Outdoor Seating for Six

May 10, 2015

A half-dozen places to enjoy a meal in the sun

Michiganders relish spring the way only those who’ve survived a long, sub-zero winter can. Spring drives us to abandon our shuttered homes, seek the fresh warm air and maybe grab a bite to eat along the way – hopefully outdoors. If planning your own picnic seems like a hassle, northern Michigan offers a plethora of outdoor dining options to help you enjoy the best of our region’s warmer weather. Here are just a few amont many.

Small Footprint, Big Impact

Cru Cellars, Frankfort

Open-air seating is an integral part of the dining concept for some area restaurants, while other establishments tiptoe onto sidewalks to welcome foot traffic.

Cru Cellars’ sidewalk dining area will debut this June, following Frankfort city council’s approval of the petition to expand their seating. The original Cru Cellars restaurant in Tampa boasts an outdoor dining area that accommodates 35 people, but the Frankfort location will only host three or four tables.

Owner Jennifer Bingham plans to replace the building’s front wall with swinging windows that will blend the inside and outside spaces to "give everyone a taste of the beautiful northern Michigan air."

"There’s nothing like sipping a great glass of wine outside in the summertime," says Bingham. "Our customers are going to love dining al fresco on such a quaint street, and I really think it’s going to be a nice addition to Frankfort."

The seasonal wine bar, restaurant and wine shop will open May 15 with 20 wines from around the world, local craft beers, specialty cocktails and a revamped food menu from Executive Chef Brad Soho.

A View of the Bay

Harbor 22 Bar & Grill, Traverse City

Despite its miles of shoreline, finding bayside dining options in Traverse City is surprisingly challenging, but drive just a short way out of town on M-22 and you find several choices, including Harbor 22 Bar & Grill.

"It’s one of the few places in town where you can actually eat on the water and the view is gorgeous," said owner Karen Simpson.

Nestled low between M-22 and the marina, Harbor 22 offers a warm interior with incredible year-round views from its walls of windows and, beginning in April, the view opens up even further from their spacious deck.

Patrons can enjoy everything from small plates to generous entrees while soaking in panoramic views of the marina and West Grand Traverse Bay. A high wall separates the restaurant’s outdoor space from the noise of the road and, despite its 75-person capacity, it has an intimate vibe, like spending an afternoon at friend’s waterside home.

"We’re going to be doing a lot of fun things this summer," Simpson said. "Tuesdays we’ll be grilling right on the deck, weather permitting, Wednesdays we’ll have live music, and Thursdays we’ll have pitcher night featuring beers and fun, specialty drinks."

Vintage Charm

1911 Restaurant at the Terrace Inn, Bay View

Built in the year of its namesake, the 1911 Restaurant at the Terrace Inn in Bay View entices diners to wander outdoors with its covered patio perched atop a grand staircase. The patio opens in June with a preview for Mother’s Day brunch on May 10.

A Michigan Historic site, the Terrace Inn occupies a bluff in the heart of Victorian Bay View, providing diners with views of turn of the 20th century cottages. The patio is situated on the second floor, which puts patrons level with the tops of young birch trees and nestled amongst the shade of mature ash and maples.

The 1911 hosts a cocktail hour from 4-6pm, featuring vintage cocktails, often served alongside live jazz or old-time classics on piano. Chef Zak Ryan cooks up traditional American and regional fare, including fresh whitefish baked on a wood plank or his popular specialty pizzas on Sundays and Mondays.

Overlooking the Lake

Legs Inn, Cross Village

Legs Inn of Cross Village will open its historic balcony and patio doors May 15. Situated on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, restaurant founder Stanley Smolak designed a stone, timber and driftwood building that incorporates the beauty of the lake with an expansive balcony and a dining room with bay windows. It was Smolak’s nephew George and his wife Kathy who cultivated the primly landscaped gardens and patio dining area that offers panoramic views of the great lake, four different lighthouses, freighters and sailboats.

For third generation owner Mark Smolak, the 90 open-air seats are an integral part of the Legs Inn experience.

"The outdoor dining is so popular that, in the peak summer season, guests are willing to wait the additional time instead of being seated immediately indoors. A special treat is seeing the multitude of yachts on the horizon during the annual Chicago to Mackinac yacht race. It’s a beautiful view any time of the day, but there is nothing better than witnessing a breathtaking Legs Inn sunset," said Smolak.

A Trip Advisor 2014 Certificate of Excellence Winner, the Legs Inn continues their 90-year formula for success this summer. The restaurant and bar offers more than 100 beer and wine choices, among them a unique selection of Polish beer, vodka, honey wine and Kasztelanski mead, a regional rarity.

Year Round by Request

Stafford’s Weathervane Restaurant, Charlevoix

While most open-air dining areas wait until the warm season to begin serving, Stafford’s Weathervane Restaurant in Charlevoix keeps their deck available year round for the bravest of diners.

"It is open all year, but we don’t get a whole lot of people going out there in the winter. Occasionally, we do get some who’ll want to go out there with a hot coffee," remarked Jeff Spreckselly, general manager.

"But usually it gets filled when it’s 65 degrees or warmer out. It is quite a bit cooler with the breeze on the water."

That cool water breeze comes from the Round Lake Channel, the passageway from Lake Michigan into Round Lake and Lake Charlevoix, where the Weathervane sits perched just west of the drawbridge. Although the Weathervane is a landmark property, Jeff ’s Deck opened just nine years ago as a response to customer requests.

"We really went for it because customers kept asking for the outdoor seating," said Spreckselly. "So, we went to the city and they allowed us to add the seating to the upper level."

Today, patrons can enjoy seafood and dessert martinis on Jeff ’s Deck under umbrellas while watching the boats cruise by on the channel.

Downtown Vibe

The Franklin, Traverse City

The vibrant energy of a northern Michigan city in the summertime is something hard to leave behind. So, why head out of town when you’re ready to grab a bite in the sunshine?

Now celebrating their second summer season, the Franklin gives a nod to its beloved sister restaurant Stella with its fresh and innovative fare, while keeping things casual. Offering the only rooftop dining in the downtown area, the Franklin is takes its popular yearround menu and extensive beer, wine and cocktail list upstairs and outdoors onto their large open-air patio.

"The patio is one-third of the restaurant’s square footage," explained Nicole McCalpin, lead hostess at The Franklin.

Food is satisfying and fun with a few twists on traditional favorites. From appetizers to entrees, there is something to satisfy the adventurous foodie and the diner looking for dependable fare. Even on chillier days with the wind whipping off the bay, the patio keeps guests cozy with a generous number of heaters while they keep an eye on the activity below.

"You can see a little glimpse of the bay from up there. It’s also a great place to watch parades, fireworks or the Blue Angels," said McCalpin. "It’s definitely the place to be in the summer downtown. Sometimes I feel like I’m a bouncer in a nightclub."

New this season, the Franklin offers a Sunday brunch menu from 10am to 3pm – served inside and out.