click out to read the patio guide or the recipe For The Move I tell you where to enjoy a vegan take on shrimp and grits swapping the crustaceans for cornmeal-fried Lion s Mane mushrooms and a vegan tres leches for dessert topped with seasonal berries and fresh-made jam Cheers Beth Get ready for Buckhead Restaurant Week From July - explore curated menus at Atlanta s finest restaurants An unforgettable dining experience awaits Reserve your spot now here SPONSOR MESSAGE The Move Shrooms and Grits at La Semilla Photo by La Semilla Glancing at La Semilla s Latin American menu you may not realize you re about to partake in a percent vegan meal That s the point Owners Sophia Marchese and Chef Reid Trapani once advised me they craved to change the perception around plant-based food by not leading with the word vegan Instead they prefer to let the food served at the Reynoldstown restaurant speak for itself After running their vegan pop-up Happy Seed for years the couple opened La Semilla in garnering accolades from local and national outlets as one of the year s best new restaurants Two years later it remains one of the city s top restaurants not only for vegans but for anyone who appreciates the skill it takes to create dishes that defy expectations when cooking without animal proteins Despite knowing I m eating entirely vegan here I reliably do a double-take Trapani is a flavor wizard who understands how to properly coax nuanced flavors and textures from ingredients often used in vegan cooking Rather than overwrought dishes masked in sauces expect forward-thinking and cleverly executed dishes from Trapani and his gang Spring and summer are my favorite times of the year to dine at La Semilla when local produce shines Think tomato crudo of heirloom cherry tomatoes with a salsa crudo of jalapenos red onions basil and fennel or blistered spring carrots accompanied by salsa macha and house-made blue corn aioli garnished with mint Desserts take advantage of seasonal fruits like tres leches made from pistachio-pecan milk complemented by house-made jam and in-season berries and garnished with edible flowers and fresh herbs Start with the sikil pak spicy pumpkin seed salsa or the queso blanco made from cashew milk both served with house-made tortilla chips Again you ll do a double-take when you realize that queso isn t made from cow s milk It s hard not to get the chochoyotes masa-based dumplings filled with corn puree or the jackfruit cubano but I in the past few days opted for the shrooms and grits A creamy bowl of jalapeno-spiked yellow grits arrived with cornmeal-battered Lion s Mane mushrooms quick-fried to allow for a crispy coating without the mushrooms losing tenderness which mimics the texture of shrimp Like the food cocktails at La Semilla incorporate local and seasonal ingredients whipped up into house-made syrups liquor infusions and tinctures or used as garnishes Reservations are recommended Movies on the Town continues in July SPONSORED BY TOWN BROOKHAVEN Movies on the Town an annual summer movie series at Town Brookhaven continues on Thursdays through July Gather on the green space for this family-friendly activity with movies beginning at dusk Bring a blanket or chair order dinner from one of our restaurants and bring it out to the green space The series includes movies perfect for family nights date nights girls nights or nights out with a limited friends Look for a DIY movie-themed craft activity and face painting before our screening on July Popcorn is provided by LOOK Dine-In Cinema while supplies last Don t forget you can shop or visit service-oriented merchants before the movies too Learn more here Summer Patio Guide Photo by Osteria Mattone It s arduous to find a restaurant in Metro Atlanta without patio seating or particular sort of outdoor dining arrangement whether that be cafe-style sidewalk tables or an indoor-outdoor bar From March until November restaurants throughout Atlanta take full advantage of the region s relatively temperate atmosphere transforming patios sidewalks and tree-covered gardens into relaxing al fresco dining spaces From a lively beer garden and riverfront fine dining to a vibrant covered patio for tapas and cocktails and an Italian restaurant nestled under the trees check out these restaurants offering great spaces for outdoor dining The Chastain in Chastain ParkSit on this lovely patio shaded by mature trees for lunch or dinner Much of the patio overlooks the Michelin Green Star restaurant s sprawling edible garden The outdoor lounge has a fire pit and is dog-friendly Keep an eye out for Bogie the restaurant s resident patio cat Reservations recommended Canoe in ViningsVery minimal restaurant patios in Atlanta rival the views from the covered patio at Canoe or from its Adirondack seating areas and riverside cocktail bar along the banks of the Chattahoochee River This fine dining institution is where to come for wood-roasted chicken and fish or the signature peppercorn-crusted kangaroo For dessert don t skip the popcorn ice cream sundae made with Cracker Jacks and Chantilly cream Head to Canoe for brunch to indulge in the pecan sticky buns and brioche French toast Reservations recommended Larakin in MidtownThis coffee and wine bar one block west of Piedmont Park is perfect for lingering on pleasant days Seating is all outdoors and the patio is super dog-friendly Grab a breakfast sandwich or local pastry in the morning then a couple of thick slices of focaccia pizza with a charcuterie and cheese board later in the day Weekends and evenings tend to be busy but no one seems to mind Staplehouse in Old Fourth WardThere s just something about eating hot wood-fired pizza one of Chef Ryan Smith s seasonal salads or sharing a charcuterie and cheese spread while sipping wine with friends on this sunny garden patio Order at the counter first Then find your way to the backyard for a seat in the garden or on the covered patio Dogs and kids are invariably welcome at this Michelin-star restaurant Florida Man in ReynoldstownLocated on the Eastside Beltline trail in Reynoldstown the rooftop bar above Breaker Breaker is for the crowd Incorporating the steel canopy from the original Stein Steel warehouse to provide cover Florida Man is an open-air cocktail bar channeling a houseboat design theme with bamboo seating and lush tropical plants Eight televisions also make it a prime spot for watching sports on the weekends Expect a small snack menu here paired with boozy slushies and tropical drinks Mediterranea in Grant ParkDine on the quiet rooftop patio at this Mediterranean restaurant overlooking a tree-filled park below Everything on the menu is absolutely gluten-free and a large number of dishes are also vegetarian and vegan Great spot for thin-crust pizza and wine Halfway Crooks Beer in SummerhillThis brewery features a covered rooftop patio and a lively beer garden serving food from a converted shipping container Sometimes there s live music on the weekends Restrooms are available at the beer garden which is also very dog-friendly and family-friendly Side Saddle Wine Saloon in Boulevard HeightsA newcomer to the Atlanta wine bar scene preponderance of the seating for Side Saddle Wine Saloon is outside It s a great spot to hop off the Southeast Beltline trail for natural wine and food from Chef Carla Fears Another dog-friendly patio the vibe here is lively inclusive and built on good times hanging out with friends Kimball House in DecaturThe front patio at this award-winning restaurant is covered now and a great place to dine on seasonal fare slurp oysters sip wine and drink perfect cocktails on a pleasant evening Pro tip for martini drinkers order the Kimball House Reservations recommended Downwind Restaurant in ChambleeCome to this restaurant institution for the burgers gyros and patio views overlooking the planes on the runway at PDK airport It s a fun way to spend your lunch hour Block and Drum in ChambleeThis sprawling food and drinks complex in the heart of Chamblee has become a gathering place for the area It includes a coffee shop listening room cocktail bar and spaces for food pop-ups all surrounding a central green space with a stage for live music Funwoody Village in DunwoodyDavid Abes and his restaurant group DASH Hospitality revamped a handful of restaurant spaces in Dunwoody Village to create a thriving town center with plenty of outdoor dining and drinking spaces Dubbed Funwoody Village head here for everything from barbecue burgers and seafood to wine cocktails and ice cream Expect events throughout the week including sports on the big screen live music line dancing and trivia nights Osteria Mattone in RoswellThe patio at this Italian restaurant from the owners of Table and Main has long been an OTP favorite It features ample outdoor seating that winds around the front of the restaurant close to the tree line and a stone fire pit for warming up on chilly evenings Wine is a must here Reservations recommended Fog n and Lions in AlpharettaDine on stellar Latin American and Spanish fare and sip wine or a rum cocktail on this vibrant covered patio in the heart of downtown Alpharetta Great people watching too There s counter seating for folks who are just dropping by for drinks Gilly Brew Bar in Stone MountainWhen you re in Stone Mountain never miss a chance to grab one of the creative coffee drinks and a bite to eat from Gilly Sit upstairs on the wraparound porch The coffee bar resides in the oldest house in Stone Mountain Village Indulge in Buckhead Restaurant Week July - Savor particular menus and chef specials from Atlanta s top spots Book now for a culinary journey that will ignite your taste buds Click here for details SPONSOR MESSAGE Whoopsie s Ratatouille-Stuffed Tomatoes Recipe Photo by Hudson Rouse By Sarra Sedghi This week we re sharing Whoopsie s recipe for ratatouille-stuffed heirloom tomatoes Whoopsie s founder Chef Hudson Rouse Rising Son Pure Quill Superette explained this recipe is based on a dish his mother used to make for the family She would stuff tomatoes with herbs and breadcrumbs and top them with leftover cheese from the Chef Boyardee pizza boxes Rouse commented adding that his family ate majority of meals at home but occasionally visited Wendy s on Sundays after church Back when he was a child Rouse and his brother hated eggplant one of their mother s favorite ingredients He combined the memories when growing this recipe and opted to stuff a tomato with an eggplant ratatouille Rouse eventually learned to love eggplant thanks to Tasty China s dry-fried eggplant He also learned how to cook it correctly The thing about eggplant is you have to cook it enough Rouse explained If it s not cooked properly it tastes like you re eating a dried sponge When in doubt the gooier the eggplant the better If it s not gooey you re not cooking it right Rouse disclosed This dish like Rouse s other recipes highlights local and seasonal produce Rouse recommends sourcing ingredients locally whenever practicable Rouse even sources his breadcrumbs locally using the end pieces of the multigrain bread from Alon s Bakery And fortunately the majority of the other ingredients for the dish are in peak season during the summerBeefsteak tomatoes also known as crimson cushion or red ponderosa have a plump appearance and yield thick slices like you d want in a tomato sandwich If you aren t able to find beefsteak tomatoes Rouse recommends the largest tomato you can find We re in peak tomato season so long as a tomato isn t traveling hundreds of miles to the table it should be fine he declared When dealing with the tomatoes Rouse uses a straight cut to remove the fruit s top and cores the interior with a spoon This way if you don t cut enough off the top the recipe will still work Save everything you can for the ratatouille stuffing later Ingredients large heirloom beefsteak tomatoes small zucchini finely diced small eggplant finely diced small bell pepper diced small onion diced cloves garlic minced tbsp olive oil Salt and pepper to taste A handful of any fresh herbs such as basil thyme parsley chives oregano and or dill Freshly grated hard cheese such as Pecorino or Parmesan Breadcrumbs for garnish Directions Preheat oven to F C Prepare the tomatoes Using a serrated knife or chef s knife slice off the top of each tomato and discard or save for another use Scoop out the insides with a spoon and set the hollowed tomatoes aside Optional chop and stir in specific of the tomato pulp for the filling Cook the filling In a skillet over medium heat heat the olive oil Saut the onion and garlic for to minutes or until soft Add eggplant zucchini and bell pepper Cook until tender about to minutes Season with salt pepper and a limited pinches of chopped fresh herbs Fill the tomatoes Spoon the ratatouille mixture generously into each hollowed tomato Bake Arrange stuffed tomatoes in a baking dish Bake for to minutes or until the tomatoes are tender and the filling is hot Garnish and serve Top with loads of chopped fresh herbs a generous shower of grated cheese and breadcrumbs for garnish Serve warm If you know somebody who would like to receive our dining newsletters Family Meal Tuesdays and Side Dish Thursdays please have them subscribe at this page The post Best restaurant patios appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta