Ten years ago, readers would regularly call Get Out this time of year looking for East Valley restaurants with good patios. There just weren’t that many.
How times have changed. Maybe it’s the since-enacted statewide smoking ban, but it seems like most restaurants nowadays offer an outdoor dining space.
Summer is fast approaching, but we still have a few weeks to enjoy restaurant patios. Here, in no particular order, are 10 of my favorites that combine nice ambience with good food:
El Zocalo Mexican Grille: You’d never guess it from outside, but this charming Mexican restaurant in historic downtown Chandler hides a picturesque courtyard patio (pictured above) in back with a dozen tables secluded among the trees and other greenery. 28 S. San Marcos Place, Chandler, (480) 722-0303.
Roaring Fork: This decade-old favorite boasts pricy but delicious Western fare like green chile pork stew and Dr Pepper-braised beef short ribs, and the mostly enclosed patio remains comfortably cool even on the hottest summer nights. 4800 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, (480) 947-0795.
Joe’s Farm Grill: Created from the family home of owner Joe Johnston, this nouveau burger stand features comfort food made, in part, with produce grown on the grounds. There’s inside seating, but most people prefer the shade-covered picnic tables outside. 3000 E. Ray Road, Gilbert, (480) 563-4745.
Arcadia Farms: This tastefully decorated country cottage attracts a predominantly female clientele, but the huge salads and gourmet sandwiches will more than satisfy any husband or boyfriend who’s dragged along. 7014 E. First Ave., Scottsdale, (480) 941-5665.
Rancho de Tia Rosa: Fountains, fireplaces and Mexican tile decorate the spacious courtyard of this beautifully designed, hacienda-style Mexican restaurant, named in honor of owner Dennis Sirrine’s grandmother. 3129 E. McKellips Road, Mesa, (480) 659-8787.
Estate House: A comfortable rooftop patio offers fire pits and a great view of Old Town Scottsdale at this mansion-inspired dinner house, which features a menu of French-inspired wine country cuisine. 7134 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale, (480) 970-4099.
Pier 54: Who needs walls? Not this ultra-casual neighborhood hideaway, which has three levels of all-outdoor seating on the shore of an urban lake. Inexpensive salads, sandwiches and burgers are surprisingly tasty, and there’s live music on Friday nights. 5394 S. Lakeshore Drive, Tempe, (480) 820-0660.
Olive & Ivy: Sam Fox’s upscale-casual Scottsdale Waterfront restaurant offers a Mediterranean-inspired dishes, but the real action is on the resort-style patio that’s one of the Valley’s premier see-and-be-seen spots for the young and hip. 7135 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale, (480) 751-2200.
San Tan Flat: Burgers, steaks and roasted marshmallows keep cowboys and cowgirls toe-tappin’ to live music around the picnic tables and open fires found in the huge dirt courtyard of this rustic, family-friendly Old West playground. 6185 W. Hunt Highway, Queen Creek, (480) 882-2995.
Carlsbad Tavern: Don’t be fooled by the kitschy cavern motif, complete with bats dangling from the ceiling. This neighborhood favorite serves up seriously tasty New Mexican dishes, including an incendiary habañero cheeseburger. 3313 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale, (480) 970-8164.
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