ALFRESCO DINING

Ahhh, the arrival of
summer! While basking in those glorious rays of sunshine, why not
savor your favorite food and drink while you’re at it? Behold our
list of Bergen and Hudson County restaurants offering charming
outdoor patios upon which to share a delicious meal with your nearest
and dearest. Whether choosing to dine amid the serene suburbs or
before a breathtaking NYC skyline view, this lineup of chic eateries
has all your outdoor entertainment needs covered!

ALDO’S

{640 Wyckoff Avenue, Wyckoff; 201.891.2618; aldosofwyckoff.com}

Wickers chairs
with matching circular tables and umbrellas comprise the lovely
buffered patio at Aldo’s Restaurant. Summer favorites on the menu
range from their antipasto and veal paired with sangria. “Our
customers go crazy for our cold antipasto display,” says head
waitress Letizia Garces, the sister of owner Aldo Cascio. “Another
favorite, which happens to be a personal favorite myself, is the Veal
Capricciosa.” Refreshing summer cocktails include the Island
Adventure, Amalfi Spritzer and Summer Sangria.

SEAK

{725 River Road, Edgewater; 201.402.3100; seaknj.com}

Riverside dining,
anyone? Bring your own beer to SEAK and dine beneath red umbrellas as
you take in the view of New York City and nosh on savory southeast
Asian cuisine. Peruse a variety of rolls from shrimp to mango and
avocado on their appetizer list before sinking a fork into some of
their piquant entrees from Vermicelli Noodle Bowl to their Massaman
Curry and Ginger Soy Bronzini.

BATTELLO

{502 Washington Boulevard, Jersey City; 201.798.1798; battellojc.com}

Enjoy Italian
cuisine while being awestruck by stunning views of Manhattan at
Battello, Jersey City’s newly reopened hotspot. Having opened in
early spring on the Newport Yacht Club and Marina Pier, feast your
eyes on the view and then at platefuls of delicious food. “In
addition to a view of Manhattan that has no peer, adding to our
uniqueness is our staff, menu and location,” explained managing
partner, Cory Checket. Check out their signature gnocchi dish. “What
makes them better than potato gnocchi are that they’re like
pillows, it’s very light…you can easily finish a whole bowl,”
says chef, partner Ryan DePersio.

HOUSE OF ‘QUE

{500 Avenue at Port Imperial Weehawken; 201.706.8755; houseofque.com}

Take your place
at a picnic table outside House of ‘Que and savor some muy caliente
flavors of Texas barbecue! “It’s quite an experience to dine
outside at House of ‘Que,” said pitmaster Michael Rodriguez. “The
closest you’ll get to an urban barbecue picnic that you don’t
have to cook yourself.” Rodriguez recommends the Texas 3 Cheese
Nachos that come with pico, black bean, corn salad and sour cream
served with tortilla chips. Fire up your nachos with added jalapenos
and your choice of smoked brisket, pork, chicken or brisket chili.

PATSY’S
BISTRO

{344 Old Bergen Boulevard, Fairview; 201.943.0627; patsysbistro.com}

Enjoy an intimate
outdoor dining experience at Patsys Bistro. Perfect for a date night
out, take a seat beneath a decorative umbrella while relishing all
the seafood you and your date’s stomachs can handle! Toast with
glasses full of fine wine while enjoying The Capellini di Mare
consisting of lump crabmeat, shrimp, clams, scallions and dice plum
tomatoes in a heavenly wine sauce. On the topic of seafood, get your
surf ‘n’ turf with a cut of perfectly cooked filet mignon and a
moist and savory lobster tail with drawn butter.

PICCO TAVERN

{160 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack; 201.880.8750; piccotavern.com}

The summer sun is
just as cheerful as the outdoor patio of Picco Tavern. Take a seat
outside on this elegant rooftop patio under a bright yellow umbrella.
Start your meal off right with a Chilled Seafood Salad — a medley of
calamari, scungilli, shrimp, olive oil, garlic and lemon. Then, twist
a fork into one of their signature entrees that is so good it will
have you singing: Linguini Clam Sauce Sinatra.

WATERSIDE

{7800 B River Road, North Bergen; 201.861.7767; watersiderestaurantandcatering.com}

Lesley Lovett,
Catering and Events Manager says, “Al fresco dining is undoubtedly
one of the best parts of Summer. Delicious food and refreshing
drinks, seem to be even more enjoyable while sitting outside enjoying
the warm weather. Sip on one of our Coconut Mojitos while relaxing on
our outdoor couches or share one of our incredible three-tiered
seafood towers, filled with East and West Coast oyster, little neck
clams, jumbo lump crab meat, colossal shrimp and a whole lobster.”

SABOR LATIN
BISTRO

{8809 River Road, North Bergen; 201.943.6366; saborlatinbistro.com}

For Latin cuisine
and signature cocktails, pay Sabor Latin Bistro a visit. Try any one
of Executive Chef Alcidez Maija’s delicious dishes. The colorful
Ensalada Cortada is made with romaine, arugula, cherry tomatoes,
cucumbers, grilled corn, black olives, radish, feta cheese and topped
with a drizzle of roasted garlic herb vinaigrette. Pair the meals
with a cold glass of their house sangria.

PIER 115 BAR
AND GRILL

{115 River Road, Edgewater; 201.313.2155; pier115barandgrill.com}

Comfy seating on
cabanas and couches on the deck of Pier 115 and an impeccable view of
the Manhattan skyline await diners and merrymakers alike. Sink a fork
with their Tuna Tartare made of Ahi Tuna, guacamole, Asian pear and
crispy shallots. While you’re perched over the Hudson River, why
not savor the Hudson Roll? Wrapped in salmon, mango, masago, shrimp,
cucumber, crabmeat and avocado, this roll is topped with mango sauce
and soy paper. A summertime favorite. Pair your meal with their
lengthy list of craft beers and fun, fruity cocktails.

SON CUBANO

{40-4 Riverwalk Plaza, West New York; soncubanonj.com}

Executive Chef
Ricardo Cardona’s cuisine complements your before or after dinner
stroll along the Hudson River. Grab a table under outside on their
lively outdoor patio bedecked with umbrellas and embrace the sunshine
as you sip a Beijo Tinto or Mojito cocktail and enjoy some of the
area’s finest Cuban cuisine and a tempting variety of chef’s
special rolls and awe-inspiring sushi boats from the sushi bar.

THE DUBLINER

{96 River Street, Hoboken; 201.656.7731; thedublinerhoboken.com}

The Dubliner
serves both Irish and continental cuisine and offers a rooftop bar
with a beautiful New York City skyline view. The cocktail list is
extensive, as is the American and imported draft beer options. Start
with a salmon salad, a filet over mixed greens with cherry tomatoes,
sliced red onions, all tossed in raspberry vinaigrette, and follow up
with fish and chips or Shepherd’s Pie. Take to the rooftop bar to
get in on a lively social scene.

ZEPPELIN HALL
BIERGARTEN

{88 Liberty View Drive, Jersey City; 201.721.8888; zeppelinhall.com}

If you’re
looking for a vibrant night out with friends and meeting new ones,
you’ve come to the right place. At Zeppelin Hall Biergarten, take a
seat on its sprawling outdoor patio with long community tables where
hundreds of merrymakers and foodies congregate for good times and
great food and drink. Zeppelin Hall offers a full bar, cocktails and
wines, and a selection of over 100 European imported and domestic
craft beers. You could select the American, German or Texas BBQ
packages, but for a summer option, grab the seasonal package of
Buffalo and BBQ wings, all-beef hot dogs and sides. Enjoy live music
at night

BLUE EYES

{525 Sinatra Drive, Hoboken; 201.683.6861; blueeyeshoboken.com}

Named for Old
Blue Eyes (we’re talking to you, Frank Sinatra), you can’t get
any more Italian than Blue Eyes. Enjoy classic Italian fare on an
elegant riverfront patio with skyline views of good old New York, New
York. With blue color schemes, dining at Blue Eyes feels as though
the majestic Hudson River is reflected in the decor. “To start,
try our Carciofini or Octopus salad,” says Alessandro Galioto, Blue
Eyes co-owner. “People rave and come for a taste of our calamari
and zucchini sticks. Our pizza is really authentic! If you remember
how the pizza tastes in Italy, especially Naples, you should try
ours! We have daily special pizzas too!” If you’re a fish lover,
select from Branzino to Red Snapper and lobster, which Galioto hand
picks himself. “I know good fish growing up on the Mediterranean,”
he says.

GRK BAR AND
GRILL

{39 Union Avenue, Cresskill; 201.399.7670; grkbarandgrill.com}

Nestled in the suburbs of the Northern Valley, savor some of the finest Greek cuisine and fun, tasty cocktails in the area. Take a seat outside on their modest patio and start your lunch or dinner off with a traditional Homemade Spanakopita appetizer of spinach, feta, leeks, dill, and scallions, all baked in phyllo dough, or Greek salad served with grilled chicken or shrimp, gyro, salmon, or kalamari. Broiled Stuffed Filet of Sole made with spinach and feta topped with white lemon glaze makes for a perfect summertime entrée. Opa!

By Steve Sears and Lianna Albrizio