😎 Best restaurant patios

Table Talk: Restaurant Patios + Ratatouille-Stuffed Tomatoes July 8 — Happy Tuesday, and welcome to the table! In today’s “Family Meal,” I’m rounding up 15 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 21-26, 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 100 percent vegan meal. That’s the point. Owners Sophia Marchese and Chef Reid Trapani once told me they wanted 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 2023, 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 always 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 team.  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 ($24) or the jackfruit cubano ($19), but I recently opted for the shrooms and grits ($24). 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 24! 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 few friends! Look for a DIY movie-themed craft activity and face painting before our screening on July 17! 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 difficult to find a restaurant in Metro Atlanta without patio seating or some 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 climate, 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 15 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 few 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 always 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 21+ 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 completely gluten-free, and many 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, most 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 community. 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.  Fogón 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 21-26! Savor exclusive 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), said 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 said, adding that his family ate most 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 developing 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 said. “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 said.This dish, like Rouse’s other recipes, highlights local and seasonal produce. Rouse recommends sourcing ingredients locally whenever possible. 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 said.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 4 large heirloom beefsteak tomatoes 1 small zucchini, finely diced  1 small eggplant, finely diced  1 small bell pepper, diced 1 small onion, diced  2 cloves garlic, minced  2 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 375°F (190°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 some of the tomato pulp for the filling.) Cook the filling: In a skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Sauté the onion and garlic for 2 to 3 minutes or until soft. Add eggplant, zucchini, and bell pepper. Cook until tender, about 10 to 12 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and a few 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 20 to 25 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.