Sitting outside and eating dinner is one of life’s simple pleasures.
Just because the weather is cooler doesn’t mean we have to give up our outdoor dining. So many restaurants, bars and breweries have added outdoor heaters and firepits to keep their patrons toasty and warm during their meals.
At BBC Tavern in Greenville, outdoor seating remains popular all year-round because of their heatingsystems.
“The firepits and heaters keep the patio warm and toasty during the cooler months,'' manager Brian Butler says. "Plus, our regular patrons love to bring their favorite blankets to be extra cozy as they enjoy a co*cktailand/or their favorite BBC dishes.''
It’s not just the firepits and heaters that make this patio fall-worthy.
“We launch new seasonal food and drink menus and update our décor. Mary Coty, of M. CotyDesigns, brightens up the patio with autumn greenery, flowers and, of course, pumpkins andgourds. Inside, our servers decorate the bar and dining areas,” Butler explains.
If you want to enjoy the best autumn has to offer outdoors, we have eight places from the beaches to the city and the 'burbs for you to enjoy seasonal foods and sips while keeping cozy:
BBC Tavern, Greenville
Cold weather shouldn’t stop you from enjoying some fresh, made-from-scratch food at BBC Tavern.
Not only do they have a heated outdoor patio, but they also have firepits out there to keep you and your group extra toasty and warm.
Nothing beats cozying up by the fire to watch a football game and eat some nachos. I mean, what’s more fall than that?
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Not only does BBC Tavern offer plenty of gluten-free and vegetarian options, or dishes that can be modified to accommodate those preferences, but they also work with local farms and fisheries to make sure they are reducing their carbon footprint by getting food from the most sustainable and organic sources.
Some items on the menu are JamJoe’s Nachos, cheeseburger sliders, cheesesteak egg rolls and salmon salad.
BBC Tavern is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.
BBC Tavern, 4019 Kennett Pike, Greenville, (302) 655-3785, bbctavernandgrill.com
Bellefonte Cafe, near Wilmington
Nothing makes a community feel more welcoming and home-like than a cafe.
Think of how many beloved TV shows have that cafe they visit every episode: "Friends,'' "Gilmore Girls,'' "Seinfeld'' (OK, that's a diner, but you get the idea ... ).
If you and your friends have been looking for that coffee shop to turn you into a sitcom-worthy group, look no further!
And don’t be fooled by the name. Bellefonte Cafe is no small-town coffee shop. In addition to their worthy coffee and tea menus, they also serve full meals such as shrimp tacos, grilled cheese, burgers and burritos.
The Bellefonte Cafe also offers wine, co*cktails, and other drinks in bottles and cans.
While you can certainly sit inside, you also can enjoy the heated covered porch or take one of the tables outside next to the firepit.
Bellefonte Cafe is open Sunday from noon to 3 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from noon to 9 p.m.
Bellefonte Cafe, 804 Brandywine Blvd., near Wilmington, (302) 761-9175, thebellefontecafe.com
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, Stanton
At a place with ‘'Fire'’ in the name, you would think that they would have a good heating setup.
For Firebirds Wood Fired Grill in Stanton, that assumption would be absolutely correct. On the patio, you can take a seat at a table next to one of their outdoor heaters or enjoy a seat on the couch in front of the fireplace.
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While you warm up by the fire, you can enjoy Philly cheesesteak eggrolls, surf & turf, wood-grilled salmon, honey-garlic chicken and much more.
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is open Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, 1225 Churchmans Road, Stanton, (302) 366-7577, wilmington.firebirdsrestaurants.com/
Grain on the Rocks, Lewes
There’s nothing quite like the beach in autumn. The crowds have disappeared, the heat is gone, but it’s still just as beautiful.
And for those of us who enjoy going to the beach when it’s a little chillier outside, luckily places like Grain on the Rocks stay open year-round.
If you plan to spend some time in Lewes this fall, Grain can give you a great view of the water while also keepingyou warm and toasty with a firepit.
Enjoy a nosh like crab nachos, cream of Chesapeake soup, fish & chips and other selections.
Grain on the Rocks is open Thursday to Monday from noon to 8 p.m.
Grain on the Rocks, 43 Cape Henlopen Drive, Lewes, (302) 291-3900, meetatgrain.com/lewes-de?loxi_pathname=%2Flist%2Ffuture%2F1
Market Kitchen & Bar, Stanton
Live music doesn’t have to end just because the temperature drops.
Through the end of this month, you can enjoy live music beside a firepit at Market Kitchen & Bar in Stanton.
Enjoy some tasty food including loaded tater tots, grilled barbecue chicken, grilled New York strip steak, and more.
Market Kitchen & Bar is a part of the Hilton hotel. You do not have to be a guest at the hotel to eat at the restaurant.
Market Kitchen & Bar is open Monday to Friday 5 to 10 p.m., Saturday from 5 p.m. to midnight and Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m.
Market Kitchen & Bar, 100 Continental Drive, Stanton, (302) 454-1500, hiltonchristiana.com/dining?utm_source=SEO&utm_medium=GMB&utm_campaign=marketkitchen
Makers Alley, Wilmington
This indoor/outdoor beer garden is the perfect place to spend a fall night after a long day at work.
You can enjoy food like mac n’ cheese bites, burgers, tacos and other crave-worthy options.
You also can enjoy drinks like draft and canned beers, seltzers, co*cktails and wine, all while keeping warm next to one of the outdoor heaters.
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Makers Alley is open Tuesday to Thursday from 3 to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 3 p.m. to midnight and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.
Makers Alley, 804 North Orange Street, Wilmington, (302) 482-1299, makersalleyde.com
Torbert Street Social, Wilmington
Nothing takes you back in time quite like a speakeasy.
The food, the drinks, the ambiance. You can enjoy all of that and more at Torbert Street Social in Wilmington.
If you have the right clue you can step inside and enjoy the co*cktail lounge or the patio which is heated by a firepit.
On the menu, you'll discover stone hearth pizza, charcuterie and cheese board, kobe beef and much more.
Drinks include classics like Old Fashioneds, Manhattans and many others.
Torbert Street Social is open Wednesday and Thursday from 4 to 11 p.m., Friday from 4 p.m. to midnight and Saturday from 3 p.m. to midnight.
Torbert Street Social, 305 Torbert St., Wilmington, (302) 407-6627, torbertsocial.com
Victoria's Restaurant, Rehoboth Beach
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, autumn at the beach is just so special.
At Victoria's, the patio is covered and kept warm with several firepits all while being mere steps from the sand.
You can enjoy an array of food including Lobster Truffle Flatbread, chicken quesadillas, lobster rolls, grilled New York strip, and other favorites.
Victoria’s Restaurant is open Sunday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Victoria’s Restaurant, 2 Olive Ave., Rehoboth Beach, (302) 227-0615, boardwalkplaza.com/dining/
