Five great outdoor spots

Party on the patio: Cool drinks that are made for sippin' in the shade

Zimm's Little Deck
Photo by Timothy Runyon
Benjy's upstairs patio
Photo by Jack Thompson
Samba Grille
Photo by Paul Cedillio

Even in the oppressive Houston summer heat, there's something so refreshing about sitting on a shaded patio and sipping a cool drink. Here are some of our favorite options:

TQLA

Washington Avenue's TQLA has an ever-revolving drink-of-the-month offering, but if June's Fresa Amor was any kind of representative sample, it'll be reason enough to go back and try the next one. Bright pink and unbelievably refreshing, it's thick with chunks of strawberry and fresh lime and recalls a deconstructed daquiri — the only thing missing is the pool lounger.

On the total opposite end of that spectrum is the off-menu Oaxcan Gold, a thick, dark, smoky cocktail that tastes almost like tobacco with its Chi Chi Capa mezcal base, Mexican vanilla, pineapple purée and chili powder-glazed rim.

Enjoy either or a host of other specialty cocktails or taste a tequila flight on the patio over the Three Amigos trio of lime-touched guacamole, habanero and queso.

Freebirds

Did you know Freebirds had brunch? What about booze? And live music? I didn't, and man-oh-Manischewitz am I glad I do now.

Brunch at the burrito chain began a little more than eight months ago, "totally under the radar," according to regional director Payman Khania. On the menu are frozen mimosas — of the bottomless variety, if you so choose — Bloody Marys, lime and strawberry margaritas and ridiculously delicious breakfast tacos. You can get super crazy with carnitas, bacon, hashbrowns, corn salsa and egg or go simple. A plate of three tacos plus chips and salsa cost us around $5. All drinks are $2 — $8 for bottomless.

Adding to the draw is live music — Trey Clark stops by, as does Robert Ellis and The Mighty Orq, among others — and the generous misters out on the patio.

Currently available at the Shepherd location, the brunch menu is available on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but is being extended through Monday for the Fourth of July weekend.

Zimm's Little Deck

Bocce ball (or pétanque, if you want to get technical) and a bar cat named Beignet are a few things you can't find at your average watering hole. If you like a cocktail that's a little different (or a classic Nawlins po-boy) Little Zimm's is probably the place for you.

Favorites were the Collins, made with ginger beer, our flute of Fleur de lis and the Maman Bebe. Foodwise, there's an amazing off-the-menu Rockefeller mac n' cheese with oysters and crumbled bacon bits. Nom.

Samba Grille

The Texas-facing downtown patio of Samba Grille might be fan-less, but it makes for some good people-watching as the crowds line up for various events at the neighboring Verizon Wireless Theater. I only wish I'd have thought to have a drink on the deck before Charlie Sheen hit town back in April.

Although there are plenty of tempting cocktail concepts on the menu — including a classic Caipirinha, a Latin version of the Stoli Doli with pineapple-infused cachaça and a pineapple mint caipirinha (made with the same infused cachaça from before) — our favorite drink by far was a virgin option that we made a little naughty.

We'd been tipped off that Samba has a to-die Brazilian lemonade made with lime juice, condensed milk and sugar — lemonade that could benefit only from a healthy dose of Citrón vodka or a spike of cachaça, depending on your preference. They were right.

While you're there, indulge in some solids. Our own Sarah Rufca recently named Samba's one of the best new menus in town. Period.

Benjy's on Washington

Benjy's has the benefit of having the best patio of the bunch, with a retractable awning, fold-away outdoor screenings and a generous helping of overhead fans. We took a spot on one of the perimeter booths so we could take in the scene over our beer flight of (512) Alt, Saint Arnold Weedwacker, Real Ale Alamo Ale (which, interestingly, Real Ale sold the rights to) and Leprechaun golden cider.

Although Benjy's might seem like a trendy after-work and date spot for the well-heeled, it can certainly satisfy the beer geek in you. We had a couple of the summer's top-selling Bombshell Blondes (served in cans — awesome — by Conroe's Southern Star) and geeked out over the Golden Mojito, which is made with the Leprechaun cider and is a fresh, mucho-drinkable version of the classic.

Keeping to the pineapple theme of our patio exploration, Benjy's also offers a loverly cocktail called the Pineapple Express, which is essentially sangria marinated in fruit, Chardonnay and 38-times distilled, Austin-based Savvy vodka.

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Coming soon to Fredericksburg

Houston restaurant vet serves up Roman-style eatery in the Hill Country

Photo courtesy of Bottega Salaria

Valerio Lombardozzi is opening Bottega Salaria in the former home of La Bergerie.

Valerio Lombardozzi’s culinary career has taken him to the world’s finest kitchens, including restaurants owned by icons like Alain Ducasse, Giorgio Locatelli, and Joël Robuchon. In Houston, he led La Table and Tavola, where he earned a reputation for being one of the city's most engaging front of the house personalities.

But his latest project might be his biggest accomplishment yet. The hospitality veteran is opening Bottega Salaria, a homey Italian osteria and artisan market, in the former home of La Bergerie at 312 E Austin St in his adopted home of Fredericksburg.

Lombardozzi says the restaurant, expected to arrive in winter 2026, fills a gap in the Hill Country dining scene, but, more importantly, it's a reflection of his personal history and time spent working at his family’s restaurant in Rome.

“[It’s about] where I grew up, how I grew up, and how I eat,” he shares.

The three-concept experience is inspired by Italy’s Via Salaria, the ancient route Italians used to transport salt from the Adriatic Sea to Rome. The menu acts as a sort of travelogue, borrowing from the different cultures along the road, and the way village fishermen and shepherds ate.

Lombardozzi is quick to say he didn’t want to open a chef-driven restaurant. Instead, the osteria will serve traditional Roman staples such as cacio e pepe, amatriciana, carbonara, saltimbocca with sage and prosciutto, and branzino carved tableside.

“I was one of the last to be exposed to the old generation of professionals who knew how to carve elegantly for the guests,” he says.

The adjacent bottega will stay open during restaurant hours, offering fresh pasta made on-site, house-made sauces, imported Italian pantry items, cheeses, salumi, breads, and biscotti. Patrons will be able to shop for individual items or put together custom gift baskets.

Outdoors, La Fraschetteria will debut a new hospitality experience in the U.S. The self-guided experience invites diners to grab wine directly from garden shelves, gather a spread of meats, cheeses, bread, or pasta, and linger around long communal tables lit by string lights.

Keeping the chit-chat going will be a thoughtful beverage program anchored by a primarily Italian wine list and imported beer. Lombardozzi says the cocktail menu might be a surprise, offering only gin and tonics, spritzes, and negronis. The latter has been made into a game where diners roll dice to determine the evening's combination of gin, vermouth, and bitters.

After dinner, guests can select an amaro from a rolling cart, sip grappa and limoncello, or sip a neat whiskey.

Lombardozzi shares that he wants Bottega Salaria to be just as comfortable for Fredericksburg locals as it is for destination travelers. Beyond daily service, Bottega Salaria plans community events such as garden wine nights with live music, Sunday movie nights, and hands-on cooking classes.

The space is designed for ease with a warm palette combining olive green and pomegranate reds. The decor blends heritage and modernity, bringing in objects like antique mirrors, plates, custom-made lamps, and even old tablecloths and curtains for an Old World feel.

"We’re not just opening a restaurant,” Lombardozzi says. “We’re creating a gathering place. A home for everyone who loves Italian food, culture, and the joy of sharing a meal with others.”

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