Enjoy dining al fresco? Withtemperatures finally warming up, here are10 Morris County restaurants withoutdoor, or al fresco dining areas.
South+Pine American Eatery
90 South Street, Morristown; 862-260-9700
Type of food: A casual and inviting environment with a focus on using fresh seasonal ingredients to create artistic dishes. Staples include spicy lamb meatballs, burgers, hanger steaks and grilled salmon over coconut quinoa. BYOB.
The outdoor eating area opens: Oudoor seating is offered as soon as the weather allows.Seats approximately 60 facingSouth Street. No reservations. When it's pleasant out, the wait time increases.
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Popular outdoor foods: Diners tend to orderlighter, more refreshing fare during warm days, including seasonal salads, grilled fish andseafood. Burgers are always popular.
Hours: Lunch, Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Dinner, Monday-Thursday, 5-9:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 5-10:30 p.m.; Sunday, 5-9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday Brunch, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The Committed Pig Burger and Pancake House
28 W. Park Place, Morristown; 1-800-908-4960
Type of food: Contemporary comfort food, highlighted by gourmet burgers, breakfast, a la carte brunch and monthly specials such as black and white pancakes and a candied sweet potato burger. BYOB.
The outdoor eating area opens: The outdoor area opens mid-April butdepend on the weather. Seats 15-16 on the sidewalk out front, across from the Morristown Green. A very advantageous spot for people watching. Large umbrellas help to ward off the sun which is an issue until noon. Buildings block the son in the afternoon.No reservations needed.
Popular outdoor foods: Diners go for a burger and a fresh, light salad. But they also order from the Pig’s specials of themonth list, which is designed based on what's in at the time. Summer always brings lighter fare.
Hours: Monday to Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Station at Mountain Lakes
99 Midvale Road, Mountain Lakes; 973-335-5330
Type of food: With a vision to bring customers a “Cheers”-like atmosphere, The Station prides itself on being a 'from scratch' restaurant where everything is made on the premises. Besides baking bread on the premises twice-daily, the kitchen folks roastpeppers, grate their own cheese and take no short-cuts as they keep it simple and keep it fresh.
The outdoor eating area opens: The outdoor eating area opensas soon as the sun allows and the weather warms.The Station will begin gardening, adding flowers and music and open the two outdoor patios. Customers like to sit and order while waiting for their train or to pick up passengers. Seats 44. No reservations.
Popular outdoor foods: Diners order from the full menu but The Station is well-known for steaks and seafood.
Hours: Lunch, Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Dinner, Monday-Thursday, 4-9:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 4-10 p.m. Closed Sundays.
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Redwoods Grill and Bar
459 Main Street, Chester; 908-879-7909
Type of food: A casual fine dining spot with a lively bar, a wood-burning grill is the focus of all Redwoods’ cuisine which gives its food it’s much-loved flavor. The flavors of food cooked over a wood fire are deepened and enhanced, like wine aged in oak barrels.
The outdoor eating area opens: The al fresco area opens with the arrival of good weather. Heat lamps keep the chill off in early April and in fall. Seats 45. No reservations.
Popular outdoor foods: Seafood and salads are popular, but so are burgers, chicken and especially the wood grilled salmon. On Saturdays, Redwoods offers live music.
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.
Rails Steakhouse
10 Whitehall Road, Towaco; 973-335-0006
Type of restaurant: Apremier steakhouse with its own dry aging room, Rails is known for its attention to detail to daily selections of fresh seafood, fresh salads, appetizers and Neapolitan-style pizza from a wood-fired brick oven. Desserts made from scratch every day include their Signature Butter Cake and 10-layer Chocolate Mousse Cake.
The outdoor eating area opens: Around mid-May the outdoor area opens, but if weather permits, may be open for Mother’s Day on May 13. Rails has two terraces, the Trackside and Vista, which seat about 75 people. Both offer full bars, dining tables and fireplaces withmusic on setdays. The Vista Terrace is upstairs and offers spectacular views of the Pyramid Mountains while the Trackside Terrace has a waterfall and is slightly larger. No reservations.
Popular outdoor foods: Happy hour with its special co*cktails and $1 oysters are a thing before looking at the full menu. Other favorites include the Chilean sea bass and fresh lobster but steaks rule. A new sushi bar will go up with the raw bar for the outdoor area.
Hours: Lunch, Tuesday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Dinner, Tuesday-Thursday, 4-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 4-11 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.; Closed Mondays. The Timber Bar, Rafters and Thirty3Speakeasy stay open later.
Zinburger Wine & Burger Bar
1900 Route 10W, Morris Plains; 973-998-9766
Type of food: Theupscale burger bar serves up creative gourmet hand-crafted burgers and shakes, plus wine, local beers and hand-crafted co*cktails. All burgers are made using fresh meat ground in-house twice daily and served on all-natural potato buns from an exclusive Zinburger recipe.
The outdoor eating area opens: With the openingof the patio doors, everywhere in the restaurant feelslike outdoors. The front patio seats 10-12 around the fire pit and another 20 at the tables while the back patio seats 20-25. No reservations.
Popular outdoor foods: Back patio diners seem to love the beer and love to linger during happy hour with $4 drinks and $5 specialty co*cktails. The Plain & Simple Burger is the king of the menu for outdoor diners.
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Blu Alehouse
92 Route 23N, Riverdale; 973-957-7180
Type of food: This upscale sports bar combines a full New American menu with more than 40 beers on tap and a full bar. A family restaurant by day, this full menu restaurantboasts one of the biggest bars in the tri-state area and large screen TVs. The bar area transforms to a nightlife-type environment with music around 9 p.m. on weekends.
The outdoor eating area opens: During the second week inApril the large floor to ceiling windows open to give the indoors an outdoors feeling. There is also an outdoor with about 10 tables and can seat 80. Outdoor heaters take the chill out in early spring and early fall.No reservations on weekends.
Popular outdoor foods: co*cktails paired with burgers or a 20-ounce cowboy ribeye from the diverse, full-service menu are popular for outdoor diners.
Hours: Sunday-Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Thursday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Café Metro
60 Diamond Spring Road, Denville; 973-625-1055
Type of food: Café Metro offers a variety oforganic and vegetarian fare as well as traditional pastas, seafoodand chicken dishes. Brick oven pizzas are a big deal.
The outdoor eating area opens: There are always tables outside and Café Metro will accommodate diners who wish to eat outdoors any time of year.Seats 20-25. No reservations for fewer than five.
Popular outdoor foods: Lighter andfresh dishes do well outdoors. The porch offers a view of the town.
Hours: Lunch, Monday-Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Dinner, Monday-Thursday, 5-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 5-10 p.m.; Sunday 4-9 p.m.
Nunzio’s Dolce Vita
90 South Street, Morristown; 973-984-7701
Type of food: Bustling, kid-friendly classical regional Italian restaurant with specialties of Zuppa Di Cozze with mussels, grilled vegetables and cold antipasto showcasing Nunzio’s Italian heritage from Sicily and Genoa. The wide range of dishes fuse the traditional chic with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Nunzio’s is a go-to restaurant for dinner before a show atthe Mayo Performing Arts Center, right next door. BYOB.
The outdoor eating area opens: Once temperatures reach 60s, diners may sit outdoors, an area right off the sidewalk. Dogs are welcome in the outdoor area, and they even get a bowl of water. The outdoor area seats 48. BYOB. No reservations.
Popular outdoor foods: In summer diners choose lighter dishes. Burrata, seafood salads or Nunzio’s signature salad with its house-made mozzarella are popular. Brunch is also available on the patio on Saturdays and Sundays.
Hours: Monday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Tuesday-Friday, 11:45 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., 2-10 p.m.; Sunday, 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., 2-9 p.m. Brunch, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays.
The Montville Inn
167 Route 202, Montville; 973-541-1234
Type of food: Farm-to-table, fresh, eclectic American/Italian fare is served with lots of pizzas and signature pasta dishes, along with seafood, steaks and burgers. The seasonal menu always includes fresh baked bread and fresh fish.
The outdoor eating area opens: In April during warm days. Sitting outdoors is especially popular because of the bucolic setting in the countryside. Wrap around porch has 10 tables for outdoor dining. No reservations.
Popular outdoor foods: Montville Inn Sangria is popular, especially during happy hour from 4-7 p.m. daily.The Montville Inn is known for its sausage and peppers and spicy kung pao calamari.
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, noon to 10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, noon to 10:30 p.m.; Sunday, 4-9 p.m.; closed Mondays.
