Leisure

Pat’ Down

Meet Your New Spring Patios

Unsolicited bird songs. Flowers that grow out of the ground. Donuts with Peeps on them. Spring’s really here. And so is a fresh batch of patios that didn’t exist last season. This seems like a good place to tell you about them.

FOR SUN-KISSED CHOWDER CONSUMPTION

Merrill & Co.

The Scene: An ample smattering of metal tables and chairs that will probably get very hot when exposed to direct sunlight. They also have shade, so you’re good.
The Provisions: Smoked-oyster chowder and 16 sherries by the glass. Sherry tastes better outdoors, which is something we just made up.

FOR RAW FISH AND WATCHING PEOPLE

Ikura

The Scene: A pleasant courtyard with a metal fence to put some distance between boutique-pillaging humans and your sashimi.
The Provisions: Over 100 varieties of sushi. But their salmon roll blowtorched tableside works in a pinch if you like eating salmon and being a show-off.

FOR ALFRESCO ABSINTHE SESSIONS

Forum

The Scene: A stately arrangement of white tablecloths where you’ll deconstruct fried-chicken sandwiches and generally behave like a lunch exhibitionist.
The Provisions: Lobster rolls and a little gin-prosecco-and-absinthe number called the Sparkling Vega. Things are about to get lazy-afternoon-y.

FOR ROOFTOP BIVALVE ADVENTURES

Pier 6

The Scene: A 30-person roof deck overlooking the Charlestown Navy Yard. Or a 200-person ground-floor patio if you’re afraid of heights but not of crowds.
The Provisions: Unconscionable amounts of crab cakes and oysters accompanied by The Breakfast of Champions. Which is maple syrup and rye, obviously.

FOR BURGERING IN PLAIN SIGHT

Shake Shack Harvard Square

The Scene: Just five little tables where you could read Proust in public, but will probably use both hands to grip a double bacon cheeseburger instead.
The Provisions: Milkshakes, cheese fries and infinite quantities of stacked beef. That should cover all the lunch food groups.