Patio Dining in Huron
Nothing signals that summer has arrived like your favourite eatery wiping down the outdoor tables and cranking up the patio umbrellas! Everyone has different tastes and favourites tend to change with the seasons, but here are a few of our favourite places to dine alfresco!
Wingham - Castings Public House on the main drag expanded their patio in the height of COVID-19 but the dreaded pandemic restrictions have left them with a great structure to enjoy a late afternoon lunch! The fish and chips are homemade and huge, and we definitely recommend them. Their kitchen also knows its way around a soup pot and the homemade soups should be your side dish! 289 Josephine St, Wingham www.castingspublichouse.com
Port Albert - Every hamlet should be as lucky as Port Albert to have a hidden treasure like the Port Albert General Store and Pub. Well, it’s not hidden if you’re local, a fisherman, a cottager or have ever discovered the beauty that is the Port Albert beach at sunset. The patio is the place to be in the summer and is filled to the brim on weekends with locals, fishermen and cottagers
enjoying pizza and a beer. 4 Central Wellington St, Port Albert. www.portalbertgeneralstoreandpub.com
Goderich - A beach town with a patio at nearly every restaurant, but since we’re naming favourites we have to go with Beach Street Station. This heritage railway station has been completely restored and moved even closer to the shore for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy a meal, a pint and a sunset! 2 Beach St, Goderich www.beachstreetstation.com
Benmiller - The Benmiller Inn might have the most romantic patio in Huron County. Tucked away from noise and traffic, the only distraction from your company is the gurgling from Sharpe’s Creek as it winds its way past the flagstone terrace where you can dine either open air or under a canopy. 81175 Benmiller Line, Goderich www.benmiller.ca
Bayfield - Another town noted for outdoor dining options, but we’re going to go with the Black Dog Village Pub & Bistro. The patio is strategically located at the front of the building, alongside the Main Street making it the perfect spot to enjoy its upscale pub fare with a focus on local ingredients and watch the people go by. 5 Main St N, Bayfield www.blackdogpubbistro.ca
Grand Bend - The White Squirrel Golf Club has a full service restaurant with seating on a heated patio giving you options in the shoulder seasons. This would make the ideal day out - book a tee time and a table, and enjoy dinner after a round of golf. They also specialize in group bookings, complete with a 12-person shuttle, so a great place to book the gang and catch a ride back to your cottage. 72538 Bluewater Highway 21, Zurich www.whitesquirrelgolfclub.com
Exeter - Some people talk farm to table, Eddington’s of Exeter lives it. Not only does chef and owner James Eddington cultivate his own 25 acre farm to bring fresh fruit and vegetables to your table, but he is a chef in tune with local agriculture and boasts an extensive list of suppliers that represents the best of Huron County and southwestern Ontario. Enjoy his gorgeous large patio with food so local, you drove past it when you came! 527 Main Street, Exeter www.eddingtons.ca
Seaforth - The Hub Pub & Patio is so entrenched in patio culture that it’s in their name. A local company that now boasts four restaurants and its own butchery, the Seaforth Hub has an extensive patio with fireplaces and canopies, making it a welcome setting well into the fall. Make sure you call ahead for reservations, especially on Friday when they feature a $12 fish and chips special! 164 Main St South, Seaforth www.thehubseaforth.com
