Where to eat outside in Saratoga Springs

PHOTOGRAPHER: Erica Miller

Rahul Patel of Clifton Park, left, Praharsha Sunkara of Clifton Park, center, and Nirjahar Bhattacharjee of Saratoga enjoy appetizers at Hattie's restaurant in Saratoga Springs, Aug. 7, 2016.

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The warm sun kissing your face, a breeze blowing through your hair.

Outdoor dining, that oh-too-brief summer pleasure, is one of Saratoga Springs’ main attractions.

By day and by night, you can enjoy the sights and sounds of the town and get some good eats at the same time.

There are so many places where you can dine al fresco. I’ve counted more than 20.

Here’s my list:

1. Salt & Char: Fine dining on the porch of the old Rip Van Dam Hotel. We loved it when it was Maestro’s and now the experience lives on in an upscale contemporary steakhouse. At night, gazing at the porch from the other side of Broadway, the scene of tables cloaked in white, candlelight and the formal waitstaff makes for a postcard-perfect tableau.

2. Mouzon House: Dine in the cozy outdoor bar, at a funky little table surrounded by plants, or on the porch next to the flowerboxes. Farm-to-table Creole cuisine and a 1883 house once owned by Mia Mouzon, the first woman of color to graduate from Skidmore. Perfect spot for date night, no matter what your age. Because it’s off-Broadway, there’s not much people-watching so you can look deeply into each other’s eyes.

3. Tasty takeout in Congress Park: Grab a goodie from the Falafel Den on Phila Street or Esperanto on Caroline, then park yourself near Spit n’ Spat or the pond in front of the Canfield Casino. After your snack, explore the Katrina Trask Staircase (on the far north end near the Holiday Inn) and look for fossils embedded in the stone.

4. Fish at 30 Lake: We’ve knew this place as Mingle, with its stick-to-the-ribs Korean fare, but now it’s a seafood palace with ultra-fresh fishes on the dishes. The outdoor tables are chic, there’s even a plush red cocktail couch.

5. Ben&Jerry’s/Dairy Haus: Give your inner child a nostalgic treat by sitting on a swing while you lick your Chunky Monkey or Caroline’s Coffee Heath Bar. Ben & Jerry’s is on Phila Street; Dairy Haus is on Route 9, not far from 50, across from Maple Avenue Middle School.

6. Circus Cafe: For the atmosphere and kid’s menu (Tiger’s Tail aka chicken tenders), this is the place to take the youngsters. From our sidewalk table, my 12-year-old niece and I played “Fashion Police,” a game in which we cruelly critiqued the clothing and shoes of each female passer-by. For dessert, I surprised her with a mountain of homemade blue cotton candy.

7. Hattie’s Restaurant: Over-the-moon fried chicken that’s crunchy on the outside, moist on the inside. Munch it up at the Saratoga Race Course or in the semi-outdoor “patio” attached to the historic Phila Street restaurant.

8. The Patio at 15 Church: Saratoga’s hidden garden, with waterfalls and a retractable roof to keep you dry during stormy weather. The Patio, which adjoins the main restaurant, has its own menu.

9. Sperry’s: Another fine dining venue with a hidden courtyard. The atmosphere is secluded and relaxed. And where else can you get popovers?

10.Uncommon Grounds: Snag a seat at a sidewalk table on Broadway and watch the world go by a nice cup of gourmet joe and one of their legendary baked-in-house bagels.

Reach Gazette reporter Karen Bjornland at 395-3197, [email protected] or @bjorngazette on Twitter.