“Out” to eat
My rambling list of outdoor dining spots is now online here. Unfortunately, just as I proclaimed the cool (cold?) evenings as having ended, we’re apparently going to have another one.
I alluded to this in the print article, but I’m not a big fan of eating outside. I especially tend to avoid it while I’m reviewing (unless, of course, one of the primary allures of the place is the outside space), because it introduces a whole lot of variables that you wouldn’t find in the course of a regular meal. We sat outside the other night, for example, because it was an hour wait for an indoor table. The outside tables at this particular place are set up ad hoc, and the cafe table at which we were seated just couldn’t be leveled, no matter how hard the server tried. It was an otherwise very good meal and I probably won’t include the wobbly table in the review assuming the second (likely indoor) visit goes well.
Anyway, as noted in the story, it’s not designed to be an exhaustive guide, and there are no doubt dozens of places that you might choose for the al fresco thang. (I really wanted to test-drive Fast Eddie’s new patio, for example, but the weather and timing didn’t cooperate such that I could get up there before the deadline for the article.)
So let’s hear about ‘em — or about places you don’t like to eat outdoors — including a few words on why or why not.
(2 votes, average: 3.5 out of 5)
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Joe Bonwich has been the restaurant critic for the Post-Dispatch since 2002 and has covered the local food scene for various publications for more than 25 years. He does his best to maintain his anonymity so that he isn't recognized in restaurants (which is why his picture looks like it does). 
You do not have a West County recommendation for outdoor dining. For this, I would have recommended Aqua Vin (expensive) very highly, but that closed last year. My current recommendations are Schneithorst’s upper patio (moderate), Canyon Cafe (inexpensive) in Frontenac Plaza, Houlihan’s (inexpensive) in Creve Coeur, and Harpo’s West (inexpensive).
Until about lunchtime yesterday there was a West County recommendation: Annie Gunn’s. I pulled it because I decided a “patio” with heating and air conditioning was really cheating. I thought about subbing in Villa Farotto, but the view of Chesterfield Airport Road just didn’t cut it (and the blocked view of same was one reason I thought of Annie Gunn’s).
Anyway, off of your list, I would have quickly added Schneity’s had I thought of it. Above the fray, great for chugging beer, and generally matching the criteria I tried to meet.
There’s a teeny, tiny bit of outdoor seating at Nacho Mama’s on Manchester in Rock Hill. This casual Mexican restaurant serves good tacos and swell Margaritas. Its mid-county location is well worth the short trip (from anywhere). Really nice employees, too.
What I definitely don’t like is patios that are situated right next to relatively busy roads. Acero’s outdoor dining in Maplewood sits way too close to the intersection of Southwest and Manchester for my tastes. So too does the patio at Houlihan’s on Hanley.
Just off the top of my head I like the outdoor area at Atomic Cowboy, and the mention of Nachomamas makes me think of Hacienda although I don’t care much for their food.
I like Jimmy’s on the Park on DeMunn in Clayton.
In Old Town St. Charles, the Little Hills Winery has a very nice patio with fire pits for cool days. The food is pretty good and the wine is even better. We always enjoy a good meal there.
Sage has a nice patio…food is okay. I also love the patio at La Vallensana on Cherokee St.
I was in St. Louis for a family reunion last year. We went to the Boathouse in Forest Park. I thought the views of the Lake and the Art Museum were beautiful. The atmosphere of the Boathouse is welcoming and relaxing with the fireplace inside and sitting out on the patio. Loved the bbq food too. I was very pleased to see the remodeled Boathouse as it is a treasure in Forest Park.
How can you not mention the Gardens at Malmaison? Fantastic setting, good service, scrumptious food.
Also in (central) west County - Brio at Frontenac and Il Bel Lago on Olive just east of 270.