With spring arriving, here are 10 great places for patio dining in the Tri-State
EVANSVILLE − Ah, the freshness of spring – arguably the most comfortable season to spend time outside, while the new leaves and flowers are still special and before humidity and mosquitoes make an entrance.
Pair fresh air and fresh food by enjoying a meal on a pretty outdoor patio. We found brand new restaurants with patios and some out-of-the-way gems you’ll enjoy.
R’z Cafe and Catering
104 N. Main St., Fort Branch, Indiana; 812 615-0039
R’z in Fort Branch has, over the years, become a nearby destination for many Evansville diners. The pretty, historic building is uniquely furnished with a chic country vibe. The broadly appealing menu contains a wide variety of salads from Caesar to blackened shrimp Cobb. Enjoy your favorite fried appetizers, dips and wings; flatbreads and creative burgers – we like the sound of the Land and Sea Burger with a crab cake and beef patty. Entrees range from fried catfish to a Bourbon bacon pork chop to blackened mahi mahi in white wine sauce. Family style service is available for groups of four or more, after 4 p.m. R’z ice cream shop, Sugar on Main, will open on May 1 with more outdoor seating.
Zaps Tavern
3725 Saint Phillips Road South, Mount Vernon, Ind.; 812-985-2121
It’s well worth the quick drive “out west” to St. Philip to enjoy a meal on the patio at Zaps, which is open every day for lunch and dinner. You’ll find a welcoming atmosphere and solid bar and grill food here, to enjoy with or without a cold brew. There are also tavern favorites and daily specials on goodies such as meatloaf, catfish, Salisbury steak, beef tips, quesadillas, fried chicken and much more.
Nisbet Inn
6701 Nisbet Road, Haubstadt, Indiana; 812-963-9305
There may not be a more quaint front porch patio than that at the Nisbet Inn in Northern Vanderburgh County. The building was constructed more than 100 years ago as a stagecoach stop, bar and inn, and remains much the same − as does the surrounding landscape of cornfields. A recent change in ownership has not diminished the historic character of the place, which is well known for barbecue and ice-cold beer in a frosty fishbowl. Some other unique menu items are the Nisbet “steak” sandwich with a slab of fried smoked bologna, rib gumbo, potato wedges with house beer cheese and German potato salad.
Sazon Y Fuego
8666 Ruffian Lane., Newburgh, Indiana; 812-227-6220 If you haven’t yet been to Sazon Y Fuego, one of the area’s newest and very celebrated restaurants, you’ll soon have the chance to check out the menu on the patio, which is under construction. Sazon Y Fuego offers dishes from all of America south of the United States in an upscale but approachable setting. You’ll find richly spiced Mexican cochinita pibil pork slow-braised in banana leaves, Guatemalan crisp pork belly chicharrones with fresh chirmol salsa, Brazillian-style beef picanha with chimichurri sauce and yuca fries, Peruvian roasted chicken, Cuban ropa vieja braised shredded beef, and much much more.
Noche Cantina & Cocina
2215 W. Franklin St.; 812-227-3514 Noche is another new restaurant with a south-of-the-border flare. It opened just over a year ago on bustling West Franklin Street with a ground-level patio and a balcony seating area upstairs. The casual menu features Mexican and Mexican-American favorites such as creative nachos, dips with chips, tacos and more. Try three seafood tostadas with mahi mahi, shrimp and ahi tuna with pineapple-mango pico and chipotle aioli; truffled yuca fries; a braised brisket taco with street corn queso; or enchiladas with your choice of meat filling with house queso, chipotle aioli, pico de gallo and guacamole.
Bad Randy’s Hot Chicken & BBQ Lounge
1418 W. Franklin St.; 812-401-2332
Bad Randy’s is so good. The back patio is fenced, private, and a cool place to enjoy some of the restaurant’s wonderfully authentic Nashville Hot Chicken, which comes in a range of heat levels from mild “Southern” to “We’ll Name the Seat You Die in After You” to “XXX Bad." There’s a lot more than chicken on the menu, however. The hand cut fries may be ordered topped with crab, tossed with butter and creole seasoning with herbs, or topped with pulled pork and queso. The salads are upscale and served with house made dressings – or have a burger, chicken sandwich, a high-quality steak or pasta.
Marida
1 E. Water St., Newburgh, Indiana; 812-518-3065
Marida is a new restaurant, but the building – formerly the Edgewater Grille – is very well known for its balcony dining overlooking the Ohio River in Newburgh. Now you can overlook the iconic Ohio while dining on delicacies from inland Turkey – a delicious adventure for Evansville diners. Some of your Mediterranean favorites such as hummus, kebabs, and gyros are available, but you’ll want to try some specialty dishes such as muammara dip with roasted red peppers and walnuts; chicken burek, a baked flaky pastry filled with chicken and vegetables; gozleme flatbread stuffed with spinach and cheese; Alinazik chicken or beef served on smoked eggplant with garlic yogurt; and mixed seafood including shrimp, octopus, mussels and clams in a garlic and herb broth served in a clay pot. The menu is large, and if you have less adventurous diners in your group, they may order spaghetti with Bolognaise sauce or another pasta; a Caesar salad; or even a crisp fried chicken breast sandwich.
Belly of the Wolf
1112 Parrett St.; 812-401-3333
You can’t ask for a more pleasant outdoor dining location than outside a beautiful Victorian house on shady Hanie’s Corner with a view of the fountain. Belly of the Wolf is a new concept recently introduced into Schymik’s Kitchen. The wine menu is selectively curated and the menu is upscale, largely local, and yet still somewhat casual. You don’t need to put on a tie to eat at Belly of the Wolf. Look for many specials, but the core menu contains delectables such as hand cut fries with deluxe mayo; a salad of local greens with spicy pickled fennel, pistachios, gorgonzola cheese and chevre cream; beef and lamb ragu over housemade pappardelle pasta; a spatchcocked hen with cognac carrots and braised local cabbage, and more.
Cap & Cork
104 N. Water St., Henderson, Kentucky.; 270-833-1101 Beautiful river views from the Henderson side are complemented with an eclectic menu and fabulous Bourbon selection at Cap & Cork. Start off with fried brussels sprouts or pimento cheese with toasted focaccia. Continue with a burger, mahi mahi tacos, grilled salmon or a steak. A list of specialty house cocktails includes the tobacco Old Fashioned, made with Bourbon and Turkish tobacco bitters; and the maple cherry Manhattan with Bourbon, Rye whiskey, Vermouth, maple syrup, cherry bitters and orange oil.
Half Moon Saloon
231 W. Second St., Mount Vernon, Indiana; 812-643-0518
Always a fun destination in Mount Vernon, the Half Moon Saloon offers a large patio and breezes off the Ohio. Casual pub grub is on the menu. Enjoy a chicken strip or popcorn shrimp basket, wings, a burger, pizza or stromboli, or a wrap, tenderloin, grilled cheese or club sandwich. There are plenty of breaded and fried apps to choose fun, served with sauces you may order a la carte, ranging from Korean BBQ to cheese sauce, marinara and spice chipotle.