12 patios and outdoor dining spots perfect for spring's arrival in Columbia, mid-Missouri
Missouri loves itself a false spring or two — or three.
Whenever the weather stops faking us out, and spring temperatures stabilize, mid-Missourians will head outside to enjoy the start of a concurrent season: patio dining time.
Many spots in and around Columbia deserve your attention. Here are just 12 with dedicated patios or outdoor seating, and a very cursory glance at what they have to offer.
Hours of operation and menu items are, of course, subject to change.
Barred Owl Butcher and Table
Where: 47 E. Broadway
Enticing entrees: While the menu changes seasonally, staples such as shrimp and grits shine as do butcher boards and the pimiento cheese smashburger
Promising drinks: The Cold Black Heart (tequila, spicy pepper vodka, pamplemousse rose, grapefruit, lime and lava salt); the Southbound revolves around smoked tequila and mezcal; the Manhattan Fashioned is a rye old-fashioned with a Manhattan ice cube
Hours of operation: 4:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 4:30-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday brunch
Website: https://www.barredowlbutcher.com/
More: Barred Owl staff brings playful spirits to cocktail creation, including Cold Black Heart
Cafe Berlin
Where: 220 N. Tenth St.
Enticing entrees: Apples and sausage; the Starving Artist (biscuit topped with potatoes, eggs, greens and chipotle vegetarian gravy); tempeh Reuben
Hours of operation: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; closed Tuesdays
Website: https://www.cafeberlincomo.com/
More: Why Cafe Berlin's Apples and Sausage is 'the perfect kind of weird'
Cooper's Landing
Where: 11505 Smith Hatchery Road
Enticing entrees: Cooper's Landing serves a variety of hot and cold sandwiches (from ham and Swiss to meatball subs) and hosts assorted food trucks — March vendors included Ozark Mountain Biscuit, Big Hungry Patty Wagon, Lilly's Cantina and Zydeco's Cajun Kitchen
Promising drinks: A variety of local beers and hard ciders as well as canned cocktails
Hours of operation: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday-Sunday
Website: https://cooperslandingmo.com/
Dive Bar
Where: 1116 Business Loop 70 E
Enticing entrees: Lobster chipotle mac; Lower Ashland sandwich (pulled chicken, peppers, onions, beer cheese); portobello Alfredo
Promising drinks: Whiskey sour; Hamilton's Envy (blends Angel's Envy whiskey with Hamilton's Pimento Rum)
Hours of operation: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-12 a.m. Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday; patio opens April 12, per the Dive Bar website
Website: https://www.divebarcomo.com/
Flat Branch Pub and Brewing
Where: 115 S. Fifth St.
Enticing entrees: pork chop with cherry stout reduction; Flat Branch burger topped with chokes 'n' cheese; spicy grilled Ahi wrap
Promising drinks: Flat Branch pours a wide range of staple and rotating beers, including Ed's IPA, green chili ale and Oil Change oatmeal stout
Hours of operation: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Website: https://www.flatbranch.com/
Las Margaritas
Where: Las Margaritas has three Columbia locations, but the patio at 10 Southampton Drive often earns plaudits
Enticing entrees: Enchiladas rancheras; chile Colorado; vegetarian fajitas
Promising drinks: Varied margaritas and daiquiris
Hours of operation: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Website: https://www.lasmargaritascolumbia.com/
Les Bourgeois Bistro
Where: 14020 W. Highway BB, Rocheport
Enticing entrees: Bavette steak, confit chicken and gnocchi, stuffed peppers with mushroom sausage and grain risotto
Promising drinks: Plenty of Les Bourgeois wine, of course
Hours of operation: 3-9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday
Website: https://missouriwine.com/wine-dine/the-bistro/
More: Missouri roots, French cuisine make the menu at The Bistro, located in Rocheport
Ozark Mountain Biscuit and Bar
Where: 1204 Hinkson Ave.
Enticing entrees: Chicken fried steak; polenta and vegetable platter; fried or blackened catfish
Promising drinks: Midmomosa; deluxe Bloody Mary; Secret Breakfast (bourbon infused with coffee beans, maple syrup and orange juice)
Hours of operation: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday, Wednesday-Friday; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
Website: https://ozarkbiscuits.com/
More: All-you-can-eat biscuits part of Ozark Mountain's new Sunday Supper Club
Room 38
Where: 38 N. Eighth St.
Enticing entrees: Steak burrata; pear and prosciutto flatbread; candied bacon burger
Promising drinks: assorted mojitos and mules; Darkside of the Moon-shine Sour (jalapeno, pineapple and cilantro-infused moonshine, agave, lime)
Hours of operation: 11 a.m.-1:30 a.m. Monday-Saturday; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday brunch
Website: https://room-38.com/
Shiloh Bar and Grill
Where: 402 E. Broadway
Enticing entrees: Slammin' salmon (with choice of garlic honey glaze or citrus cream sauce); spicy cheese curd burger; STL rib plate
Hours of operation: 11 a.m.-close Tuesday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday
Website: https://www.shilohcomo.com/
Sophia's
Where: 3915 S. Providence
Enticing entrees: Pasta Buonasera (cheese tortellini with pine nuts, tomato, spinach, scallions, white wine sauce and goat cheese); tarragon crab over paillard of salmon; brandy cream filet
Promising drinks: Sophia's boasts a deep wine menu
Hours of operation: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday
Website: https://sophiascomo.com/
Uprise Bakery
Where: 10 Hitt St.
Enticing entrees: Banh mi sandwich; Apple bacon cheddar sandwich; Thai Caesar salad
Promising drinks: Wide variety of draft, bottled and canned beer as well as cocktails
Hours of operation: 7 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday-Saturday (kitchen); 5 p.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday; 3 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday; 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday; and noon-midnight Sunday (bar)
Website: https://www.uprisebakery.com/
Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. Find him on Twitter @aarikdanielsen.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Eat outdoors this spring at these Columbia and mid-Missouri hotspots
