Boston-Area Patio Updates for Summer 2020: Beer Garden Poutine, Frozen Cocktails in Dorchester, and More

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, we’ll 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 that’s especially spacious, comfortable, and following safety protocols well? Hit up the tipline.

June 22, 2020: Pork schnitzel sandwiches and poutine in a beer garden, pork belly buns in a Cambridge courtyard, and more

PATIOS NOW OPEN (OR OPENING THIS WEEK)

• A&B Burgers (101 Beverly St., West End, Boston): The West End sit-down burger restaurant is now offering outdoor dining, with views of the Zakim Brige, Tuesday through Saturday, starting at 11:30 a.m.
• The Backroom at Moody’s and Pollo Club (456-468 Moody St., Waltham): The Moody Street siblings and neighbors have reopened for outdoor dining along the street, which has been partially closed to allow for numerous restaurants to open outdoors. The Backroom and Pollo Club are open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday. Reserve online or call (781) 693-9191. Here’s the menu, including a three-course Moody’s dinner, fried chicken, and more.
• Bambara Kitchen & Bar (Kimpton Marlowe Hotel, 25 Edwin H. Land Blvd., East Cambridge): Bambara’s new courtyard dining area is officially open as of June 23, 5 to 8:30 p.m. nightly, serving pork belly steam buns, cavatelli with spiced lamb ragu, a dry-aged burger, and more from chef David Bazirgan.
• The Butcher Shop (552 Tremont St., South End, Boston): Barbara Lynch’s meaty South End spot has been offering takeout; now it’s adding patio dining Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 8 p.m., with reservations accepted by phone (617-423-4800) on the day-of. The patio menu includes dishes such as lasagna Bolognese, confit corned beef sandwich, a burger, grilled quail, and more.
• Davio’s (236 Patriot Pl., Foxboro; 50 Liberty Dr., Seaport District, Boston; 250 Granite St., Braintree; 1250 Market St., Lynnfield): The local steakhouse chain has opened patios at several locations as of June 19, and it’s the first patio season for the Seaport location, which has water views. The patios are open for dinner Friday through Sunday as well as Saturday lunch and Sunday brunch; reservations recommended but not required. The full menu is also available for takeout. Staff members will be wearing photos of themselves to show what’s behind the mask.
• Dbar (1236 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, Boston): The Dorchester bistro has reopened its patio and is also offering some extra seating in part of its parking lot, starting nightly at 5 p.m. Frozen cocktails are available. Reservations are encouraged but not required.
• Forage (5 Craigie Cir., Cambridge): Neighbors have allowed Forage to set up tables in a tree-lined space, with reservations available Wednesday through Sunday (tables are reserved for an hour and a half) via OpenTable.
• Grotto (37 Bowdoin St., Beacon Hill, Boston): As of June 18, Grotto’s new patio is open, operating from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Call (617) 227-3434 for reservations. The restaurant will be taking credit card information ahead of time to lessen contact. Takeout is still available, as well as grocery delivery.
• Heritage of Sherborn (33 N. Main St., Sherborn): Heritage of Sherborn, sibling to La Morra in Brookline, is offering a variety of patio and lawn seating over 7,000 square feet, some under a tent and some not. (There are also Adirondack chairs, a fire pit, and other seating options.) The farm-to-table, New England-y venue is serving lunch and dinner on weekdays and brunch and dinner on weekends.
• Jack’s Abby (100 Clinton St., Framingham): The brewery’s beer garden is open as of June 17, operating from noon to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. It can fit up to 150 customers. Reservations required; book online or call (774) 777-5085. Maximum party size is six, per state guidelines. Here’s a look at the outdoor beer and food menu, as of June 18, including wood-fired pizzas, pork schnitzel sandwiches, poutine, and more beer-friendly fare.
• JM Curley (21 Temple Pl, Downtown Crossing, Boston): The downtown hideaway has a new eight-seat patio in front, featuring three distanced tables. It’s operating daily from 4 to 9 p.m., with reservations recommended: Email info@jmcurleyboston.com or call (617) 338-5333. Customers will be able to scan a QR code to view the patio menu and pay contact-free via Toast.
• Mamaleh’s (1 Kendall Sq., Kendall Square, Cambridge): No table service available, but tables and chairs are set up outside, and customers can place a takeout order online and wait for a text that it’s ready. Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
• Mount Vernon Restaurant (14 Broadway, Somerville): The old-timey Sullivan Square restaurant, around for over 80 years, is offering outdoor dining under a tent (as well as takeout). Keep an eye out for lobster and prime rib specials.
• OddFellows Ice Cream Co. (55 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill): Located at the Street Chestnut Hill, this New York-based boozy ice cream shop is open daily from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. for patio seating and takeout.
• Oggi Gourmet (30 Dunster St., Harvard Square, Cambridge): Steve Welch’s Harvard Square pizzeria (which has recently relocated to Dunster Street) has a brand new patio — and is now serving beer and wine, too. Takeout is also available. Closed Sundays.
• Orfano (1391 Boylston St., Fenway, Boston): Tiffani Faison’s newest restaurant opened its patio on June 19, serving Italian-American dinner Friday through Sunday, reservations required (call 617-916-9600.) Customers can view the menu on their own phones by scanning a QR code. Takeout continues to be available Thursday through Sunday.
• Precinct Kitchen & Bar (154 Berkeley St., Back Bay, Boston): The Loews Hotel Boston’s restaurant features a patio sunken away from street level; it reopened on June 18 and is operating from 3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, when weather permits. Reservations suggested via OpenTable.
• The Quiet Few (331 Sumner St., East Boston): The Eastie whiskey bar has created a tiny sidewalk seating area (two tables, four seats total) and is serving a very simple menu to start: chips, picklebacks, and Jell-o shots, with a five-minute maximum per table. Stay tuned as the restaurant figures out how to best make outdoor dining work with its limited space; Instagram’s the place to go for updates. (Takeout — with a larger menu — is also available.)
• Soc’s Ice Cream (67 Lynn Fells Parkway, Saugus): This Melrose-adjacent ice cream shop has a new, large patio with lots of wildlife-watching opportunities thanks to the nearby Breakheart Reservation and Saugus River, notes owner Sharon Cacciola.
• Tiger Mama (1363 Boylston St., Fenway, Boston): The patio is operating on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as Sunday for brunch, with reservations available by phone (617-425-6262). Takeout is also available Thursday through Sunday.
• Tresca (233 Hanover St., North End, Boston): The Italian restaurant is offering outdoor dining on Hanover Street daily (from 5 p.m. on weekdays and 2 p.m. on weekends). Validated parking is available at the nearby Haymarket Garage ($3 for three hours). Call (617) 742-8240 to make a reservation.
• Trina’s Starlite Lounge (3 Beacon St., Inman Squre, Somerville): Trina’s has a new patio tucked away in the driveway behind the building, serving dinner and drinks Thursday through Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m.
• Tsurutontan (512 Commonwealth Ave., Kenmore, Boston): Those who dream of eating gigantic bowls of udon near Fenway Park are in luck — Tsurutontan’s patio is open as of June 18. Reserve via Resy or call (857) 233-2829.
• Vincent’s Corner Grocery at Cafe du Pays (233 Cardinal Medeiros Ave., Kendall Square, Cambridge): A tiny three-table patio is open for sausages, cafe drinks, boozy drinks, and more.
• Warehouse Bar & Grille (40 Broad St., downtown Boston): The downtown bar and restaurant is seating outdoors as of June 18 and working with the city to expand further down the sidewalk with more seating. Warehouse is operating from noon to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with reservations available via OpenTable.
• Woods Hill Pier 4 (300 Pier 4 Blvd., Seaport District, Boston): Only open since late 2019, this expansion of Concord’s popular Woods Hill Table serves farm-to-table fare with waterfront views. Its patio is now open for the first time, operating Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. (one all-day menu), serving sandwiches, pastas, cocktails, and more. Reservations recommended (via Resy), but not required.

June 15, 2020: Scallion pancake quesadillas in South Boston, wood-fired pizza in Charlestown, and more

The Bowery Bar/Instagram

PATIOS NOW OPEN (OR OPENING THIS WEEK)

• The Beehive (541 Tremont St., South End, Boston): The eclectic jazz club makes a comeback on June 15 with patio dining and a new menu from new chef Ryan Skeen, including dishes such as a tomato and watermelon salad; cavatelli with pork sugo; dry-aged smash burger with cheese and bacon jam; and short rib kebabs. The Beehive’s patio will be open daily, starting at 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and 9:30 a.m. on weekends (with a weekend brunch menu running until 3 p.m.). Reservations recommended; book online.
• The Bowery Bar (2261 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, Boston): Bedecked with colorful umbrellas, the Bowery Bar’s sizable patio is now open, with reservations recommended and available online. Reservations are limited to an hour and a half per party.
• Brewer’s Fork (7 Moulton St., Charlestown, Boston): The pizza-and-beer-focused restaurant opened the first stage of its patio over the weekend, with seven tables; walk-ins and day-of call-aheads accepted. This week it’ll add another eight tables, taking over the parking lot. Then in early July, if the city approves, the restaurant plans to add about 13 tables on Moulton Street in front of the restaurant, open for drinks and bites, beer garden-style, Friday through Sunday. Stay tuned for updates.
• Cambridge Common (1667 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge): Dine along Mass. Ave. between Harvard and Porter squares at this casual neighborhood pub, now offering patio dining daily, opening at 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and noon Friday through Sunday. Call (617) 547-1228 or email alissa@cambridgecommonrestaurant.com for reservations.
• Lone Star Taco Bar (477 Cambridge St., Allston, Boston; 635 Cambridge St., East Cambridge): Both Lone Star locations are now open for outdoor dining, with the Allston location open outdoors for the first time ever on now-closed sibling/neighbor Deep Ellum’s patio. Lunch and dinner available daily.
• Moonshine 152 (152 Dorchester Ave., South Boston): Chef Asia Mei’s popular Southie hangout hasn’t been offering takeout and delivery during the pandemic, but it’s back now — outdoor seating, takeout, and delivery, not to mention a completely revamped menu jam-packed with spicy crab rangoon, “party tots,” fried chicken, scallion pancake quesadillas, and more. The patio is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday; call (617) 752-4191 to reserve.
• Remnant Brewing (2 Bow Market Way, Bow Market, Union Square, Somerville): The brewery’s back patio is now open for reservations-required, table-service beer drinking (with food available from other Bow Market vendors). Dogs allowed for the time being — but this might be revoked if it’s encouraging patrons to break social distancing guidelines.
• Rochambeau (800 Boylston St., Back Bay, Boston): Spilling out onto the Boylston Street plaza outside of the Prudential Center, Rochambeau’s patio is open, serving French lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Check the menu and reserve online.
• Venezia (20 Ericsson St., Dorchester, Boston): The Italian restaurant and event space features one of the nicest waterfront patios in town, and it reopens on June 17, with reservations required; book via OpenTable. Menus here.

OTHER OUTDOOR DINING UPDATES

• KO Pies in East Boston is among the local restaurants with outdoor seating that are opting not to use it yet. “We will NOT be adjusting our current operation and opening the patio at this stage,” wrote the Australian meat pie joint on Instagram. “Our present systems are working and everyone is staying safe, which is our primary goal.” Delivery and takeout continue to be available — details on KO’s website — and the restaurant notes that there are good picnic spots in the vicinity. (Piers Park, located nearby, is particularly nice and boasts stunning views of the Boston skyline across the water.)