Popular patio dining restaurants in Northwest Arkansas

Mamas, one of the many things we’ve REALLY missed since the pandemic began is the chance to eat out. Sure, we’ve done our share of take-out orders, but it’s just not quite the same as sitting at a restaurant with a great server and getting the food hot from the kitchen.

Health experts say that, if you’re going to go to a restaurant during the pandemic, the safest way to do it is by eating outside where wind currents and fresh air decrease the chances of becoming infected with Covid. So we’re constantly on the hunt for great Northwest Arkansas restaurants with outdoor dining space.

With fall right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to find a restaurant patio for either your own family to dine out or for meeting a friend (at a safe distance). Shannon and I had a celebratory early dinner a few weeks ago at Big Orange in Rogers (see pic above). We also recommend going to a restaurant patio either really early or really late because it’s usually WAY less crowded at these “off” times. Less crowded equals less risk.

You may also want to call ahead to the restaurant and see if you can reserve a spot on the patio. (Some restaurants like the one we went to will also let you reserve a table online and request an outdoor table.)

We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite restaurants in Northwest Arkansas which have patios and/or outdoor dining areas. We’re grouping the restaurants by city, for your convenience.

If we’ve missed any restaurants that you know have outdoor dining available during the pandemic, please let us know by posting a comment or by emailing us at gwen@nwaMotherlode.com. We’ll continue to update this list, and we hope it helps keep local restaurants busy throughout the pandemic.

Rogers

Abuelo’s

Red Robin

Big Orange

PF Chang’s

Tacos 4 Life

Crumpet Tea Room

Fish City Grill

Newk’s Eatery

Torchy’s Tacos

Top Golf

Midici – Neopolitan Pizza Company

Qdoba

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Komodo

Bocca Italian Eatery

Chuy’s

Neighbor’s Mill & Bakery

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop

Foghorn’s

Onyx Coffee Lab

Bentonville

Pedaler’s Pub

Preacher’s Son (rooftop bar)

Oven & Tap

McAlister’s Deli

Smashburger

Yeyo’s Mexican Grill

Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe

The Hub

Fayetteville

Leverett Lounge

Big Box Karaoke

Sassy’s Red House

Noodles

Red Robin

Newk’s Eatery

McAlister’s Deli

Hammontree’s Grilled Cheese

Tacos 4 Life

Grub’s Bar & Grille

Onyx Coffee Lab

Powerhouse

New ORA in downtown Fayetteville, outdoor refreshment area

Fossil Cove

Loafin’ Joe’s

Mellow Mushroom

Feed and Folly

Puritan Coffee and Beer

Bordinos

Rolando’s

Torchy’s Tacos

El Matador

Springdale

Las Fajitas

Foghorn’s

Azul Tequila

Big Sexy Food

Braum’s

Buttered Biscuit (has a few outdoor tables)

DQ Grill and Chill

Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers

Jimmy John’s

King Burrito

Las Margaritas

Las Palmas

MJ’s Pizzeria

Red Kite Coffee Company

Slim Chickens

Tacos 4 Life

The Flying Burrito Company

Trailside Coffee inside Phat Tire Bike Shop

Tropical Smoothie Cafe

Picnic tables in Springdale:

Taqueria Don Guero

Black Apple

Bike Rack Brewing (has a coffee shop that serves pastries, etc.)

The Pits Meatery (food truck, but has picnic table seating)

Springdale recently created an outdoor dining district in its downtown area, where patrons can carry their alcoholic drinks from one establishment to another as long as the drink is purchased within the boundaries (not carried in from the outside).

You may bring an alcoholic beverage into another establishment if it has a designated window decal and it’s not also selling alcoholic beverages. Once purchasing your drink, you may take it with you as you walk down the sidewalk and visit other public spaces such as Walter Turnbow Park, Shiloh Square and Luther George Park, unless it is closed for private events or youth-focused events.