Feature Focus: Dining Outdoors

OutdoorDiningOptions

Downtown Fort Wayne Edition

By Amber Bouthot Ten years ago, you’d be hard pressed to find more than a handful of outdoor dining options in our region. Perhaps one silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic is the emergence of all the creative and vibrant outdoor dining options available now. From the Bison Deck at Nawa to the riverfront seating at The Deck, there is no shortage of beautiful spaces from which to choose. Here are some of our favorites.

Mercado, 111 W. Columbia St., mercadofw.com

One of Fort Wayne’s newest outdoor dining hot spots is located on The Landing. Mercado boasts a small patio area with a magnificent view of Ouizi’s mural, the Big Peony. What started as a food truck is now our region’s brick and mortar destination for Cali-Mexican cuisine. Menu items are described as Chicano inspired and there you’ll find elote oysters, pachola burgers, and agave spirits.

The Sidecar, 301 W. Jefferson, copperspoonfw.com/sidecar

The Sidecar is Copper Spoon’s tropical themed outdoor bar, offering unique drinks and fabulous downtown views. It’s located adjacent to the front entrance of Parkview Field and is housed inside a repurposed shipping container.

Proximo, 898 S. Harrison St., proximofw.com

Proximo’s gorgeous wrap around outdoor patio offers unique views of JUURI’s Lion’s Dance mural, especially if you are lucky enough to visit during dusk when the light dances off the gold-flecked paint. Proximo is a scratch kitchen and describes itself as Latin fusion—taking unique spices and flavor combinations from Latin countries and combining them to make out-of-this-world dishes.

Nawa, 126 W. Columbia Street, nawa.live

Located in the newly reborn The Landing district, Nawa serves up some of the most delicious Asian inspired dishes in the region. Featuring a diversity of small and large plate dining, Nawa emphasizes freshness, distinctiveness, and excellence. And its Bison Deck, named for its stunning view of Tim Parsley’s gargantuan mural, is a favorite outdoor dining spot.

Tolon, 614 S. Harrison, tolonrestaurant.com

Just across the street from Nawa, Fort Wayne’s first farm to fork restaurant spreads its wings onto the sidewalk to offer an urban setting for area diners. With plenty of shade provided and a bustling nightlife emanating from the nearby Landing, dining outdoors at Tolon is a truly upscale experience.

The Deck, 305 E. Superior St., donhalls.com

One of the first establishments to embrace the potential of our rivers, The Deck is home to some of the tastiest (and strongest) cocktails and a vibe that will have you wishing it were summer all year long. Whether you are grabbing a table along the river or bellying up to the tiki-inspired bar, you’re sure to enjoy your time spend dining outdoors here. a

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