Robbinsdale Restaurants ‘Up Patio Game’ In Latest Dining Trend
With warm weather now draped like a humid blanket around the metro’s shoulders, many look forward to outdoor dining options at their favorite restaurants.
Restaurant patios became increasingly popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, when outdoor dining was either the safest or the only option.
As a result, many restaurants opened new or temporary patios.
“This was all kind of started by COVID — one of the positives that came out of it, turning our parking lot into a patio,” said Mike Brown, co-owner of Nouvelle Brewing.
But now, with COVID concerns on the wane, several restaurants in downtown Robbinsdale have revamped their patios in time for the latest summer heat wave.
Nouvelle Brewing was recently recognized by the Star Tribune for its new patio design.
Stepping Up the Outdoor Dining Patio Game
“We decided to up our patio game this year, we had a great patio season last year,” Brown said.
The ability to sit outdoors may be the deciding factor for some customers, according to Brown.
“It just really allows people to have their own space,” Brown said. “The more space you give people, the more they feel comfortable coming in and hanging out, so it does a lot for our restaurant.”
The Star Tribune recently named Nouvelle one of the best patios in the Twin Cities.
“We wanted to make it feel a bit more tropic and a bit more plant life-oriented, so that you can feel like you’re maybe a little away from home, like maybe on a vacation having some pizza,” Brown said.
Down the street, The Birdhouse Eat and Drink just reopened their patio after renovation. Owner Joshua Dykhuis hand-built the railing that boxes-in the patio on the public square.
“Now, as we get back into more of a normal market, when the other restaurants or neighbors and all these other places around the cities have patios, having some outdoor seating is almost necessary to survive,” said Dykhuis.
Birdhouse has plans to continue improving the patio.
“We have more lighting, greenery, and other design elements in the works,” Dykhuis said.
And while some would rather leave the COVID-19 pandemic squarely in the past, Minnesotans don’t forget the weather.
“When you’re wrapped up in the winter in the house all the time — for so long — it’s nice to have a place where you can get out in the summer,” said Brad Miller, customer at Nouvelle.
See also: Robbinsdale Pizzeria Makes National Top 5 List for Best Pie
