Outdoor patios have become all the rage on city food scene
In a city known for its long winters, summer patios are all the rage
From a tiny table or two perched outside an elegant emporium such as Duchess Bake Shop on 124 Street to the roiling mass of humanity wearing flip flops that is Julio’s Barrio on Whyte Avenue, the patio in Edmonton assumes a multitude of forms between now and snowfall.
Everyone has their idea of what works best when it comes to eating outside at a restaurant. Some people like a broad-based scene well suited to people-watching. Others prefer something more intimate.
There are your sun-seekers, and your shade-dwellers, those who like pillows under the bum and shawls over the shoulder, and those who think that being outside means its OK to put your feet on the seat. (It’s not.)
Every restaurateur worth their custom-crafted cocktail has a patio on the go. (A brand new one sprang up like a determined mushroom just moments ago at the Blue Chair in my ’hood of Ritchie.)
Here are three new ones for you to explore.
CAFE LINNEA
Located at 10932 119 St., the new 16-seat patio at Cafe Linnea was handmade by co-owner and chef Kelsey Johnson, and her family. Constructed of wood, with planters of nasturtiums, tomatoes and basil rimming the perimeter, the patio offers the same elegant ambience as the interior of the restaurant, which celebrates its two-year anniversary in July. Pendant-style lighting makes things romantic as the patient night sky descends.
The patio is open to offer the restaurant’s regular brunch service from morning until 2 p.m. Then between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. there is a snacky sort of menu, featuring items such as terrine with house pickles and house-made sourdough bread, or popcorn with brown butter and nutritional yeast. A lighter style of cocktail is recommended, perhaps a splash of gin with chartreuse and pureed cucumber.
“It’s so nice in the front, and I feel people will want to linger,” says Johnson, who created the afternoon snack menu to meet customer needs while still leaving adequate manpower to get ready for dinner service at 5 p.m.
“We wanted to keep it clean and minimal to match the inside, but a little more casual,” she says. “We hope people will sip good French wine and enjoy the sun and the green space, and just nibble and relax with friends.”
REBEL FOOD AND DRINK
Rebel’s 40-seat patio at 9112 142 St. brings another option to the west end of Edmonton, where restaurant and patio choices are more limited. The newly constructed space features buckets of flowers, a few well-placed umbrellas and an east-facing patio that is bright and airy, but not too hot on a summer’s afternoon. You’ll want to try the Rebel house lager (is that a hint of fresh-cut grass on the nose?) Consider the house specialty, Mamma’s Got Balls, the breaded bocconcini balls created by the family matriarch when the Rago family ran the show and the restaurant was called Piccolino.
Century Hospitality now owns Rebel, but the restaurant is still managed by Mamma’s son, Lino Rago, who serves generous amounts of bonhomie with every plate he delivers.
“It’s really unique and a great feel,” says Rago of the Rebel patio. “You’d think it was hectic, being on 142nd St. But it’s not. Everyone is raving about it and we’re happy. ”
BODEGA 124 STREET
When co-owners Chris Mena and chef Lino Oliveira looked at expanding to their new, west-end location (12417 Stony Plain Rd.), the patio was a major attraction. It is in a secret garden that’s behind the restaurant, and is only accessible to customers through a gate a few doors down. It’s marked by a sign that says Bodega Jardin.
The hidden space, virtually a tree house with 25 seats, has an intimacy that’s perfect for an urban escape.
“We wanted to give you a place in Edmonton where you could go and feel secluded from the rest of the world,” says Mena.
“You almost feel like you are in a patio in another city. This weekend, I heard people saying it felt like somewhere in Los Angeles, New York, Montreal and even European cities like Madrid and Barcelona.”
Mena puts the comparison down to the fact that “people tend to relate patio weather with the best times of their lives, and often those are times when they are travelling.”
The space features numerous hanging plants, patio lights and toss cushions. Heaters will be out there when it’s necessary. Plans are in the works to install a seethrough ceiling on the patio, so people have the option of sitting outside when it’s raining.
“To me, that’s magical,” he says. He recommends a couple of the restaurant’s staple items for patio nibbling, including the baconwrapped dates and the piri piri prawns. Wash it all down with a Tarte Rouge cocktail, made from Muscatel, gin, lemon juice, cherry syrup, egg whites and scattered with rose petals.