Visit six new patios before summer ends
Aug. 3, 2018
Living as we do where enjoyable weather is a short-lived benefit, we flock to patios in crowds every summer. We visited three new patios downtown and three scattered across Sioux Falls. Wait another day to mow the lawn, and relax with a pint of beer, sip on a glass of sangria or treat yourself to a scoop of gelato.
The Blarney Stone Pub
It’s outdoor dining with a twist: The new open-air dining room at The Blarney Stone Pub on Phillips at 12th Street. Two large garage doors open, making diners and drinkers feel as though they’re sitting outside. The pub also offers table seating between the sidewalk and the street. Catch happy hours from 3 to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close daily with discounts on tap beers, house wines, bar pours and appetizers. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the Irish Trash Can special on Wednesdays. Vodka, gin, rum, blue curacao and sweet-and-sour mix garnished with a full can of Red Bull – what could go wrong?
Turks & Caicos Cabana Grille
One of the most popular patios in Sioux Falls found a new life this summer. Bracco World Cafe at 57th Street and Western Avenue closed in the winter, but the building’s new owner, Vanguard Hospitality, made sure that it remained a focal point for the new Turks & Caicos Cabana Grille. Patio-goers will feel like they’ve stepped into a resort lounge. Potted plants fill the area, overhead fans provide a breeze, and there’s a shuffleboard court tucked on the east side of the building. Enjoy a meal at the linen-covered tables, grab a seat at the outdoor bar and order a daiquiri or signature cocktail, or relax on cushioned patio furniture.
Jones421
Want to feel like you live in a big city? The patio at Jones421 on North Phillips Avenue is surrounded on three sides by the towering condominium buildings. Diners can eat their catfish po’ boy sandwiches from Swamp Daddy’s Cajun Kitchen, gyros from Boki European Street Food or frozen desserts from Boki Gelato at the high-top or regular height tables. Looking for something to drink? The Source Roasterie & Taproom features coffee drinks, wine by the glass or bottle and 16 craft beers that customers can pour by the ounce. Friday nights on the patio often feature live music.
Washington Square
Purple petunias provide a border for the patio at the new Washington Square at Main Avenue and 12th Street. By next summer, you’ll be able to enjoy a glass of wine from Wine Time on Main on the patio, but for now you’ll have to “settle” for the culinary creations from Parlour Ice Cream House. We were blown away by the limited-edition Summer Nights, which included gelato with a hint of smoke, chocolate flakes and vanilla charcoal. It’s a west-facing patio with not much shade, so don’t forget your sunglasses.
Crooked Pint Ale House
Crooked Pint Ale House arrived in Sioux Falls over the winter, so the patio made its debut in May. It offers a great view of Elmwood Golf Course, and a canopy provides welcome shade for the area, which seats 55 people. Seven of those seats surround a fire pit. It’s a great place for the restaurant’s long happy hours, which run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. to close and start even earlier at 10 a.m. on the weekend. Discounts are offered on flatbreads, appetizers, and beer. There’s also $5 Bloody Marys on the weekend.
Buffalo Wild Wings
The covered patio at the new Buffalo Wild Wings at the east-side Dawley Farm Village offers several TVs for sports viewing. It’s on the east side of the building, so there’s lots of shade to enjoy in late afternoon and early evening. It’s a perfect setup for sharing appetizers, eating wings and drinking beer while watching the game.
Here’s a look back at the six patios we visited last summer:
