Howard Street Inn
6700 W. Howard Street in Niles

HowardStreetInn.com
To say the team at this lively sports-themed bar and restaurant has the experience to handle a busy summer crowd would be an understatement. Ken Hoffman, owner for 22 years, and partner Jeremy Naselli run this finely-tuned operation with managers Beckie Ebert and Kailey Kierys, who have been on board for 20 and 14 years, respectively.

HSI is an obvious stop for lunch and drinks before or after a round at Tam O’Shanter Golf Course, but it’s always a diverse crowd of groups, families and sports fans of all ages. The large wrap-around patio that overlooks the course seats 100, has its own bar and 17 TVs to catch the game. And did we mention it has arguably the best happy hour and daily specials in the area?

Keeping it light: We enjoyed the Southwest chicken salad in a crispy baked tortilla shell at the Howard Street Inn, but for the purpose of this article, we’re going with a slightly more unique dish — the sliced avocado stuffed with tuna salad, fresh avocado, tomatoes, onion and lettuce. It comes with crackers for scooping and leaves you walking away without regret on a warm summer day.

The Beacon Tap in Des Plaines owns one of the area’s consistently great patios that’s ideal for spending a sunny Saturday free of obligations. You’ll find everything from families to rec-league softball teams and birthday parties enjoying the space this summer.

Beacon Tap
1374 Lee Street in Des Plaines
TheBeaconTap.com
This casual sports bar with a delicious menu owns one of the area’s consistently great patios that’s ideal for spending a sunny Saturday free of obligations. Other than remembering the sunscreen, ordering the next bucket of beers and catching the end of the Cubs game on the giant TVs, that is.

Removing the volleyball court a couple years ago to add an exterior bar and expand the patio made it even more of a destination. You’ll find everything from families to rec-league softball teams and birthday parties enjoying the space this summer.

Keeping it light: Believe us, it’s difficult to steer away from the Beacon Burger or brisket trash can nachos, even in the summer, but we’re going with Nick’s Greek salad, which comes with a smear of hummus and red wine vinaigrette, or the Southwest chicken tacos. The spice-rubbed chicken breast is topped with pico de gallo, avocado and lime and served with rice and beans. Insider’s tip: Tacos are on special on Wednesday for $3.50 or $13.95 as a dinner with rice and beans.

Shemroon Kabab House
430 W. Touhy Ave. in Park Ridge
ShemroonKababHouse.com

This Persian menu overwhelms us — in a good way — each time we visit. We have our favorite go-to dishes, but there’s always something intriguing that we didn’t notice before and have to try. Even though the deceptively large sidewalk patio is near the busy six-way intersection in Uptown, it feels like a bit of an oasis because you’re never bothered by traffic. Noteworthy: Shemroon offers a great happy hour and a fun array of colorful cocktails for summer.

Shemroon offers a great happy hour and a fun array of colorful cocktails for summer. There is a lot of flexibility with the menu too, so don’t be afraid to ask for an alteration, especially when it comes to the combination plates.

Keeping it light: Because there are so many options, our advice is to order a few appetizers and entrees and share them with your table. Our choice on a recent evening was the seasoned salmon kabab with a skewer of grilled zucchini, bell pepper, tomato and onion, and we subbed out the basmati rice (which was difficult because we love it) for a side Cesar salad. There is a lot of flexibility with the menu, so don’t be afraid to ask for an alteration, especially when it comes to the combination plates.

Harp & Fiddle
110 Main Street in Park Ridge
TheHarpandFiddle.com

It’s always difficult to beat the relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere here, and the flower-laden patio on Main Street is a coveted spot for lunch and dinner. If the front is full, don’t worry. There’s still the original enclosed beer garden out back that’s perfect for weekend brunch, a couple sangrias or dinner with the family. And if Terry Byrne or another local musician is playing outside? Forget about it. The lawn work can wait.

Keeping it light: The seared ahi tuna appetizer topped with toasted quinoa is a great way to start off a summer meal. And one of the best salads we’ve had in a while is Harp & Fiddle’s new chicken blueberry salad, consisting of mixed greens topped with marinated and grilled chicken breast, fresh blueberries, candied walnuts, red onions and bleu cheese. It’s served with a mixed berry, white balsamic vinaigrette. Such a great blend of flavors. Just delightful.

Zia’s Social
6158 N. Northwest Hwy in Norwood Park

ZiasSocial.com

We can recall touring Zia’s while it was being built out, and just hearing their eventual plans for a patio and covered bar sounded exciting at the time. But the finished product, which is stylish yet casual with a covered, wrap-around bar and plenty of well-spaced seating, has even surpassed our expectations, and it’s quickly become one of the more sought-after outdoor dining spaces in the area. Having some great specials — like $7 Tito’s mixers and $6 house wines every day and a happy hour that includes 25% off pizzas and select apps, beer buckets for $16-$18 and Absolut martinis and U-Call-Its for $6 — doesn’t hurt either.

The hearty chicken parm and 8 finger cavatelli are our favorites, but the talented kitchen at Zia’s Social offers a lot of lighter dishes perfect for warm weather too. Like the grape and goat cheese pizza, the Brussels sprout salad or Lake Superior whitefish.

Keeping it light: Again, this isn’t easy because the hearty chicken parm and 8 finger cavatelli with Italian sausage are our favorites here, but the talented kitchen at Zia’s does offer a lot of lighter dishes perfect for warm weather too. Like the grape and goat cheese pizza, the Brussels sprout salad (shaved Brussels sprouts, mixed greens, pinenuts, honeycrisp apples, bacon, pomegranate and a roasted shallot vinaigrette) or the pesce bianco (Lake Superior whitefish with white wine, capers, butter, fresh herbs and angel hair pasta) to name a few. Hungry yet? We thought so.

Tavern on the Point
6724 N. Northwest Hwy in Edison Park
TavernOnThePoint.com
With its sleek, modern interior and combination of large rooftop and sidewalk patio, this venue is truly unlike anything else around. And the elevated comfort food never disappoints either. But let’s get back to that rooftop, because it’s clearly the kind of place where you could spend an entire weekend afternoon (and evening), especially if there’s live music.

Keeping it light: Several tempting summery-type items at Tavern on the Point, including the passionfruit salad or something from the weekend brunch (10 a.m.-2 p.m.) that offers a bottomless mimosa option, but we couldn’t take our eyes off the seared jumbo scallops with roasted red pepper sauce, grilled asparagus and basmati rice. Decadent and flavorful while not overly filling.

At Don Juan’s, we found ourselves drawn to their appetizer of plump Gulf shrimp stuffed with chihuahua cheese and jalapeño, wrapped in applewood-smoked bacon and served with puréed black beans and a mixed salad with a honey dijon vinaigrette.

Don Juan’s Cantina
650 N. Northwest Hwy in Park Ridge
DJsCantina.com
The family-run Don Juan’s has settled into Park Ridge’s Village Green shopping center quite nicely after nearly four decades in Edison Park, and their underrated, flower-filled patio has several sidewalk tables, a weather-protected enclosed area, heat lamps and even blankets for patrons for those chilly evenings. Don’t overlook the creative weekly specials and an impressive list of tequila options.

Keeping it light: We’re starting things off with one of their famous strawberry margaritas for sure. And on a recent visit, we found ourselves drawn to an appetizer that could serve as a summer meal. Plump Gulf shrimp stuffed with chihuahua cheese and jalapeño, wrapped in applewood-smoked bacon and served with puréed black beans and a mixed salad with a honey dijon vinaigrette. So many flavors perfectly blended together on one dish.

Easy Street Pizza
711 Devon Ave. in Park Ridge

EasyStreetParkRidge.com
This popular pizza establishment in South Park — if you haven’t tried their taco pizza, popcorn chicken or pepperoni rolls yet, can we even be friends? — rolled out a new summer menu over Memorial Day weekend with a handful of seasonal cocktails (tropical margarita, watermelon mojito, etc.) and dishes (roasted corn salsa with avocado and lime, a salad with watermelon and crumbled feta, etc.). The sidewalk patio is deceptively large and fills up quickly on weekend evenings and after nearby baseball games.

Keeping it light: There’s no way we’re not ordering the new tropical margarita (1800 Coconut, pineapple juice, lime juice and pomegranate simple syrup). And the Summertime Pie is a creative new pizza topped with prosciutto, artichokes, fresh mozzarella, plum tomatoes and arugula.

Patina Wine Bar has a new happy hour running Tuesday-Thursday from 4-6 p.m. that includes $2 oysters, $12 flatbreads, $10 meatballs, crostinis, chickpeas and shishitos, and $8 glasses of wine.

Patina Wine Bar
112 S. Prospect Ave. in Park Ridge
PatinaWineBar.com
If you were to choose one area restaurant that makes it easy to eat on the lighter side without sacrificing any creativity or deliciousness, it’s Patina with their shareable, small plates approach. The sidewalk patio is popular, especially for brunch and dinner prior to the Concerts in the Park across the street. Big news came over Memorial Day weekend, too, when Patina announced a new happy hour running Tuesday-Thursday from 4-6 p.m. that includes $2 oysters, $12 flatbreads, $10 meatballs, crostinis, chickpeas and shishitos, and $8 glasses of wine.

Keeping it light: Whether you’re in the mood to share or keep it to yourself, the new pesto soppressata flatbread is a good option for summer with sun-dried tomato pesto, fresh tomatoes, creamy stracciatella cheese, spicy soppressata and a touch of arugula, then finished off with pesto aioli and chili crisps.

Une Année/Hubbard’s Cave Brewery

6343 W. Gross Point Road in Niles
UneAnnee.com
Tucked back in an industrial area in Niles, this family-run pair of breweries — operating together under the same ownership and same roof but specializing in different beer styles — boasts one of our favorite patios anywhere. Family-friendly, shaded and home to some live music, it’s easy to spend some quality time here when the weather is nice. Lunch specials and their happy hour deserve notice too.

Family-friendly, shaded and home to some live music, it’s easy to spend some quality time at Une Année’s patio when the weather is nice. Lunch specials and their happy hour deserve notice too.

Keeping it light: Besides a wide variety of brews (nearly 30 on draft), they’re also known for their homemade BBQ. But if you’re not feeling the brisket burnt ends or steak sandwich on a hot summer day, we recommend the Gross Point Salad with grilled chicken tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette with fresh grape tomatoes, red onion, walnuts, crumbled goat cheese, dried cranberries and garlic parmesan croutons. Or order the pulled pork sliders and share them with the table. Same great BBQ, but a little less guilt.

Pennyville Station
112 Main Street in Park Ridge
PennyvilleStation.com
This popular and stylish restaurant offers a variety of creative farm-to-table fare, not to mention the largest patio on Main Street in Park Ridge that’s beautifully adorned with beautiful string lights, flowers and tables for all sizes.

Keeping it light: While we really dig Pennyville’s assortment of salads in the summer — and have a special place in our heart for the skirt steak topped with chimichurri — we’re going with the Canadian Lake Superior whitefish. It’s Cajun dusted, pan-seared and served over a sweet pea risotto with a rich lemon butter sauce. This is about as close as we can get to one of our favorite dishes in Door County every summer, and that makes us happy.

ZaZa Cucina
608 W. Touhy Ave. in Park Ridge
ZazaCucina.com
This sleek Italian restaurant in the heart of Uptown has one of our favorite patios anywhere with flowers, firepits and a great view overlooking the Park Ridge Library and Pickwick Theater.

Keeping it light: So many great Italian specialties to choose from here, but on the lighter side, we’re going to kick things off with one of the best appetizers around — the Spanish octopus with chorizo, potato, sweet peppers, olives, capers and a jalapeño cream. Insider’s tip: Zaza has some of the best daily specials around for both food and drinks.