Ah, summer. That means warm temperatures and of course dining en plein air. The Summit City boasts several options for outdoor dining. Here are a few of my favorites:

Don Hall’s Gas House Deck: The Deck has been synonymous with summer for quite some time. Sit on the bar side if don’t mind the rowdiness, or take a seat on the restaurant side, and order an appetizer or a full meal. Either way you can’t go wrong! When the river level is right you can catch a ride on their pontoon.

Henry’s: Although limited in seating, Henry’s patio is a great way to take in downtown. Order a drink, or a full meal outside.

Granite City Food & Brewery:  Enjoy a casual dining restaurant with an on-site brewery. Here you will find a broad menu of items that are prepared fresh daily and served in generous portions. Be sure to check out their selection of handcrafted beers.

Club Soda: Club Soda’s upstairs patio is a nice break from the ordinary. Order up one of their classic martinis, or stay for a full meal. Shaken or stirred, you can enjoy a martini on Club Soda’s patio.

Don Chava’s: Enjoy a margarita or two, while chomping down on some chips and salsa.

Mi Pueblo:  Depending on the direction you face,  you can give yourself a lovely wooded view while you down margaritas and fajitas.

816 Pint & Slice & Dash-In: I group them together, as they offer a joint café seating area out front, along Calhoun Street.

J.K. O’Donnell’s: This Irish pub has a small outdoor patio, perfect for watching passersby on Wayne Street.

Curly’s Village Inn : This bar easily offers one of the prettiest views in town, with a raised deck overlooking the St. Marys River.

These are a few of my favorites! What are some of yours?

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How do you know it’s summer in Fort Wayne?  Everyone’s eating outdoors!

With a winter that seemed to drag on a bit long, Fort Wayne locals are ready to be outside enjoying the sun and the warm weather.  Many local restaurants help diners enjoy the beautiful weather by offering outdoor treats and entertainment throughout the summer.  We’ve got the inside scoop on where to enjoy good weather and great food.

One of the most popular spots to dine al fresco is The Deck at Don Hall’s Gas House. Located on the river just behind the restaurant, The Deck offers casual dining at it’s best. With many of the great menu options from the restaurant, a tiki style bar, and the city’s only riverside dining you’re sure to relax and enjoy a casual evening with friends and family (the restaurant side of the deck is family friendly).  Located right off the Rivergreenway, it’s a great stop after a long bike ride or walk on the trails.

Treat yourself to garbage for breakfast (yes, garbage) at Cindy’s Diner on the corner of Wayne and Harrison Streets in downtown Fort Wayne.  “Garbage” is a blend of eggs, potatoes, cheese, onions, and ham cooked up to equal yummy goodness. If you can’t find a seat at the counter, grab a seat at the picnic benches outside and enjoy your breakfast and coffee.  Cindy’s also offers a lunch menu that is sure to please the heartiest of appetites.

Looking for a cool treat at the end of a hot day?  Check out Zesto’s ice cream stand.  Known for their sweet treats, the opening of Zesto’s is a sign that spring is officially here for Fort Wayne locals.  The walk up ice-cream shop will give you the vintage feel of enjoying ice cream the way it was intended, sitting on the curb chatting with your neighbors.  That’s right; locals eat their ice cream while sitting on the curb around the parking lot.  It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors!

Looking for great Mexican food?  Then you’ll enjoy an outdoor Fiesta at El Azteca on East State Street.  With a complete bar boasting over 100 tequilas, you’re sure to get a margarita that will cool you off and quench your thirst.  Their traditional menu is loved by locals as well.  Have a seat on the patio and enjoy!

Speaking of cocktails, check out the outdoor dining options at Club Soda.  Whether you’re just enjoying one of their legendary martinis or you’re having dinner you’ll love the patio.  It’s the perfect spot for a romantic dinner for two under the stars.  The full menu is available to diners dining on both the upstairs and downstairs patio.  Not a fan of the sun?  Enjoy the upstairs covered deck to get out of the sun.

If a pint is more your thing, stop by JK O’Donnell’s for a Guinness and fish and chips. Their authentic Irish menu is sure to please.  The patio is located right on Wayne Street in downtown Fort Wayne, making it a great to socialize with passersby as well as your dinner companions.  You’ll also want to try their array of Irish whiskies and mixed drinks.  They’re sure to please!

These are just a few of our favorites – let us know if you have any that we should add to our list!

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Beer is like a lot of things in life – when you’re young (or don’t know any better), you settle for the cheap stuff. As you get older, though, your tastes refine and your wallet gets a little thicker. I remember drinking in my college days, and I certainly wasn’t drinking craft beers. My weekend nights probably went a little something like this: Hey, what’s in that keg? Really? I can drink that? How much? Free? Pass me a red Solo cup!

But you don’t have to live that kind of meager existence, not when you can attend Beoir Go Leoir (Gaelic for “lots of beer”), an upcoming craft beer festival sponsored by JK O’Donnell’s, one of Fort Wayne’s favorite bars. The beer will be flowing freely on Saturday, May 18 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Over 75 breweries will be represented here, and many of them will have folks on hand to answer your questions. Those breweries will have over 150 craft beers to sample, and the beauty of it? The samples are unlimited! But don’t worry –  you may have to pay to drink, but your designated driver gets in for free.

General admission tickets are $40 and include a commemorative tasting glass. VIP tickets are $65 and include that commemorative glass and early admission (an hour earlier, at 1:00 p.m.), a tasting glass lanyard, a T-shirt, appetizers, and special beer tastings. But be sure to order your tickets now: Day-of ticket prices are more expensive – $50 for general admission tickets and $75 for VIP tickets – and may not even be available.

Sorry, kiddos, this is a 21 and older event. All attendees, including DDs, must show a valid photo ID at the door. To purchase advance tickets, visit www.brownpapertickets.com or stop in to JK O’Donnell’s, 121 West Wayne Street in downtown Fort Wayne. For even more information, check out http://www.visitfortwayne.com/event/beoir-go-leoir or www.jkodonnells.com.

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Eating healthy while traveling can be a real challenge.  In a city known for having so many great restaurants, it can be even harder.  That’s why I wanted to recommend four of my favorite restaurants – guaranteed to serve you a healthy meal that you’ll want to order again.

The Loving Café

7605 Coldwater Rd

Fort Wayne, IN 46825

www.lovingcafefw.com

The Loving Café in Fort Wayne offers healthy vegan and vegetarian dishes to provide you with a yummy and healthy meal.  The menu includes a wide variety of appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, noodle dishes and even desserts.  If you’re a fan of raw foods, including sushi, this is definitely the place for you!  While you won’t find meat on the menu (hey-they’re vegan what do you expect), you will find meat substitutes including vegan hotdogs, veggie burgers, and tempeh.  Since you’re eating healthy, treat yourself to a piece of cheesecake or a scoop of vegan ice cream for dessert!

The Downtown Deli

236 East Wayne Street (inside Cottage Flowers)

Fort Wayne, IN 46802

260.424.0834

Downtown insiders frequent the Downtown Deli located inside Cottage Flowers at the corner of Wayne and Barr Street.  They pride themselves on organic fruits and veggies for their soups, salads, and sandwiches.  The owners also work hard to source local foods whenever possible.  A local favorite is the chicken salad on homemade whole grain bread.  Add a side of quinoa or baked potato soup and you’ll see why there’s always a line at lunchtime.  While you’re there, pick up a bouquet of flowers or a bag of chocolates from the candy counter for that someone special.

Three Rivers Co-op Natural Grocery & Deli

1612 Sherman St

Fort Wayne, IN 46808

www.3riversfood.coop

Not only is Three Rivers Co-op a grocery with many of the great organic foods you can’t find anywhere else, it’s an eat-in deli complete with some great healthy options.   Check out their soups such as the Spicy Chard or Chicken Asparagus. Looking for something more substantial?  Try the Chicken and Biscuits, Chicken Diane, or the Teriyaki Stir Fry and Steamed Organic Carrots and Kale.

Honey on the Table

2461 Hobson Rd

Fort Wayne, IN 46805

www.honeyonthetable.com

Honey on the Table is known for the baked goodness as much as they’re know for their sandwiches and salads.  The Great Granny Smith BLT sandwich served with Granny Smith apples and Cheddar on house-made raisin bread is a must!  Looking for vegetarian?  Check out their Rustic Grilled Cheese or the HOTT Caesar Salad.  Do yourself a favor and have just one cookie.  You’ve earned it for eating healthy!  While you’re there, pick up a beautiful gift basket full of artisan goodies for someone you need to impress.

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Hooray! Fort Wayne has caught the food truck bug! There are several options for foodies to get their fix in the Summit City. Here are a few of some of the most popular, along with their offerings:

• JumBy’s JoiNt: They are a one-of-a-kind mobile culinary experience that made its debut in early 2012!  Owner Jim sets up shop most often in the downtown area, but also does private events. The menu changes daily, but there are a few all-American staples, like grilled cheese, cheeseburger, and and fries.
  

  JuMby’s JoiNt has satisfied hungry bellies since 2012.

• Brava’s Food: It doesn’t get more American than this! Brava’s serves up hot dogs from a mobile unit. The locally-owned business is now in its third year, and is gaining notoriety for its street-vendor fare. So, what is the “fare?” Brava’s features all-beef hot dogs, with toppings like fresh chopped veggies (tomato, cucumber, pico de gallo, guacamole, etc), as well as homemade chili. Be sure to try their specialty: a super-secret Brava Sauce. Thick cut Ossian bacon also comes on some of the hot dogs. Also, look for them on the streets of downtown Fort Wayne.

• Affine Food Truck: Affine is the brainchild of two local chefs specializing in a wide range of sandwich preparations using free-range, locally sourced pork, chicken, and duck. Try their tacos, soups, and fries. They set up shop at local businesses, as well as bars.

• Big John’s Ragin Cajun: Big John Maxwell delivers the cuisine of New Orleans and the Louisiana Bayou to northeastern Indiana. Think Po’ Boys and Jambalaya!

• The Getaway Grill: Jerry Perez, owner of Getaway Grill Food Truck says his mission is to bring great food to the streets of Fort Wayne- he is accomplishing that goal and much more! The best part: everything he buys is produced locally, from his food cart to the farmers markets. We hear the chicken and black bean quesadilla is to die for!

You can’t go wrong with any of these vendors. It’s all a matter of preference, really. Learn more on the Fort Wayne Foodtruck Association Facebook page or follow any of these vendors individually for updated menus and locations.

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