Photo: Brandon Han
Some of the prettiest places to eat, drink and be merry this summer.
What’s better than gathering with friends and enjoying great food and beverages? Doing so in a quaint outdoor setting! Or maybe an urban-esque, waterside setting. Or, perhaps, a spot that makes you feel like you’re miles away and right at home all at the same time. Whatever your style, Edina is home to or near to some of the most beautiful and unique patios around. Here are just a few places to make the most of your summer patio dining.
TAVERN 23
Waterside dining is always a good thing, but it’s not always easy to get to. Or is it? Tavern 23 is located just off France Avenue and Interstate 494. Walk through the doors, and you immediately catch the casual, comfortable vibe. The sports-themed bar is polished and refined, and there are rich pops of color and style throughout that compliment Lou Nanne’s hockey memorabilia. Once you spot the sprawling waterside patio, you’ll know you picked the right place. Sit and enjoy the suburban park views and the quiet rush of the fountain in the distance. Order a cocktail and take a minute to check out the menu. Tavern 23 offers a wide variety of starters, woodfired pizzas and flatbreads, burgers and sandwiches, soups and salads, classic steakhouse steaks and seafood, and even stir-fry and sushi. For our gluten free friends, there’s an entire menu to choose from.
Craft cocktail lovers will appreciate the wonderfully unique, smoky sweet sunset margarita. It’s great with the roasted poblano queso! If you’re in the mood for something lighter and brighter, the delicious salmon salad and classic French 75 are house favorites. And speaking of favorites, make sure to try Nanne’s Bolognese and other house specialties. The food is great, the service is friendly and the reflective views from this patio are hard to beat. Tavern 23 is a “hat trick” for summertime, or anytime, dining!
Tavern 23
7651 France Ave. S.,
952.658.7800
Facebook: Tavern23
Instagram: @tavern_23
HARRIET BRASSERIE
The intimate 16-seat patio and the artisanal menu at Harriet Brasserie beg to be savored. While you can pop in for a quick bite, the rich, historic space and just-off-the-beaten-path patio views implore you to sit and stay a while. Brunch and teatime menus are served seven days a week. And just as teacups run dry, the beautiful dinner menu steps in with an incredible wine list to ensure all hours spent there are happy hours. Sip an espresso and lose yourself in a heavenly piece of coconut tres leches. Dive into the mussels or duck tacos. If you’re really lucky, the fried potato dumplings stuffed with chicken may be on the menu when you visit. There are plenty of gluten free and vegan options. Choose something light and refreshing, or indulge—unapologetically—in not-so-small plates guaranteed to feed your soul. The menu is local, organic and sustainable wherever possible and it is hand crafted and continuously refined by the chef/owner. The flavors are as lovely as the presentations and you’ll probably find yourself wanting to go back again even before you leave.
Harriet Brasserie
2724 W. 43rd St., Mpls.
612.354.2197
Facebook: The Harriet Brasserie
Instagram: @harrietrooster
Photo: Tate Carlson
CIAO BELLA
We’ve loved celebrating all things beautiful and delicious at Ciao Bella for the past 20 years, and now there’s even more bella to ciao! Stunning renovations completed in January 2019 have transformed this local Italian favorite into something incredibly fresh and wonderful to experience. The indoor patio bar was completely renovated last February. The outdoor patio area (expanded during the summer of 2018) now features a fire pit and gorgeous outdoor kitchen cocktail area.
Enjoy a light, refreshing red or blanco sangria or a selection from Ciao Bella’s exceptional wine list. The prosciutto di parma and burrata plate or any of the woodfired pizzas and flatbreads are perfect for sharing. Definitely peruse the wonderful pastas and salads. Seafood lovers will find it hard to decide which beautiful fish dish to try first, but there isn’t a bad choice on the menu. There is truly something for every food and wine lover here, and it can all be enjoyed al fresco, Italian garden style, beneath a pergola or by the fire. Ciao!
Ciao Bella
3501 Minnesota Drive,
Bloomington
952.841.1000
Facebook: Ciao Bella Restaurant
SALUT
The decidedly Parisian patio at Salut is almost impossible to resist. And what better way to soak in all of 50th & France’s vibrant energy then to surround yourself with jardin flowers and enjoy fresh, flavorful fare.
Settle in with the always-exceptional tour de fromage. Follow up with some fresh oysters or go all the way with a stunning seafood tower! There are so many savories to choose from, and those—like the smoked salmon crepe, walleye tacos and beet & burrata salad—will keep you coming back
for more.
The colorful salads and lovely tartines are perfect warm weather choices. Opt for bubbles on the patio because nothing complements warm summer breezes as nicely. The house specialties are always exceptional, and the table-sized sides ensure that heartier cravings are cured without question. Salut’s patio is the perfect place to place to enjoy lunch with friends. And as the sun begins to set and the daytime bustle begins to quiet down, it’s also a great spot to enjoy a delicious date night or girls’ night out. Salut!
Salut
5034 France Ave. S.
952.929.3764
Facebook: Salut Bar Americain France Ave
Instagram: @salutfranceave
Photo: John Abernathy
RED COW 50th & France
“Whether you’re a hipster, or a homemaker, happiness is only a burger and beer away.” —Red Cow. That’s probably one of the truest statements ever made. Now add a nicely lit suburban patio setting to the equation, and you’re golden! Patios were made for burgers, crafts and drafts, and Red Cow 50th & France offers some the best of all of the above.
Their ridiculously delish burger menu ranges from basic to gourmet and includes other options such as bison, turkey, ahi tuna and vegetarian and vegan options. While it would be hard to choose a favorite, the ahi tuna burger with fresh avocado and dragon sauce will put you in a summertime frame of mind anytime!
Red Cow’s beer list is extensive and changes daily. But if you’re in the mood for something else, they’ve got you covered. While your friends sip their way through dozens of hoppy options, you can go red, white or just “Rosé The Day Away …” They’ve also got a lively selection of bubbles in addition to boozy, less boozy and no booze drinks. If you like classics, try their mos-cow mule! It uses pink peppercorn-infused vodka which adds a tasty little twist. See you on the patio!
Red Cow
3624 W. 50th St.
612.767.4411
Facebook: Red Cow
Instagram: @redcowmn
