I'm pulling today's post straight from Carpe Durham, where I just posted it there. Read on for recommendations on great spots to eat outside in Durham. I've got reviews of a number of them hanging out around here, too.
Now that the weather's getting gorgeous, we had a request to put together some recommendations for outside dining. I'm not sure why sitting outside while we eat is so gosh-darn appealing—but it is. So without further ado, here are our recommendations on outdoor dining locations, compiled by the oh-so-scientific method of asking contributors to send in a list and note anything they thought might be helpful in relation to the outside sections of those specific spots. If the name is hyperlinked, it goes to the restaurant's website. If Carpe Durham Review appears, then we have a review up for that spot and click to go to it. Also, feel free to add your own favorite outdoors dining spots in the comments or add notes to any of the ones we've listed.
9th Street/Broad Street
Blu Seafood and Bar, 2002 Hillsborough Road
Broad Street Café, 116 Broad Street, Carpe Durham Review. Note: A few tables outside by the entrance.
Cosmic Cantina, 1920 Perry Street. Note: Rooftop dining.
Mad Hatter Bakeshop and Cafe, 1802 West Main Street.
Parizade, 2200 West Main Street.
Vin Rouge, 2010 Hillsborough Road. Note: Outdoor smoking allowed.
Watt's Grocery, 1116 Broad Street, Carpe Durham Review. Note: Only two tables.
Whole Foods, 621 Broad Street.
Brightleaf/Peabody Square
Chamas Churrascaria, 905 West Main Street. Note: Flickering torch appeal.
Devines Restaurant and Sports Bar, 904 West Main Street.
The Federal, 914 West Main Street. Note: Outdoor smoking allowed.
James Joyce, 912 West Main Street, Carpe Durham Review.
Parker and Otis, 112 South Duke Street, Carpe Durham Review.
Piazza Italia, 905 West Main Street, Carpe Durham Review.
Pop's Backdoor, 810 West Peabody Street. Note: A couple of plastic chairs and tables are set up in the loading dock area on nice evenings. Great way to eat your takeout!
Central/ Old West
Nosh, 2812 Erwin Road-Suite 101.
Sushi Love, 2812 Erwin Road-Suite 204, Carpe Durham Review. Note: Nice umbrella-topped tables.
Wimpy's Grill, 617 Hicks Street, Carpe Durham Review.
Southwest Durham
Bandidos, 4711 Hope Valley Road. Note: Covered seating. Perfect for a pitcher of margaritas.
Bocci, 5850 Fayetteville Road. Note: Some seating covered, some uncovered. Shares the courtyard with Nantucket Grill. Live music on Friday nights in the summer, lots of green area for kids to roam, a fountain, and metal sculptures of a one man, two-pet band.
City Beverage, 4810 Hope Valley Road, Carpe Durham Review. Note: Huge, huge patio with umbrella-topped tables.
Nantucket Grill, 5826 Fayetteville Road and 5925 Farrington Road, Carpe Durham Review. The Sutton Station location (Fayetteville Road) has a nice setup with plants, stone-tiled tables, and both umbrella-topped and shaded tables. It shares the courtyard with Bocci. Live music on Friday nights in the summer, lots of green area for kids to roam, a fountain, and metal sculptures of a one man, two-pet band.
Pulcinella's Italian Restaurant, 4711 Hope Valley Road. Note: Only a couple of tables.
Shiki Sushi, 207 West Highway 54, Carpe Durham's Review. Note: The outside dining is much quieter than indoors. Covered seating area.
West 94th Street Pub, 4711 Hope Valley Road, Carpe Durham Review. Note: Weather-proofed porch, with heat lamps in winter and misty fans in summer. Outside TV for watching games. I think you can now smoke on the porch, but don't quote me on that.
Sunset Grille, 5850 Fayetteville Road.
American Tobacco Campus
Mellow Mushroom, 410 Blackwell Street.
Tyler's Restaurant and Taproom, 324 Blackwell Street. Note: Great seating out by the bottom of the "river."
Downtown/Warehouse District
Bull McCabe's, 427 West Main Street.
Toast Paninoteca, 345 West Main Street, Carpe Durham Review. Note: Only a few outside tables.
Tosca, 604 West Morgan Street.
West End Wine Bar, 601 Main Street, Carpe Durham Review.
South Square/Eastgate
Rick's Diner, 4015 University Drive, Carpe Durham Review. Note: Outdoor seating under an overhang. They'll be moving to a new location soon.
Saladelia Café, 4201 University Drive, Carpe Durham Review.
Twisted Noodles, 4201-112 University Drive.
Rockwood/Lakewood
Foster's Market, 2694 Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard. Note: Plenty of shady options, beautiful overhang when the flowers are in bloom.
Four Square, 2701 Chapel Hill Road.
Guglhupf Cafe, 2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard, Carpe Durham Review. Gorgeous outdoor seating area with stone waterworks. Shade and sun galore.
The Q Shack, 2510 University Drive.
El Rancherito, 2300 Chapel Hill Road, Carpe Durham Review.
Red Sea Fish and Chicken, 2000 Chapel Hill Road #4, Carpe Durham Review. Note: Usually a few tables available out front.
Taqueria La Vaquita, 2700 Chapel Hill Road, Carpe Durham Review. Note: Only outdoor seating, a few picnic tables. Can be a wind tunnel.
Thai Café, 2501 University Drive, Carpe Durham Review.
Duke Campus
Armadillo Grill, in the Bryan Center, West Campus. Note: Deck is out the backdoor and has a projection screen. Smoking welcome.
Bryan Center Plaza, West Campus. Note: There's a number of different vendors in this main Duke building to the west of the chapel. The plaza has covered picnic tables that swing back and forth in addition to grassy areas and regular tables. Vendors include Loco Pops, Polly Dogs, Mediterranean Grill, and Joe Van Gogh's.
Fairview Dining Room at the Washington Duke Inn, Science Drive.
Nasher Museum Café, 2001 Campus Drive, Carpe Durham Review. Really nice space overlooking a large lawn and a sculpture.
The Refectory Cafe at Duke Divinity School, Westbrook building. Note: Local, organic food. Patio with long picnic tables and smaller, umbrella-topped tables.
Parkwood/RTP
Taqueria 3 Hermanas, 4853 Highway 55, Carpe Durham Review. Note: A few picnic tables out front.
