Is there an area or street in St. Louis with a concentrated number of patios and sidewalk seating? —Carly W., Stonington, Maine
With temperatures projected to be seasonal for the next two weeks, it’s patio time for many St. Louisans. For a handful of reasons (pandemic-related and otherwise), outdoor dining has become more appealing than ever.
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Many restaurants don’t reserve their patio tables, so this question is particularly timely. Put another way: Is there an area where we can cruise by, check out, and try our luck?
Webster Groves, along Lockwood and Big Bend Boulevard
One of the hottest areas right now is the roughly mile and a half section of Big Bend/Lockwood Avenue in Webster Groves.
In the Old Orchard part of Webster, drive behind Frisco Barroom to see a wealth of tables that spread across to a covered space next door. Weber’s Front Row also has a few outdoor tables. Then loop down Old Orchard Avenue to check out corner perch Meyou That Eatery (the former Webster Wok), Highway 61 Roadhouse (which recently changed ownership), and the two patios at nearby Big Sky Café (one of them hidden in back). Boardwalk Café, known for its large portions and affordability at breakfast and lunch, has several outside tables.
Circle back, and proceed west on Lockwood to Cyrano’s Café, sporting an elevated patio and as well as secluded two-tops in front of the building. As you drive west along Lockwood, don’t overlook Webster Groves Garden Café, where you can enjoy a coffee, pastry, or late lunch.
After a pleasant westerly drive past Webster University, the action picks up again at Gore Avenue, where Clover and The Bee provides sidewalk seating for breakfast and lunch, and a spot to grab coffee until 8 p.m. Next door is O+O Pizza, where some patrons never discover that the pasta dishes are as memorable as the pizza. Nearby, C.J. Mugg’s does a respectable sidewalk business, and half a block north on Gore, swing onto Moody Avenue, and check out Llywelyn’s Pub. Further up Gore, take note of the sidewalk tables at Sushi Station and San Jose Mexican Restaurant, the latter of which offers a view of freight trains as they pass.
Hidden but worthwhile is a trip to the patio at Layla, located just off Lockwood, at 20 Allen Avenue, located behind DD Mau, an excellent choice for a healthy and flavorful meal. The nearby Saint Louis Bread Co. location also offers several umbrella-covered tables.
Across the street, the sidewalk tables at The Block are situated less than a block from a busy run of tables at Olive + Oak, which shares its patio space with Perennial on Lockwood. (Perennial serves its menu at lunchtime; O+O takes over at dinner.) Right next door, Parkmoor is selling Kingburgers, onion rings, and SnoBalls, and across the street is Robust, boasting a colorful, expanded patio. And if you’ve never had Detroit-style pizza, consider doing so at one of the outside tables at Jet’s Pizza.
Clayton, near Carondelet and Hanley
Several patio options for fine dining exist within about a hundred yards of one another on or near the corner of Carondelet and Hanley in Clayton. Overlooking the Still Point Fountain and Sculpture on Cardondelet Plaza is the below-grade patio at 801 Chophouse, a 25-seat counterpart at 801 Fish, and an even smaller slightly elevated installation at Casa Don Alfonso, hidden behind plantings and trees. On the corner are fetching offerings from The Capital Grille and Tony’s, both with abundant greenery and the latter boasting a louvered roof.
A block away is the covered patio at Cantina Laredo and the sidewalk tables at Wasabi Sushi Bar and Pastaria, where dinner seems to always be accompanied by a west to east breeze. One of the buzziest and busiest spots in the city for al fresco drinking and dining is Cafe Napoli. A few steps away is Louie’s Wine Dive, where all wine bottles are 25 percent off during happy hour, 4 to 6 p.m. daily.
Other options, although the restaurants are more spread out, are the CWE, S. Grand district, the Southhampton neighborhood, the many brick patios that dot Soulard, as well as The Streets of St. Charles development, home to 15 restaurants and counting. And one so obvious that it deserves an article unto itself: The Delmar Loop.
This article has been updated from a previous version.
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