Diners flock to Lakeside for great food, outdoor dining

Dining on the plaza Mio Nonno Trattoria Sidewalk cantina Mena's Tex-Mex Courtyard serenade 1845 Taste Texas

Looking for outstanding food and charming outdoor dining? Try strolling the sidewalks of Lakeside where you will find lots of outdoor dining choices plus the sights and smells of cuisines from Asia and the Mediterranean to North and South America. Peppered between the shops and pocket parks, you will find seven dine-in restaurants, five informal eateries, and a gourmet grocery store.

You won’t find any national chains at Lakeside (except for Starbucks). Instead, you’ll find attention to detail and personal service. The owner may even stop by your table to see how your food tastes.

In addition to delectable foods and outstanding service, Lakeside stands out for its many outdoor dining options (several of which are protected from the fall and winter’s chilly temps).

Signature patio spaces

Three of Lakeside’s restaurant locations prominently feature outdoor spaces.

Each benefits from a backdrop of people mingling among shops, restaurants, and residences (with parking lots tucked out of sight).

Outdoor dining at Mio Nonno Trattoria offers a patio with views of the grassy plaza, one of Lakeside’s most recognizable landmarks, to enhance diners’ enjoyment of the Italian recipes and fine wines.

On Friday nights between early April and late November, the Lakeside Music Series fills the plaza with melodies and people. No one has a better seat than those on Mio Nonno’s patio.

Across the street at 1845 Taste Texas, party lights strung overhead softly light the courtyard where appetizers and drinks are served.

On Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, live music performances entertain guests from the patio’s intimate stage. Inside, steaks sizzle on the grill.

The patio at Mena’s Grill & Tex-Mex Cantina offers a sidewalk cafe experience spiced with piping hot Mexican fare and chilled margaritas.

Patrons can belly up for some outdoor dining and drinking at a bar accessible from the patio that sits at the crossroads of Lakeside Parkway and Northwood — a great spot to relax on a variety of seating options (e.g., couches, bar stools, and standard tables) and enjoy Lakeside’s street life.

Intimate dining outdoors

Corn hole games on the sidewalk create a fun, game-day atmosphere.

The patio at Craft Pie Pizza Co. offers patrons an al fresco setting in which to enjoy the fast-casual pizzas and the music emanating from both 1845 and the plaza.

On the small patio at Hanaya Hibachi Sushi Ramen, diners feast on the fine Asian fare as well as the sights and sounds of Lakeside. The Plaza sits just steps away.

Epic Gelato’s patio along Lakeside Parkway features classic tables with umbrellas. The views of the plaza combine with the fresh air to enhance the already tasty coffee, pastries, smoothies, and gelato.

Starbucks can boast of Lakeside’s largest covered patio where patrons can spread out on the ample seating and watch the world (and the drive-through customers) go by.

While the Lakeside Urban Grocery may not qualify as a restaurant, tables and chairs invite customers to sample the store’s delights (including locally sourced grab-and-go meals) in the great outdoors.

Lakeside’s eastern-most outdoor dining area belongs to Egg Farm Cafe. Here, one can enjoy breakfast, brunch, or lunch from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm with a view of all the cars speeding along FM 2499.

Rush Bowls, Lakeside Donuts, Milwaukee Joe’s Ice Cream do not provide special outdoor seating, but many of their grab-and-go offerings can be taken for a walk (and the benches in the Plaza sit steps away).

While in Lakeside, consider doing as Lakesiders do and take a walk after dinner.

The most popular destination: Sunset Point, where the lake views attract sightseers all day (and night) long. The walk measures approximately three-quarters of a mile from The Shops at Lakeside.

Other popular destinations include Lakewood Park (less than a quarter-mile away), Lakeside’s dog park (less than a half-mile), and The Northshore Trail (the trailhead is located just west of the Lakeside Tower, just over a half-mile walk from The Shops at Lakeside).