5 Favorite Casual Outdoor Dining Restaurants for Summer

Ahhh, summer. A time to vacation, garden, go swimming and eat hamburgers, hotdogs, barbecue, and tacos? Well, why not? Here are five of my favorite casual outdoor dining restaurants to enjoy all summerlong. Three are seasonal and are bookended by Memorial Day and Labor Day (or at least spring and fall). One has been a footnote to my summers since childhood. All of them, I hope you’ll enjoy.

Hind Sight Barbecue (Waterbury, CT)

In the 1980’s Belinda Carlisle sang that “heaven is a place on earth”— a lyric that was amazingly prescient, really, because Hind Sight Barbecue hadn’t been invented yet. Least you think I exaggerate about how good this barbecue joint is, Texas Monthly crowned it, along with Hoodoo Brown Barbeque in Ridgefield, best barbecue outside of Texas. In addition to barbecued meats, they serve homemade sides and desserts like banana puddin’ cups and maple whoopie pies. Hind Sight opened in 2020 at 1503 Thomaston Avenue in Waterbury and has ample indoor and outdoor seating. It spreads its barbecue vibes with three food trucks located in West Hartford, South Farms Pasture in Morris, and Counterweight Brewing Company in Cheshire. If you’re a fan of everything brisket, burnt ends, ribs, and pulled meats, then a visit to Hind Sight is a must.

Barbecue pulled pork, picnic-style potato salad, dill pickle chips & pickled red onion (foreground); pork belly taco and brisket baked beans (background).

El Camion (Woodbury, CT)

Opened as a year-round brick-and-mortar restaurant in 2015 after success as a food truck, El Camion sticks to the basics – tacos and burritos. Their minimalist, but delicious menu, reminds me of the truism that good food is often simple food. Their fish tacos accompanied by a bottle of Mexican Coke (made with sugar cane, not corn syrup—believe me, there is a difference) transports me to the beaches of Cancun. Their menu is gluten-free friendly, which I greatly appreciate. Just ask them to substitute the flour tortilla for a corn one. Their outside dining area is on the smaller side and partly overlooks parking, but it is still pleasant. For full disclosure, if you happen to be dining with someone (like my mother) who thinks of dessert as a primary food group, they will be sorely disappointed as El Camion does not serve dessert. (They do, though, have alcoholic beverages to purchase.) I think this is perfectly in line with their “less is more” credo and is a great excuse to stop for ice cream after.

El Camion, located at 308 Sherman Hill Road (Route 64) in Woodbury.

Pasture at South Farms (Morris, CT)

Pasture at South Farms is not a restaurant, but rather a collection of food trucks and a cordoned off area of picnic tables at the intersection of Routes 63 and 109 in Morris. Pasture, the brainchild of South Farms, is relatively new to the game – 2024 is only its second season. It’s a fun dining experience, as there are a variety of choices, and generally there is something for everyone. Its current lineup of food vendors include barbecue from Hind Sight Barbecue, ice cream from Grassroots, and cocktails from With a Splash. Last season there was a taco truck and a gourmet hamburger and grilled sandwiches truck, but this year they seem to be replaced by guest food truck vendors. The venue is open Thursday evening through Sunday, but because the food at Pasture is on wheels, sometimes a truck will not be there, so it’s best to check on Facebook for any updates or changes before going.

Popey’s Ice Cream Shoppe (Morris, CT)

Popey’s, what can I say? This casual dining experience holds a special place in my heart. Probably because it reminds me of being little. Their motto is “a nice ride to a nice place,” and that couldn’t be any more true. As a kid, going to Popey’s was a destination that often included an outing to Bantam Lake or wading in the Shepaug River on a sweltering summer day. Now as an adult, living nearby, a turkey burger with the works (lettuce, tomato, and mayo) on a gluten-free bun is a go-to when I want summertime cookout food, but don’t want to do any cooking. Lots of people line up for their ice cream and classic menu items like the Popey Burger (1/2 pound hand-formed burger), Hummel Brothers hotdogs, fried veggies, grinders, and wraps.

West Shore Seafood (Morris, CT)

I go to West Shore Seafood for the ambiance and leave happy I spent time in good company. The picnic tables, corn hole games, soothing ocean blue décor, weathered gray vertical shiplap siding, and white marble chipped gravel reminiscent of crushed seashells gives one the feel of eating at a roadside seafood place in the Cape or along the Shoreline. In ambiance, West Shore Seafood delivers. They offer roadside seafood staples—fried fish platters, lobster rolls—along with raw bar selections and options for land-lovers (think burgers and grilled chicken sandwiches). They are no longer BYOB, but offer a selection of wine and canned cocktails. For gluten-free options I stick with the nicoise salad or a baja-style taco. Not only can you order ahead online (which I recommend), but you can now completely forgo waiting in-line to order by using the QR codes assigned to each table.

Calming blues and vibrant dahlias greet diners at West Shore Seafood on Route 209 in Morris.

Runners Up:

Gooseboro Drive-In (Bantam, CT)

Nicknamed “The Goose,” the Gooseboro Drive-In has been serving burgers, hotdogs, and soft-serve ice cream from its roadside stand along Route 202 since 1961.

Denmo’s (Southbury, CT)

Originally opened in 1978 as a hotdog stand, Denmo’s is a Southbury staple, serving chili, fried seafood, homemade soups, burgers, and ice cream.

Frankie’s (Waterbury, CT & various locations)

A literal institution, Frankie’s was opened in 1933 by Frank Caiazzo and family in Waterbury. Originally located on South Main Street and specializing in hotdogs, there are currently six Frankie’s locations and counting, serving everything from hotdogs, burgers, grilled chicken, and fried seafood.