Finally Fall
An Austin doubter falls in love with Houston's patio dining: Where to eat in thegreat foodie outdoors
Cafe Adobe in River Oaks boasts multiple patios.
Cafe BrasilPhoto by Shea Serrano
Babbling fountains and nice tables at the H-E-B Montrose Market — and livemusic, while it lasts.
The patio and the yard at Cedar Creek make for lots of seating spots.
West Alabama Ice House and Tacos Tierra Caliente form the perfect pair.Photo by Peter Barnes
When I moved from Austin to Houston in August, I thought my days of outdoor dining were over. Eat outside in this climate?
Thankfully, I soon realized that H-Town patio dining options are as plentiful as the air moisture is thick, and Houston's finicky autumn and mild winter are perfectly suited to eating al fresco — humidity be damned. Here are five places that I'm sticking to all season long.
In the past, Brasil was always my favorite destination while visiting from out of town. Now that I live in the neighborhood, I'm a regular in the two outdoor dining areas. The one in front is perfect for car and people watching. The back patio is a shaded retreat, shared with neighbor Domy Books, where films are sometimes projected.
Though the patio itself is nice, the yard at Cedar Creek is sprawling, and the creek carves out nice nooks for plentiful outdoor seating. This place is great for a snack on a weekend afternoon — but be careful with that sweet tea vodka slush.
Cafe Adobe in River Oaks is a good standby for a packed patio and reliable, consistently good margaritas. If you're too sensitive to the heat or the cold outside, decorative fountains give even Adobe's indoor dining hall an outdoor feel.
I walk to West Alabama Ice House weekly for a late-night taco or a beer with friends. Tacos Tierra Caliente serves delicious, fresh tacos from its truck off of the patio. The resident pups are friendly, picnic tables offer a way to meet strangers and the crowd is a motley crew of bikers, hipsters and bankers. Though the patio is largely unenclosed, pop-up tents and pull-down flaps offer shelter from the elements, and heaters fend off the cold.
New neighborhood addition H-E-B Montrose Market offers the most unexpectedly pleasant patio. What better way to enjoy my individually wrapped sushi and fresh-squeezed juice than with nice seating, a flowing fountain and live music?
Last week I heard a string quartet playing instrumental renditions of the Beatles hits.
A vintage picture of chefs EJ Miller and Ryan Lachaine. Photo by