Philly eateries are finding innovative ways to dine outdoors

Harper’s Garden 

The Center City eatery has a large outdoor dining area, but with the cold weather moving in, Harper’s Garden also wanted to find a way to help keep their diners warm while enjoying their fare. Last weekend, Philadelphians got to experience the debut of the first of The Greenhouses at the eatery with the plan of at least ten private, heated individual greenhouses featuring a door, glass walls, tables and chairs, decor and twinkling lights opening in coming weeks. The tables are offered in two sizes with options accommodating either four to seven guests, or six to nine guests and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, the Greenhouses can also be booked for special private party celebrations upon request by emailing info@harpersgardenphilly.com. While there, guests can enjoy new fall seasonal dishes by Executive Chef Ben Moore, as well as brand-new fall cocktails and mocktails by award-winning Beverage Director Matt Deutsch. 

“Restaurants are fighting for their very survival right now and we have worked with our teams for months to find safe, healthy and socially-distanced ways to continue to offer outdoor dining experiences for our community,” said FCM Hospitality and Harper’s Garden Owner Avram Hornik in a statement. “Harper’s Garden has always been a year-round, four-season celebration of nature and outdoor elements — including a rotating selection of food and drink by our team using local and farm-fresh ingredients. We have taken inspiration from our open-air veranda and created a brand-new way to enjoy a full outdoor dining experience that literally puts you inside your very own dining room where you can enjoy the stars shining overhead, while you enjoy and share in a great seasonal meal with your family and friends. Health and safety is at the forefront of our minds in everything we have done this year. We also take our responsibility very seriously in terms of being innovators in safe and healthy dining —and in offering the greater community experiences that bring some levity and specialness during these very challenging and mentally stressful times.” 

31 S. 18th St., harpersgardenphilly.com

Charlie Was a Sinner and Bar Bombón 

Nicole Marquis, owner of Charlie Was a Sinner and Bar Bombón, has figured out a way to add some comfort to diners who enjoy the two establishment’s fare while outdoors. Both hotspots will be featuring their own Warm Up Cocktail Menus with new menu options of hot drinks served in a thermos and a free cozy embroidered blanket to keep diners warm while they eat lunch or dinner. The best part? Diners can also bring home their blanket once they’re done using it. 

Marquis said in a statement, “We also have high-powered space heaters outside so diners can beat the chill and continue to enjoy meals outside throughout the fall.”

131 S. 13th St., charliewasasinner.com and 133 S. 18th St., barbombon.com

Germantown Garden Grill

Vesper Dayclub has been transformed recently into the new Germantown Garden Grill, an upscale poolside steakhouse that now has a unique incentive for winter diners to visit. 

“Glu Hospitality is proud to present another food-focused concept with the grand debut of Germantown Garden Grill,” said co-owner Derek Gibbons in a statement when the new venue opened. “We are proud to bring Northern Liberties another great food option after the record year here in the neighborhood — and we have plans to expand our footprint here even more with another great eatery and new concept coming in October of this year — with others in the potential works.”

According to a release, igloos have started to pop-up now poolside at GG Grill along with heat lamps to make the steak-house experience next level — with igloos with plants, heat and decor for two, four and up to ten people. They started with some small sizes at 10 x 10 and 12 x 12, and have now opened their second deck that oversees the entire neighborhood, and they offer large group sizes all in accordance with attendance set by the city and the state. Inside the igloos, you can get fare from the steak-house menu, but also from two ghost kitchens they have launched: Hunnies Crispy Chicken and Tiny’s Burger Joint. Hunnies opened soon after the pandemic started and offers an assortment of crispy chicken offerings, while Tiny’s offers guests a variety of slider options. Both ghost kitchens are in full swing with active delivery on platforms like GrubHub.

1031 Germantown Ave., gggrill.com

Parx Beer Garden 

The casino transformed its Liberty Bell Beer Garden from a closed indoor structure into an outdoor venue with glass ceiling panels and all the side walls retracting back during the nice days. The Beer Garden opened earlier this fall, and has been serving up menu items and drinks from the Casino’s popular Liberty Bell Gastropub, which includes a rotating selection of all-American craft beers, wines and specialty cocktails. Parx’s Beer Garden is also ideal for those who are still feeling wary about crowds — the 7,600-square-foot space features socially distanced tables with plenty of room. Liberty Bell BG also features two patios with greenery, modern furniture and 10-foot long fire pits, and for game days there are two giant LED TV walls and even sports-betting kiosks for those who want to place a wager when the Birds are playing. 

2999 Street Rd., parxcasino.com