The Brooklyn
Well-executed All-American fare, served in a lovely, view-of-the-golf-course setting.
8700 Edinbrook Crossing, Brooklyn Park, 763-315-8535, brooklynedinburgh.com
The Bungalow Club
The restaurant's sheltered, plant-filled outdoor oasis is the place to enjoy ravioli filled with ricotta and ramps, some of the city's best meatballs and sourdough toasts topped with asparagus and hazelnuts. Chef/owner Andrew Kraft has just added lunch service.
4300 E. Lake St., Mpls., 612-866-3334, thebungalowclub.com
Common Roots Cafe
Enjoy the patio during weekend brunch, which features shakshuka, a tempeh Reuben, latkes with eggs and other affordable dishes, plus mimosas perfumed with elderflowers cultivated in the restaurant's impressive garden.
2558 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls., 612-871-2360, commonrootscafe.com
Handsome Hog
The restaurant's new Cathedral Hill home includes a roomy, great-looking patio, an ideal venue for digging into chef Justin Sutherland's adventurous, pork-centric cooking.
173 Western Av. N., St. Paul, 651-219-4013, handsomehog.com
Hazelwood Food & Drink
Kudos to the daily soup (Friday is shrimp-corn chowder day, hurrah), the housemade tater tots, the lavishly topped pizzas, the well-composed salads and the juicy rotisserie chicken.
8150 26th Av. S, Bloomington, 952-222-4000, hazelwoodfoodanddrink.com
Heather's
The dining room may be off limits (the handy walk-up window continues, full-tilt), but owner Heather Asbury is now seating breakfast, lunch and dinner guests on her sharp-looking patio. Right now, the four magic words on the something-for-everyone menu are soft serve ice cream.
5201 Chicago Av. S., Mpls., 612-445-8822, heathersmpls.com
