Still on my patio tour, I had to visit New Vintage Grill because someone on social media said the misting system on their patio was so great during our hot summer weather that it felt like the temperature was 20 to 30 degrees cooler. Thats like a dip in the pool without the annoying wet hair. As the governor had closed indoor dining, we were still on a search for the best patio options and this is one of them.

Frankly it starts with the giant fan on the north side of the patio right near the TV. Yes, there are misters cranking out minute particles of moisture but this turbo-fan is sending air all over the place, strongly I might add. With staff and customers coming in with masks, it made us feel like we were getting a completely safe dining experience. My companion noted that a man going to the restroom even put his mask back on while walking away from his table.

The only thing is the menu was paper inside a plastic case and that was a potential contamination risk no cool smartphone QR code system here but that seemed the only risk. And I should mention the fan added some noise on the patio but not too much, so conversations were possible even though we were seated quite close to it.

The food, as always, was remarkable with the rare exception that Im here to point out. My companion ordered the caprese avocado salad ($14.59) and I went for the pastrami sandwich ($13.95), resisting those pizzas or the burgers (patties made from hand-packed ground chuck as the menu says) that Ive loved in the past.

New Vintage, owned by Jed and Melissa Larson, still does a lot of things well (those breakfast potatoes made with white cheddar, garlic, spinach and red quinoa are a revelation). And big salads are a star here, served in a large metal bowl with, for the most part, quality ingredients that are thoughtfully assembled. My companion could not believe the quality of the avocado on her salad, or the fresh mozzarella balls, the sheer generosity of the grilled chicken and the balsamic glaze drizzled over the whole thing that she felt made a dressing unnecessary. She was not impressed, and neither was I, by the quality of the tomatoes, which are kind of the star of your average caprese salad and deserved to be better.

We did differ on the dressing served with it, a roasted garlic balsamic dressing. I consider roasted garlic to be right up there with extra virgin olive oil and butter as a perfect food that makes almost anything better. She thought the glaze itself was more subtle and wasnt wowed by this dressing. I think this house-made dressing would work with almost any salad, and I took the unused portion home to use on my own creations later.

The only problem with my pastrami sandwich was the inadvertent omission by the kitchen of the stone-ground mustard. The menu told me that mustard and mayo would be included so I asked my waitress to skip the mayo Im sure all pastrami lovers understand why but they left the mustard off too, which was regrettable because everything else was so good. The pastrami was hot, looked from its texture like it had been flash-grilled, the cheese was pepper jack, there were crispy onion straws and the bun was a caramelized onion baguette. And I do need to mention the pepperoncini spread throughout. With the battered fries, it was quite the satisfying dinner.

Right now, the restaurant has a skeleton crew on board, but service did not suffer. Delivery is available through Postmates and I did notice a lot of customers coming in to get takeout. Theres special parking right near the door for takeout pickup. The dining room looks sad and lonely with tables and chairs stacked up in the corner, but the patio had almost every table occupied on our weeknight visit, though I do think there was some social distancing going on because the tables are spaced far enough apart.

What weve enjoyed on other visits: the New Vintage omelet (artichoke hearts, goat cheese, bacon), the guac and roll burrito (potatoes, cheddar, scrambled eggs, choice of meat and, of course, guacamole), Kiss my Hass (a veggie egg sandwich with smashed avocado and sun-dried tomato pesto among other ingredients), the chili, the French dip and Pops pizza (double pepperoni, garlic and jalapeo slices).

New Vintage Grill can be recommended for a fine dining experience.

Pete Tittls Dining Out column appears in The Californian on Sundays. Email him at pftittl@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter: @pftittl.

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PETE TITTL: New Vintage Grill keeping it cool on the patio - The Bakersfield Californian

Patio heaters and outdoor sheltersare flying off the shelves in the Lower Mainland, as people look for creative ways tokeep a safephysicaldistance andstill gatherwith friends and familythrough the colder months.

Some productsdesignedto keep you warm and dry outdoors havebeen sold out for weeks athome improvement stores and online retailers.

At the BBQ Shop in Port Coquitlam, owner Nash Shivji says sales offire pits and patio heaters are up 40 per cent over last year, and he is struggling to keep up with the demand.

"Most of my suppliers are sold out, too," said Shivji.

"Customers say they've been everywhere and people are sold out. I will be in that same boat very soon, too," he said.

Aside from trying to stay warm, consumers arealso seeking ways to stay protected from wind and rain, says anawning supply owner in Port Coquitlam. Sales of Aaron Greenaway's patio coverings and retractable awnings have doubled, at a time when the season is typically coming to an end, he said.

"I've never worked so hard in my life," said Greenaway.

He's hired four extra staff members to keep up with installation demands, as people look for space to safely gather, or work from home.

"They know the rain is coming. They know it's going to get cold, so they are trying to improve that space and overall enjoyment."

Increasingly, bars, restaurants and breweries which were granted temporary permits to add outdoor patio space in the summer are also trying to find solutions.

The permits were a lifeline for many establishments hit hard by shutdowns. Some owners however, are now finding themselves scrambling to find more permanent solutions to their summer patio spaces just to stay in business.

"I'm scared to death," said Kevin Larsen, one of the owners of Camp Beer Company in Langley.

The craft brewery's outdoor capacity is 10 people, down from 55 before the pandemic hit. Its indoor capacity was also 55 before the pandemic, and that's now been halved.

With fall and winter coming, Larsen says they have no choice but to get a larger, more permanent, retractable awning to keep customers warm and dry an expense he saysis unavoidable.

"We just have to embrace it and push forward," he said. "Hopefully people will put on a jacket and come out and have a beer."

Camp's patio is heated by overhead gasheaters and a fire bowl whichare permitted by the City of Langley, in an important distinction between business and personal use.

Units powered by electricity are safe for enclosed spaces, says Shivji. But he warns anyone considering buying natural gas or propane patio heaters and fire pits shoulduse caution because theappliances aredesigned for outdoor useonly, not enclosed spaces.

In fact, the City of Vancouver says on private property, any fixed or portable patio heater that produces an open flame requires a permit by the fire chief.

Anyone using natural gas or propane patio heaters, whether fixed or portable, is advised to check their local regulations and bylaws to ensure the appliance is safe for use.

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Cold comfort: Why demand for patio heaters is on the rise - CBC.ca

After being closed to the public since March and offering to-go brews only, Crooked Tooth Brewing Company is reopening its patio on Wednesday, September 2.

For the time being, the hours of operation will be 3 8 p.m. on Wednesday, 3 10 p.m. on Thursday Saturday, and 3 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Much like the rest of the craft beer community, the Crooked Tooth crew is just as excited about the opportunity to open the patio once again.

Our team and space have greatly missed the sounds and connection of our community, said Crooked Tooth Brewing Companys co-owner, Julie Vernon. We are holding great intention for the safety and well-being of our community, team, and families. Therefore, we will be holding each other responsible for practicing the highest level of safety.

In turn, the team creatively transformed the patio into a rather beautiful setting.

Outside, youll see some spiffy hand-built furniture, much like the pallet planters fastened to the walls and wine barrel tables/umbrella stands.

We have redesigned our patio to allow more space to promote social distancing while keeping it welcoming and accommodating, said Vernon. We are also transitioning to a table service model to ensure the utmost care of our patrons and team. It has been almost six months since we closed our doors for onsite drinking and gathering, we are so excited to reopen our doors and space to our community that we love and have missed so much.

Additionally, the brewery will still be offering its 32-ounce crowlers and 22-ounce bottles to-go for anyone whod rather enjoy the brews at home.

Crooked Tooth Brewing Company is located at 228 E. Sixth St. For more information, follow Crooked Tooth Brewing Company on Facebook.

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Crooked Tooth Brewing Company to open patio for table service - Tucson Foodie

When you visit the new Wright Taste restaurant in Belmar, you can expect a little bit of everything. The spot is now open and serving guests a mix of Soul, Italian, Hispanic, and Caribbean food. The team is settling in nicely in the former home of Twisted Tapas.

At Wright Taste, the 2,500-square foot indoor space can seat 100 people (at full capacity) across two dining areas. As for the interior design, youll find royal blue and gray walls; as well as tables adorned with royal blue linens, glass centerpieces, and fall dcor. In addition, they offer three TVs to watch news and sports, or karaoke if you prefer.

But the outdoor dining space is even bigger: This 4,000-square foot area can seat 125 people on a patio. Whats most unique about this, however, is the garden with a large tree in the center of the patio. Its said to be the oldest tree in Belmar, says Wright Taste founder and co-owner Andre Wright.

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The idea for a restaurant came from Wrights twin desires to always do good for the community and prepare food made with love. We decided that now would be a great time to open despite the pandemic because for us it was a blessing, Wright says. We never thought wed have an opportunity like this. And to have so much outdoor dining space, which most restaurants dont have, just made everything 10 times better.

So far, Wright Taste is a hit with Belmar residents. The locals have made it known that even in the winter, theyll be coming to our restaurant, Wright adds.

But neither Wright nor his co-owner and chef Stephon Lewis had a link to Belmar prior to opening. Of course, things are different now that they have built relationships with people in the community. (Lewis has a catering background, and his late father was a chef.)

Patrons will find an array of cuisines at Wright Taste, including Soul, Italian, Hispanic, and Caribbean. So far, popular menu items include oxtails, curry chicken, and escovitch fish (red snapper). Jerk chicken and jerk fish either mild or spicy with cabbage and white rice, are also hits, says Lewis. The vegan section of the menu offers fried tofu in such styles as barbecue, sweet Asian chili, buffalo, and jerk.

They also have some family-style options perfect for groups of four. For example, you can order large portions of fried chicken, fried whiting, baked flounder, or barbecue baby back ribs. (Each comes with four sides.) The kids menu serves up child-friendly fare including chicken tenders, fried fish, mac and cheese, and grilled cheese.

Visit Wright Taste at 1006 Main Street in Belmar. Find them online for hours and other info.

Reservations?

Yes

Gluten-free options?

Yes

Vegetarian options?

Yes

Takeout/Delivery?

Yes

Liquor license?

No (BYOB)

Kids menu?

Yes

Click here to find the latest restaurants open in New Jersey.

All Photos: Wright Taste / Facebook

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Wright Taste Brings the Right Menu to Belmar - BestofNJ.com

FARGO A 33-year-old man is accused of lighting a patio table at a downtown Fargo bar on fire this weekend, according to court documents.

Cass County prosecutors filed on Wednesday, Sept. 2, charges of endangering by fire or explosion, a Class C felony and criminal mischief, a misdemeanor, against Michael Edward Williams.

Court documents allege that Williams, who is homeless, started a table on Cowboy Jacks patio, 506 Broadway N., on fire Saturday morning before the bar opened. The fire caused about $1,000 in damage to the table and structure of Cowboy Jacks, according to a criminal complaint.

The fire caused minor damage, but nothing that prevented the bar from opening on Saturday, Cowboy Jack's general manager Jerry Britttian. The establishment was able to open on time, he said.

Its unclear how or when the fire was started, but a passerby reported it before 6 a.m Saturday, the complaint said. Police identified Williams by comparing his mugshots from past arrests to security footage taken the morning of the fire, according to the complaint.

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Man accused of starting patio table on fire at Cowboy Jack's in downtown Fargo - INFORUM

North Austin-based G&N Creations recently rebranded as Reach for the Sky Bakeshop. (Courtesy Reach for the Sky Bakeshop)

Texas barbecue and Vietnamese fusion restaurant Smokin Beauty opened Aug. 28 at 11806 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin. The eatery offers a unique menu with items such as brisket and pork belly banh mi. Smokin Beauty has a patio currently open on weekends with a drive-thru window for weekday service. 512-436-9379. http://www.smokinbeautyatx.com

North Austin staple Ross Old Austin Cafe officially reopened in mid-August as Luisas Patio, located at 11800 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin. Luisas Patio sells traditional Mexican dishes, such as street tacos, sopes and enchiladas, and serves Latin American-inspired alcoholic drinks. The restaurant has also kept on cooks from Ross Old Austin Cafe and offers dishes from the former restaurants menu, such as the famous chicken fried steak. 512-835-2414. http://www.facebook.com/luisas-patio-100472191777473/

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Roundup: Ross' Old Austin Cafe reopens as Luisa's Patio and other Northwest Austin restaurant news - Community Impact Newspaper

Massachusetts allowed restaurants to resume outdoor dining with restrictions on June 8, following nearly three months of takeout and delivery only. During the week of June 8, over 100 restaurants in and around Boston quickly opened up their patios; here are details on many of those. Others are taking a slower approach.

Each week, well highlight a few more patios that are reopening in the Boston area right here, as well as any other pertinent info and updates regarding outdoor dining. (Note that this will not be a comprehensive list as there are hundreds of patios in the region, with more to come as cities and towns find ways to quicken and ease the permitting process.) Know of a recently opened patio thats especially spacious, comfortable, and following safety protocols well? Hit up the tipline.

PATIOS NOW OPEN (OR OPENING THIS WEEK)

OTHER OUTDOOR DINING UPDATES

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477 Cambridge Street, Allston, MA 02135

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Boston-Area Patio Updates, Summer 2020 (Updated Weekly) - Eater Boston

It goes without saying that Juneteenth should be more widely recognized as a national holiday. Instead, its known as a Texas state holiday, commemorating the day a Union general rode into Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, to declare that all slaves were now free. Nevertheless, Black people around America have reclaimed this holiday as their independence day; this year feels especially important in light of the continued Black Lives Matter protests. When we saw that Black People Eats put together this list on Instagram of Black-owned restaurants with patios that are offering Juneteeth specials, we wanted to give these businesses some more attention. So, what are you waiting for? You can get a meal for just $6.19 in Chicago all weekend long!

2205 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

An adorable breakfast cafe that caters a balanced blend of healthy food and guilty pleasures, Lizzy J Cafe can meet all of your needs this Juneteenth. Enjoy outdoor seating in this divine oasis.

Juneteenth Special: French Toast Side Any Flavor ($6.19)

17093 S Jodave Ave, Hazel Crest, IL 60429

Smoked meats are the name of the game at Maes Que House, a Hazel Crest restaurant just past the tip of South Side Chicago. With a few tables outside, Maes Que House is allowing patrons to dine in again.

Juneteenth Special: Pork, Turkey, or Chicken Mini Tips with Fries ($6.19)

1200 E 79th St, Chicago, IL 60619

Featuring an eclectic menu that highlights dishes from varying cultures, The Woodlawn is offering a flatbread special on Juneteenth that includes the Gyro, Italian Beef, Buffalo Chicken, and Jambalaya.

Juneteenth Special: Flatbread Special ($6.19)

1072 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

Frontiers outdoor space is a breezy haven away from the streets of Chicago, and though their Juneteenth special is a $6.19 martini, youd be remiss not to also order some delicious meats served right off their patio grill.

Juneteenth Special: Martinis ($6.19)

1415 N Wood St, Chicago, IL 60622

A New Orleans-inspired outpost in the heart of Wicker Park, Ina Mae embraces their funky, Southern-style roots with a delicious Juneteenth special.

Juneteenth Special: Nola Hot Sausage Sliders ($6.19)

756 E 111th St, Chicago, IL 60628

A quintessential Chicago food truck that roams where it may, Lexington Betty Smoke House will be located in Pullman all weekend, serving up their Juneteenth special.

Juneteenth Special: Mini Rib Tips with Fries or Smoked Chicken with Fries ($6.19)

756 E 111th St, Chicago, IL 60628

Soul food, meet vegan. Unbelievably good eats await you at Matani Restaurant, even if youre not a plant-based diner.

Juneteenth Special: BBQ Cauliflower ($6.19)

717 W Maxwell St, Chicago, IL 60607

One of the coolest, underground Chicago handouts, Phlavz has more than enough spacious outdoor seating, awash in violet neon lights.

Juneteenth Special: Jerk Chicken Sammich ($6.19)

1368 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615

Dont believe you wont believe it? Try Cant Believe Its Not Meat for yourself and let us know.

Juneteenth Special: Hotdog & Fries ($6.19)

1660 E 55th St, Chicago, IL 60615

This straightforward restaurant has been giving back to the neighborhood since they opened. Having gifted over 150,000 free meals to people in the community, Litehouse is a shining beacon of hope in Hyde Park.

Juneteenth Special: Fire Glazed Salmon Bowl ($6.19)

7101 S Yates Blvd, Chicago, IL 60649

This neighborhood breakfast cafe is the perfect place for some peace and quiet. Slow down and grab a coffee and a panini here.

Juneteenth Special: Breakfast Panini or Turkey Bacon Avocado with a 16 oz Black Iced Coffee ($6.19)

The rest is here:
11 Black-Owned Restaurants With Patios Offering Juneteenth Specials This Weekend - UrbanMatter

In mid-May, Boor and Charles Hemminger, another architect with a restaurant-heavy practice, put together some designs to see if they could get enough socially distanced seats into a dining room to stay in business. San Francisco hadnt yet issued its specific guidance for how restaurants could open, but the architects had the gist. They turned bars into prep stations, because they couldnt figure out how to give people bending an elbow enough elbow room. They moved tables farther apart, thought about barriers, and took over patio and parking spaces where the restaurants had them.

They learned a few things. Risk of infection is a combination of how much exposure someone gets and how long they get it. And while customers might spend an hour or two in a restaurant, staff are there all night. Patron-to-patron infection is a thing were worried about, but a bigger risk is patron-to-staff, Boor says. Those are the people youre concerned with protecting. If they get sick, the whole operation goes down.

Without significant changes to how much street space a restaurant is allowed to take up, Boor and Hemminger couldnt really make outdoor dining plausible. In a restaurant operating on the typical dining model of table service, I have not yet seen a case where outdoor seating would make up for the amount of lost indoor seating due to distancing, Boor says. Even the ones that come close require some pretty big assumptions about making that outdoor seating usable, like building something like wind screens and heating elements. Few cities in the US have year-round pleasant weather in the evenings, whether thats because of heat, humidity, cold, or rain. So restaurants trying to expand their borders are going to have to build some kind of nimbus of infrastructure to minimize the picnic-in-the-rain vibe. Of course, the more enclosed an outdoor space is, the more it is like an indoor spacewith all the concomitant risks.

Many restaurant owners are hoping that cities will give them more space by taking it away from cars. That would include parklets that replace streetside parking. (These require strong barriers around their perimeter and a floor built level with the sidewalk, because streets often slope downward toward curbs to redirect rainwater and debris into gutters). And then you have to figure out how to actually build the things. Abueg says San Franciscos rules only let a parklet extend 6 feet into the street; Berkeley seems likely to ask for barriers 2 feet thick. That only leaves 4 feet of space for tables.

All of this suggests that the best plan might be to forget about piecemeal parklets and just close streets altogether. Pedestrian-only plazas are common in many other parts of the world, but less so in car-happy America. The mayor and city council of Berkeley initially promised a huge number of street closures to accommodate outdoor dining, but the drawings Abueg and Morris came up with depict a much reduced and more realistic visionshort stretches of converted street, with maybe a block here and there fully closed to automobile traffic. They even encountered resistance to the idea of closing a particularly obvious candidate, Center Street, which extends west from the UC Berkeley campus into the citys downtown. Center is lined with restaurants that run the gamut of cuisines and price points; it has a museum at one corner (with a skyscraping hotel under construction). The stretch is a block from a subway station, and the area is full of students. Seems perfect, right?

But Abueg says she got pushback from a landlord there, just as she did at another Berkeley retail street also identified as a candidate for closure. Restaurant owners are clamoring for expanded dining, but sometimes the people who own their buildings are just used to the idea of customers arriving in cars. And some of the restaurants have come to depend on pick-up and delivery services like DoorDash and Uber Eats, with drivers who want to pull up out front. And many of San Franciscos and Berkeleys restaurant districts also have high populations of unhoused people who live and sleep on public sidewalks. Restaurants have never had to take responsibility for those spaces. In places like that, where the open seating will be shared by multiple restaurateurs, who will be responsible for the clean-up or for unhoused folks? she asks. So that got complicated.

Read all of our coronavirus coverage here.

Protecting the staff will still be a challenge, even if everyone is eating outside. Abuegs sketches anticipate that there will be no table service; people will order from windows at the restaurants and carry their orders to tables, like at a mall food court. Thats an assumption we made with the concept, that the fewer touchpoints the better, instead of a server going back and forth, Abueg says. You clean up after yourself, and it would also require that everybody would have an app on their smartphone to see a menu and order, so youre not standing queued up together.

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The Design and Science of Patio Dining During a Pandemic - WIRED

Summer officially arrives Saturday so that means its time to spruce up your patio.

Here are some great deals from different retailers that will make your outdoor living space the talk of the town. And you wont have to break the bank.

The River Brook Patio Sectional with Cushions, part of the Kathy Ireland Collection, is available at Wayfair.

The River Brook Patio Sectional with cushions (see photo directly above), part of the Kathy Ireland Collection, is available at Wayfair.

Theres plenty of other River Brook Patio Sectionals available here and prices start around $1,100 and swell to above $3,200.

The Navarro 9-ft. Outdoor Auto Crank Umbrella from Kohl's is priced under $60.

This Kohls Navarro 9-ft. Outdoor Auto Crank Umbrella is a steal at $57.36. They come in blue, red and tan and will keep any backyard shady while the sun is out.

This Aksel Steel Wood Burning Fire Pit retails for $137.99 on Wayfair.com.

The Aksel Steel Wood Burning Fire Pit sells for $137.99 at Wayfair.com. The antique-copper bowl finish comes with a built-in log rest and fire tool. This firepit cannot be placed on wood decks.

The AECOJOY 13'8' Patio Awning makes any space looks elegant.

Amazon.com has this AECOJOY 138 Patio Awning Retractable Sun Shade available for only $279.99. The patio awning is ideal for shading of windows, in balcony, courtyard, patio, cafes and restaurants with back porches, providing protection from UV rays and make the space looks elegant. It is water and UV resistant.

The frame is built with rust-resistant, powder-coated aluminum frame, lightweight design but solid structure can resist a certain scale wind (under level 5), retractable mounting brackets have double strand steel rope, more durable.

The Sunjoy 10'x10' Hampton Softtop Steel Gazebo with Netting retails for around $112 on Amazon.

The Sunjoy 10x10 Hampton soft-top steel gazebo with netting can be had for $112 on Amazon.com. It comes with a vented canopy, includes guy ropes for additional stability and comes with full length mosquito netting. It is made of Polyester canopy fabric. Some assembly is required.

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Here are 5 must-have items for your outdoor patio - SILive.com