The great SETX patio round-up

It’s that perfect time of year, that moment between when winter’s last bone-chilling breeze has subsided and before the mosquitoes have had a chance to figure that out.

Though we here in Southeast Texas get a lot more outdoor time each year than, say, Alaskans, the heavy heat of summer makes these temperate spring months all the more precious.

Factor in the newly lengthened days and businesses suddenly find themselves overwhelmed with people looking for ways to get outside. Lucky for us, there are plenty of bars and restaurants around here with patios, and not just because of the weather.

Much to the dismay of local smokers and bar owners, the city of Beaumont established a smoking ban in 2006, and nightlife took a major hit. Some owners and managers said their businesses took hits of up to $30,000 or more in lost sales.

And for some places, the cost was even higher — popular Italian restaurant Carlo’s and Beaumont’s only comedy club, Comedy, Texas, both cited the smoking ban as a factor when they shut down.

But a few places — Thirsty’s and Madison’s, for instance — decided that if they couldn’t fight City Hall, they’d just head outside.

And thus a great patio boom happened all around the city, with bars and restaurants putting more thought into creating outdoor spaces where patrons can nurse their drinks and their smoking habits at the same time.

So in an effort to get us all a little more Vitamin D, we headed outside and searched for the best patios all around Southeast Texas. Here’s what we found. (And here are some great patio drinks we found, too)

The Cabana at the Grill
6680 Calder Ave., Beaumont

The patio: is an oasis in Beaumont. With tall fences and sparkly light-covered trees, you won’t find better happy hour scenery. Perfect during this time of year when the weather is warmer.

The seating is outdoor posh, with comfortable modern couches arranged perfectly for lounging with a group and tables outfitted with white linens and candles for a classy touch.

The drinks: are patio-perfect, with everything from sangria made from scratch to wine spritzers with names like candlelight strawberry and yelllow jacket raspberry. They’ve also got vodka lemonade and a light, refreshing sweet tea vodka drink.

The best time to get outside: late afternoon and early evening. From 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday you can get any drink for half off. As happy hour ends, the live music begins on the Cabana every Wednesday through Saturday. Nothing is better than relaxing music at dusk while you’re sipping half-priced, house-made sangria.

This one’s great for: happy hour on a sunny day.

Pine Tree Lodge
3296 Pinetree Road, LaBelle

The patio: is far more than just a patio at this place. There’s a giant covered patio overlooking Taylor’s Bayou that’s set up with long tables and chairs perfect for big gatherings, sure, but there are plenty of outdoor spots here.

All along the bayou leading to this Texas-sized joint are little covered pavilions with picnic tables, perfect for sitting at the edge of the water and gator-watchin’ … and unless it’s too loud for them, you’ll very likely see some gators trying to solicit French fries from passers-by (although feeding gators is a class C misdemeanor in Texas).

The bikers — and there are many at this joint — like to post up their bikes in front of the pavilions and greet you as you meander up to the restaurant. Compliment their hog and you’ll have a new friend for the day.

The drinks: are beer ($2.50 domestics, $2.95 imports & premiums) and wine ($3.50 by the glass) but you can also bring your own hard liquor as long as you buy their setups for $1.75 and enjoy their other booze and ample food offerings. If you wanna go chill on the lawn or a pavilion, buy a bunch of beer and get a bucket of ice from the bartender for $1.

The best time to get outside: Sunday afternoons between 3 and 6 p.m., when they have fantastic bands that fit the ambiance perfectly. From zydeco to

swamp pop to straight-up soul, these bands get folks on the patio’s dance floor for every song. On these afternoons, coming to Pine Tree Lodge turns into a seriously fantastic and authentic local experience.

This one’s great for: bringing visiting loved ones to give them a taste of local food, music and ambiance. Even with the drinkin’ and dancin’, it’s a fantastic way to spend an afternoon with family, and the drive out there is beautiful and will make you want to roll the windows down and listen to the sounds of the bayou.

Pro tip: When you’re heading out of the lodge at sunset, take a brief detour by turning left onto Labelle Road and checking out the view from the bridge as the bayou twists and turns off into the distance. It’s a sight to see.

Lil Henry’s Place
8035 Rogers St., Beaumont

The patio: is only a small part of the magic of this place. Situated kind of in the middle of nowhere, you pay a cover ($12-15) when you pull up to the gate.

Once you park, you’ll see that you’re not at any regular old bar. This sprawling, tree-filled outdoor venue opened more than 40 years ago as a historically African-American rodeo arena, but has since the beginning played host to monthly zydeco shows that are almost too fun to be believed.

On their once-a-month zydeco nights, the folks who run Lil Henry’s open up the walls of a giant barn-type building and the band plays to an open room filled to the brim with dancin’ and folks posted up at tables with food and drink.

I caught a Lil Nate show here a couple weeks back and the setup was perfect for hangin’ around all night: crawfish and links cooking outside, music on the inside and friendly people having a great time everywhere.

The drinks: are BYOL (bring your own liquor) but you can grab a beer from the bar, which we recommend because they’re cheap ($2.50 for a Bud Lite) and it throws a little money the venue’s way. But you’re more than welcome to bring a few bottles of the hard stuff to sip between dances.

The best time to get outside: Once a month when zydeco bands play. Upcoming shows are Brian Jack & the Zydeco Gamblers on May 28 and J. Paul Jr. & the Zydeco Nubreeds on June 18. Both are $12.

This one’s great for: an adventure. This is no pop-in, pop-out venue; you make a night of it. Bring a bottle of liquor and your dancin’ shoes and get ready to

hear some fantastic music in a truly remarkable venue.

Pro tip: Make sure you have plenty of cash when you get there because it’s quite the drive to get back to anywhere there might be an ATM. And once you’re in their parking lot, it’s not that easy to get out, at least while people are still coming in the entrance.

Madison’s
4020 Dowlen Road, Beaumont

The patio: is covered, cozy and cute. This bar is warm on a cold night, cool on a hot night and ready for any weather situation. It may seem small, but the entertainment is large. This patio defies logic because the more people it contains, the friendlier everyone gets.

The drinks: Often the beer on draft outside is different from the indoor options, so take a seat up on the bar and study their taps before ordering. Beer-lovers aren’t hard to find on this patio. Make sure you ask about drink specials as they often pair nicely when there is live entertainment.

The best time to get outside: evenings are best on the Madison’s patio. There’s something happening almost every night: From karaoke to acoustic sets, if it’s live music you’re looking for, Madison’s has you covered. El Floppy Tacos plays every Tuesday night and the bar has just recently started hosting acoustic showcases with original local bands on Thursday nights.

This one’s great for: Getting a drink outside on a crappy day. With plenty of heating, air conditioning and shelter from the weather, you can be outside while protected from the elements.

Boomtown BBQ Company
5555 Calder Ave., Beaumont

The patio: is a huge wrap-around that seats about 50 people. This is one of those places where it’d be a shame to not sit on the patio. It’s covered with screens to protect you from the elements and has an ambiance that is immediate when you walk in. It smells like, well, Texas: woodsmoke and BBQ sauce. Yum.

The drinks: $3 beer (Bud Lite, Michelob Ultra, Coors Lite, Shiner Bock, Lone Star) that’s available for grabbing from an icy tub as you’re waiting in line, or try their $4 margaritas.

The best time to get outside: when they have live music on the patio from 6 to 9 p.m. most Fridays and Saturdays. Someone will be at a bar on the patio slingin’ beers so you don’t have to trek back indoors.

This one’s great for: those times when you want a little Texas ambiance. The sights, the sounds, the delicious smells and the even tastier, fall-off-the-bone BBQ all make it a pleasant place to have some meat ’n’ beer.

Pro tip: Just about everyone I know has been raving about their Taco Bomb.

Blue Iguana Patio
at Tequila Rok
260 Crockett St., Beaumont

The patio: is one of our favorite patios in town. It’s big and open with tables in the center, lounge seating around the perimeter and a covered stage great for

when bands play. It’s got great ambient lighting and just feels good out there.

There’s a fire pit for smokers to gather around on chilly nights and a balcony if you’d like to get a bird’s eye view of the things.

The drinks: are ample since it’s a full bar, but they’ve got dollar margaritas and an excellent selection of tequila. And when things aren’t too slammed, bartenders are pretty good about popping out to the patio to see if you need a refill.

The best time to get outside: On Thursday nights, the folks at Zydeco Louisiana Diner cook up crawfish you can eat on the patio while sipping drinks from Tequila Rok. It’s a pleasant, spicy way to get Thirsty Thursday under way. They also show movies sometimes on Sunday nights.

This one’s great for: crawfish on a Thursday, sure, but it’s also just a great spot to have a drink outside.

The patio’s extra fun when Tequila Rok hosts bands, which they’ve been doing a lot more of lately. Recently they had a pretty hoppin’ dubstep night with DJ Amran Duran and on April 21, JB and the Moonshine Band will play the Blue Iguana stage.

Star Bar
296 Crockett St., Beaumont

The patio: is the best place to watch what’s going on with Crockett Street while keeping hydrated. Though it has plenty of seating, leaning up against the railing or the walls are popular for people who have desk jobs and sit all day. Plus, staying mobile is key, as you’ll want to explore this long patio and meet some of the interesting people who frequent this upstairs deck for a smoke.

The drinks: aren’t served outside, but you can order inside and bring to the patio. Just watch your step when transporting drinks, especially during crowded periods.

The best time to get outside: on a weekend night when there is action on the street below. With this vantage point, you don’t want to waste it on a slow evening. Thursday night is college night at this place, with Club 8.0 Fridays.  Saturday nights are usually busy, too.

This one’s great for: a small group of friends who enjoy people-watching to grab a table and have a conversation without yelling.

Pro tip: Stand upwind of smokers if you don’t smoke, as this is a popular location to share cigarettes with strangers.

New York Pizza and Pasta
4405 Calder Ave., Beaumont

The patio: is small with only six tables out there, but it’s cute and cozy and has a great view of the sprawling, well-kept estates that line Thomas Road. And soon it’ll be great for watching construction workers tear up Calder as part of the drainage project.

The drinks: are BYOB here, with a $5 corkage per table.

The best time to get outside: We love Saturday afternoons here when it’s nice and quiet, and you can enjoy a delicious $2 slice while watching folks in the neighborhood go about their weekend business.

This one’s great for: Grabbing a slice of pizza and sharing a bottle of wine with a few close friends on a sunny afternoon.

Pro tip: Check out the other gems this shopping center has to offer, like Read Before Books with its great deals on used books and Baja Indian Food, a fantastic little family-run place that’s great for picking up easy-to-make Indian dishes or some incense to get the funk out of your pad.

Goodfella’s
3350 Dowen Road Suite H, Beaumont

The patio: Part covered and part not, this patio is great because you can get some sunshine if you want to, and they’ve got live music out there a few nights a week.

The drinks: This place has an excellent wine selection if that’s what you’re in the market for, but $12 all-you-can-drink mimosas during Sunday brunch hit the spot every time.

The best time to get outside: Every Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., when they have an amazing traditional and contemporary brunch menu. Try the

crab benedict. Trust me on that.

This one’s great for: a swanky Sunday brunch with your best friends. If you want to end your weekend on a high note, this is definitely the place to go for high-end food and mimosas to take the edge off the day.

The West Bar & Grill
6445 Calder Ave., Beaumont

The patio: has seven or eight tables that get snatched up fast when the bar’s busy. It’s a cute New Orleans-esque building that forces you to walk through the patio as you make your way into the bar.

The drinks: are a’plenty at this full-service bar. Most of this bar’s employees drink here when they’re not on shift, so ask one of them what they recommend if you can’t decide.

The best time to get outside: lunch, dinner or smoke breaks before last call: This patio’s equipped for all of it.

This one’s great for: TVs out here make the patio popular when there’s a good game to watch, but this patio’s good for everything from lunch with co-workers to making a mess of yourself on the West’s Wednesday crawfish nights to having a smoke break while drinking.

Thirsty’s
229 Dowlen Road, Beaumont

The patio: is at the back of the bar and is pretty tiny — since it’s basically just a covered carport turned into a patio — but it’s got two tables, a few chairs and some standing room if you’re coming out for a smoke while drinking.

The drinks: are ample here as it’s a full bar. The bartenders here are super-fun with a heavy pour, so buy ’em a shot and enjoy the party.

The best time to get outside: Thirsty Thursdays are this bar’s biggest draw, and the crowd is really fun on those nights, with folks from every age and demographic and plenty of Beaumont’s most heavily tattooed. And most of those folks smoke, so you can bet the patio will be filled with characters.

This one’s great for: meeting new people while out drinking. The patio is small enough that it’s impossible not to become part of everyone else’s party.

Rancho Grande
230 Crockett St., Beaumont
7670 Memorial Blvd., Port Arthur

The patio: There are two Ranch Grandes, and both have great patios.

On Crockett, the patio’s pleasantly outfitted with twinkly Christmas lights and a water fountain. This is a popular lunch spot during the week and also popular for a happy hour margarita. The Port Arthur location has an ample patio complete with a pleasant thatched roof.

The drinks: Both restaurants have a full bar, but who cares? You didn’t come here for a gin and tonic. They’ve got at least a dozen tequilas ranging in price from a $5 shot of Sauza all the way up to a $14 serving of Don Julio 1942. They’ve got standard domestic and import beers, too, but this place also has excellent margaritas (house, flavored and top shelf) and they’ve got no fewer than three margaritas made with Patron. You can even make it a jumbo for $3 more. Yes, please.

The best time to get outside: Happy hour from 2 to 6 p.m. every day, when you can get a small house or flavored margarita for $3 and a jumbo for $6.

This one’s great for: Daytime margarita-drinkin’ while enjoying some deliciously cheesy Tex-Mex.

Dylan’s
8601 9th Ave., Port Arthur

The patio: is a two-for-one at this place. There’s a small one with plush, modern outdoor furniture and a fireplace perfect for keeping things cozy on a chilly night.

But there’s also a recently revamped patio near the main bar that has tons of seating, an outdoor bar, TVs, a game of washers and tons of airflow.

The drinks: are plentiful, since Dylan’s is a full bar, but they’ve also got a full menu of food and crawfish every Wednesday, three pounds for $10.

The best time to get outside: Anytime, really. These patios are just plain lovely.

This one’s great for: a change of scenery while you’re at Dylan’s shooting pool, drinkin’ or catching some live music. Pop outside for some fresh air and to see who you meet.

Cafe Del Rio
2830 I-10 East, Beaumont

The patio: is sizeable, covered for all-weather dining and has great service. This place has a great ambiance if you’re feeling festive.

The drinks: Margaritas abound. Try the Tequila Mockingbird, made with Sauza Tres Generaciones tequila, Blue Curaço, orange juice and sweet and sour mix.

The best time to get outside: dinner time, when they often have live bands playing out here.

This one’s great for: hearing some music, sipping a margarita and enjoying some of the best Tex-Mex in town. Also a very popular workday lunch spot.

Taste of Orleans
at Gator Country
21159 FM 365, Beaumont

The patio: is a sprawling deck with a hell of a view overlooking gator-filled ponds. The gators seem to like hanging out and watching you as much as you like ogling them.

The drinks: No booze here, but grab a po’ boy before you head into Gator Country to meet some of the local talent.

The best time to get outside: Everyone’s gotta see Gator Country at least once during their time here, and visitors love to catch a glimpse of local wildlife. This joint even has baby crocodiles inside the restaurant, so there’s no shortage on stuff to see.

This one’s great for: stopping for some gumbo or po’ boys while showing out-of-town visitors the kind of creatures that lurk in our still waters.

Suga’s Deep South Cuisine & Jazz Bar
461 Bowie St., Beaumont

The patio: is by far one of the nicest in town. Brick walls, crisp white tablecloths and plenty of greenery. It’s gorgeous.

The drinks: They’ve got a full bar here with some excellent bartenders. Try their Calypso or the apple mojito.

The best time to get outside: Sunday brunch is from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and it’s delicious. There’s a buffet and omelets made to order. There’s live music inside, but this patio’s so nice, get outside while you can.

This one’s great for: Sunday brunch when your family’s in town or a brunch date.

The Orleans Street Pub and Patio
650 Orleans St., Beaumont

The patio: is pretty huge. Head all the way through the bar and out the back and you’ll find folks from every walk of life. When it’s busy, they have someone out here selling beer, and you’re liable to see everything from drag queens to refinery workers and everything in between.

The drinks: will come mostly from the bar inside, but they’ve got all the bar stand-bys. Ask the bartender if there are any drink specials.

The best time to get outside: The bar’s new Thursday night live music (which is free) is really popular but they also have drag shows a few nights a week. Find them on Facebook to see what’s up.

This one’s great for: meeting people with some serious stories to tell. Folks here are diverse, friendly and love to hang out on the patio to chain-smoke.

Starvin Marvin’s
2310 N. 11th St., Beaumont

The patio: is one of the biggest — and most controversial — in Beaumont, with ample seating, an outdoor fireplace, a full bar, epic-sized lawn perfect for cartwheeling and live music every night, Starvin Marvin’s is a place where you go to sit outside.

The neighbors next door aren’t too thrilled about the patio (and the sounds coming from it), but it’s hard to argue that it’s a pretty nice one.

The drinks: are available from the indoor or outdoor bar. Sometimes the indoor bar has a shorter wait.

The best time to get outside: anytime you want lunch, dinner or drinks outside. This place is open seven days a week.

This one’s great for: catching live music in Beaumont because they bring in original bands and there’s never a cover.

Carlito’s
890 Amarillo St., Beaumont

The patio: Light streams in through the criss-cross latticework on this cozy

patio, which is the perfect place to grab a light beer and some nachos.

The drinks: are beer and margaritas, but the margaritas aren’t made with liquor here so we say stick to a nice Mexican beer to wash down your Tacos Al Carbon.

The best time to get outside: anytime the weather’s crappy, because this one’s protected from the elements. This patio is great for any weather.

This patio’s great for: post-work Mexican food and beer. The staff is friendly and the food is spot-on, plus you’re in the Avenues, so the nearby mercados and western stores make for great post-meal shopping.

McAllister’s
3050 Dowlen Road, Beaumont

The patio: is a great place to take time on a busy day to replenish your Vitamin D and enjoy a healthy alternative to fast lunches.

The drinks: if you haven’t tried their sweet tea, you’re missing out. Don’t worry about having to walk for your refills; employees walk around to collect plates and help you with anything you might need.

The best time to get outside: after the lunch rush, when you have a better chance of catching the best seat in the shade.

This one’s great for: a healthy lunch out with co-workers.

Pro tip: Ask for the umbrellas. They’re not always out, but they do exist.