At the Howard Park Public House, the park is the patio. You can order food for a picnic in the park, and the restaurant will even provide a basket and blanket.
The restaurant’s patio and outdoor dining spaces, however, stand on their own: They can accommodate 150 guests with large and small tables, including two with old-school chain swings for seats, and indoor and outdoor wood-fired grill areas.
The extensive menu boasts dishes for every appetite, from breakfast and shareable snacks to the signature Upside-Down Burger or even full-on steak dinners. Vegetarian and vegan options (including plant-based burgers and sausage) are numerous as well.
This summer, look for some new dishes with whitefish sourced from upper Lake Michigan and live music on the patio and, in coordination with the city, in the park.
602 E. Jefferson St.
South Bend, IN
574.220.6850
Lakehouse owner Mark Damore had the outdoors in mind when he expanded the restaurant a few years ago. “It was always my intention to do outdoor dining,” he says. “You go to Italy and all the restaurants have outdoor dining.”
Damore’s patio facing Lake Maxinkuckee can seat 42 people with social distancing, and it’s still large enough for live music performances.
If the lake winds seem brisk as you enjoy your Walking Boss burger, Buffalo Cauliflower or Firecracker Shrimp, there are two 8-foot gas fireplaces to ward off the chill and a popular fire table that seats 10 to 12 people.
620 E. Lake Shore Drive
Culver, IN
574.842.2234
Once summer weather arrives, Goshen Brewing’s beer hall opens up to the outdoors and the fun spills onto the patio.
Co-founder Jesse Sensenig says the patio and outdoor seating have been expanded for this year, with an indoor/ outdoor bar, firepits, an extended sitting wall, more lounge seating and picnic tables moved onto the lawn. There’s also stage space for live music and other events.
The menu includes everything from a Grilled Pear Bruschetta to falafel to grilled cheese and fries, but the Thai-influenced dishes are not to be missed. Stop by for Pad Thai Tuesday, or grab the Thai Beef Salad or Thai’d Chicken Sandwich the other nights of the week. Don’t forget to check the beer board for the current flavor of house-made soda.
315 W. Washington St.
Goshen, IN
574.971.5324
You should pardon chef Tim Sizer for getting excited about the backyard of his eponymous restaurant. Among the features are an outdoor bar, large television and new sound systems, and even a pond with a waterfall.
“It’s a really, really great spot,” he says. “When Covid hit we had to really notch up our game out there if we were going to make any traction.”
He gave the backyard a new look and expanded seating, which can accommodate 100 to 150 people socially distanced, including tables scattered around the surrounding grassy area and a private tent that holds up to 20.
The menu changes with seasonal offerings and there’s something for a range of tastes, from filet mignon to pizza hot out of the outdoor wood-fired oven.
16409 Red Arrow Highway
Union Pier, MI
269.469.0900
Summer means opening up the patio at Creekside, which sits alongside Trail Creek. About 30 people can sit out there for breakfast, lunch, dinner or Sunday brunch. While there are plenty of favorites, “You never know what’s going to be on our menu that night or that week,” says Lynne Leckie, self-proclaimed “utility person and doer of whatever needs to be done.”
The Bang Bang Shrimp is a popular choice, as is the Jumbo Pretzel. “It’s the size of a dartboard,” Leckie says, “enough to share for four, unless you’re really hungry.”
You can enjoy it on the family-friendly patio while Trail Creek flows by, with highlights for those watching birds, boats or even wildflowers.
3015 E. Michigan Blvd.
Michigan City, IN
219.814.4041
facebook.com/Creekside.Indiana
Chris Mason, co-founder of Watermark Brewing Co., is looking forward to parties, especially as the brewery celebrates its fifth anniversary on July 17.
“The beer garden allows us to socially distance when the weather is good,” he says. Picnic tables, couches and firepits bring indoor comfort outdoors, and the garage doors that make up part of the taproom walls open, bringing the outdoors in.
Watermark focuses on beer, cider, wine and seltzer (try their famous beer or wine slushies), but there is usually a food truck parked out front, and the brewery allows customers to bring their own food. If all goes well, live music will be in the offing this summer, too.
5781 St. Joseph Ave.
Stevensville, MI
269.281.0872
The large beer garden outside the restored and reimagined historic J.C. Lauber Sheet Metal Co. building is a big draw in good weather, with pergolas for shade in the dog-friendly space. A smaller outdoor patio that holds around 30 people is available to reserve for private groups.
Warmer weather means the dome the Lauber has been using for outdoor dining will be turned into a garden box to grow fresh herbs, says general manager Gabe Torok. No doubt those herbs will find their way into dishes on the new menu in the works for summer, with fresh twists on current dishes and new salads, artisan pizzas and loaded macaroni and cheese options.
504 E. Lasalle Ave.
South Bend, IN
574.234.2342
Located at the Boulevard Inn, the newly renovated Bistro offers two outdoor options: a larger patio off the main dining room and a smaller terrace outside the lobby. Executive chef Cheryl Bernacchi confesses to a moment of envy when she sees a guest on the terrace enjoying a glass of sparkling rosé in the summer sun (she suggests pairing it with a tuna appetizer new to the menu).
Along with the ample salads using local produce and prime-grade steaks, nearly all the dishes—from starters to desserts—are made in-house, which allows her to easily accommodate gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan diets. Watch for some new vegan dishes this summer, as well as seasonal cocktails and drinks.
521 Lake Blvd.
St. Joseph, MI
269.983.3882
It’s hard to beat the view of the St. Joseph River at Crooked Ewe.
Enjoy a beer (take a look at the current “from the cellar” and small-batch offerings) and dinner from the brewery’s upper deck and outdoor dining areas, renovated and expanded this past winter. The lower level of the brewery features a ground-floor patio and bar area, also with a nice view of the river and a fire table to fight the chill.
Try the brisket or pastrami (part of the Smoke plate) or go vegetarian with the green papaya salad. Weekend brunch offers hearty Pastrami Poutine or Steak & Egg, as well as simpler fare like French toast or doughnut holes. Many dishes on the menu can be made vegan, so be sure to ask.
1047 Lincolnway E.
South Bend, IN
574.217.0881
This longtime institution starts the summer with a new al fresco dining experience and a completely revamped menu. There is a new patio, with pergolas for more shade and a fireplace for dining in the cooler months. That’s in addition to the famous two-acre, enclosed perennial garden that makes Carriage House such a draw. The family-friendly outdoor dining space allows for about 170 guests outdoors, as well as space for live music.
The summer menu will offer some new seafood dishes as well as new sandwiches, joining favorites such as the hand-stretched, wood-fired artisan pizzas and the burgers and fries.
24460 Adams Rd.
South Bend, IN
574.272.9220
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