The coolest summer spots for alfresco dining

I don’t know about you but once the warm weather hits, all I want to do is be outside, preferably with a good meal in front of me and a drink in my hand.

Luckily for us, there are plenty of outdoor dining options in the Hill City. Here are a few of our favorites:

Benjamin’s Great Cows and Crabs

Address: 14900 Forest Rd.
Phone: (434) 534-6077
Website: cowsandcrabs.com
Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m. Friday; 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday

Best time to go: On Friday or Saturday nights, when the Benjamin’s Summer Concert Series is in full swing. Bands perform from 8 to 11 p.m. Friday and 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday. The last Saturday concert this year, scheduled for Sept. 18 and featuring The Worx, will be held in the grassy area just beyond the deck as a benefit for the Forest Volunteer Fire Department. It’s set up kind of like a mini-Friday Cheers, and there is a cover.
The set-up: The back deck offers what I think is the best mountain view in Lynchburg. The scenery is breathtaking.

Shoemaker’s American Grille

Address: 1312 Commerce St.
Phone: (434) 455-1510
Hours: 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday and 4:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday
Website: shoemakersdining.com

Best time to go: On Wednesday evenings, between 5 and 8, when Shoemaker’s hosts live music and serves up half-price burgers and beers. The patio fills up fast, though, so get there early if you can.
The set-up: The patio, located in front of the building, is full of large tables. On Wednesdays, there are smaller cocktail tables and a couple couches in front of the performance area. The burgers, served with some yummy fries, are cooked in one corner, and a bar is set up in the other.

Robin Alexander

Address: 1344 Main St.
Phone: (434) 845-1601
Website: robinalexander.yolasite.com

Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and 4 to 11 p.m. Saturday
Best time to go: Any time, really, but women should keep an eye out for their Ladies Night Out events, which bring in local salons, clothing stores and the like for a night of pampering and female bonding.
The set-up: Robin Alexander has two outdoor dining options. The back deck faces Commerce and Main streets. There’s more seating on a covered patio — where the staff grows their very own garden — on the other side of the building, which borders Washington Street. Sitting out there with one of their signature martinis is my idea of heaven.

Mangia

Address: 2496 Rivermont Ave.
Phone: (434) 846-2585
Website: mangiaontheavenue.com

Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday; the bar is open until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Best time to go: On Sundays, when Mangia serves up brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Also keep an eye out for their occasional deejay/dance nights, usually held on Saturdays.
The set-up: The front patio — right on Rivermont, next to the campus of Randolph College and in the same block as Magnolia Foods and the Macon Bookshop — is perfect for people watching.

Starlight Café

Address: 512 5th St.
Phone: (434) 845-3196
Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day; open until midnight on some Fridays.

Best time to go: Any time; Starlight serves breakfast — and Mimosas! — all day. They also host live music and karaoke nights from time to time.
The set-up: The stone courtyard patio is something of a garden oasis. An arbor with two shutters for doors marks the entrance, and the entire area is populated with plants and flowers.

The Depot Grille

Address: 10 Ninth St.
Phone: (434) 846-4464
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday

The set-up: The front deck faces the James River, with an up-close-and-personal view of the fountain.