Bright skies, sunshine you can feel in your bones—the days of summer are finally here, and with them comes the hankering to eat outdoors, whether in a garden courtyard, on a glittering riverfront terrace, or on a see-and-be-seen rooftop patio. For our annual Alfresco guide we’ve combed our listings to find some 50 great spots for outdoor dining (and drinking, of course).
F 8.5 | S 7 | A 7.3 | $$$ (6 reports)Dinner: seven days | Sunday brunch | Open late: Friday & Saturday till 11
Angels & Mariachis1721 W. Division | 773-227-7772
Avenue M, a sleek steak house from the owners of clubs like Transit and Circus, is much more than a see-and-be-seen spot. Sure, the interior is stunning, with modernist wood accents and an upstairs lounge. Same goes for the lush patio, surrounded by ivy-covered walls. But under chef Mariano Aguirre, the place cooks as good as it looks, artfully balancing steak-house standards with French, Italian, and Asian influences. Appetizers include a beet carpaccio with spicy greens and grilled shrimp with arugula as well as maki, sashimi, and raw options, and while my friend pooh-poohed a sprinkling of sea salt on the oysters, I liked how it complemented the sweet shellfish and fresh grated horseradish. Seasonal house-made pastas include lump crabmeat ravioli with asparagus and a red pepper sauce. But save room for some meat: from filet mignon to strips to a veal chop and an impressive rack of Colorado lamb. —Heather Kenny
F 7.6 | S 7.5 | A 6.2 | $$$ (22 reports)Dinner: seven days | Open late: Friday & Saturday till 11
Bonsoiree Cafe & Delicacies2728 W. Armitage | 773-486-7511
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With its gleaming dark paneling and plush red velvet drapes, chairs, and banquettes, Brasserie Ruhlmann makes a great first impression. The problem is that the food and service aren’t special enough to justify the prices. We were momentarily buoyed by plump snails swimming in garlic butter under individual caps of flaky puff pastry, only to be dismayed by a tarte savoyarde that resembled a shrunken softish-crust pizza. A cod fillet with shellfish didn’t impress us either, except for the single deliciously sweet sea scallop. Gratineed onion soup that could have been made from the classic recipe in Mastering the Art of French Cooking also ranked high, as did the hazelnut cream puff with poached pear. With bottles of red wine starting at $90, the $22 carafe of house pinot noir wasn’t a bad buy. The French-cafe-style patio has a full bar and seating for 120. —Anne Spiselman
