EAT OUTSIDE: EXPLORING DOWNTOWN CAMBRIDGE'S PATIO SCENE

EVO Kitchen & Bar

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EXPLORING DOWNTOWN CAMBRIDGE’S PATIO SCENE

WORDS & PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN

It’s no secret that summers are for patios. Even a cursory glance at almost any downtown core across our region is proof of this, as ‘patio districts’ – initially created as temporary remedies for the financial beatdowns that restaurants endured during rolling COVID restrictions – have (thankfully) found permanent seasonal homes in a handful of area communities. While Kitchener, Guelph, Elora, and other regional culinary destinations have created unique patio districts of their own (each of which is worth visiting), for this piece we’ll be shining a light on the Downtown Cambridge patio scene. Where to go. What to eat. How to enjoy the stay.

The core of the Downtown Cambridge ‘patio district’ is Main Street where, from late-May through mid-October, lower Main is transformed into a pedestrian-only thoroughfare dotted with covered patio structures, animated by artificial green spaces set up with Muskoka chairs, and brought to life through live music performances (including the Galt Jazz Music concert series held on the first Sunday of each month from 2-5pm). The whole lower Main Street vibe is soul-stirring and will have you thinking of summer trips to Rome and Paris, Munich and Kraków, enjoying yourself on patios and pedestrian streets reminiscent of this one. (All that’s missing is the ubiquitous European smell of cigarette smoke and diesel fumes.)

At the bottom of the street, where Main meets Water Street, the inviting seating of Local 13 (13 Main St) covers the sidewalk and sprawls out onto the street. This pub-

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focused establishment – a go-to patio destination for locals and visitors alike – is actually two enterprises stacked on top of each other (Local Taproom and 13 Food & Beverage). And its menu is varied and delicious. From Detroit-style pizzas to kimchi rice bowls; quinoa & mushroom veggie burgers to ‘dirty bird’ fried chicken – Local 13’s got it all. We recommend you visit with an empty stomach. Just wanting a drink? The place also has an extensive rotating craft beer list, a wine list, and plenty of cocktail options.

Not in the mood for pub fare and cold beer? Then move along lower Main towards Ainslie Street and, about halfway up the street on your lefthand side, you’ll run into The Healthy Rabbit Café (40 Main St), with its cozy patio tucked into the rear of the place. This establishment is best enjoyed when you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of Main Street festivities. Featuring everything from fresh salads and power bowls to superfood smoothies and unique iced teas, The Healthy Rabbit will definitely have you feeling energized and ready to conquer the town. A favourite pairing of ours: the ‘Roasted Sweet Potato Burrito’ (roasted sweet potato, turmeric rice, black beans, pico de gallo, fire-roasted corn, mozzarella, spicy aioli) with a ‘Chocolate Monkey’ smoothie (organic cocoa powder, banana, homemade coconut mylk, organic cane syrup).

At the corner of Main and Ainslie, The Local Eatery (69 Main St) is another destination for lighter fare that won’t get you overheating in the summer sun: items like breakfast bagels, vitality bowls, grilled sandwiches, quesadillas, and smoothies – including the ‘Horchata’ (banana, almond milk, and raw plant protein). While The Local Eatery patio is relatively small (a smattering of tables outside the front door), it’s shaded by trees and exudes a lively, welcoming vibe.

In the mood for coffee, perhaps? A frothy latte? Or iced americano? Then you’ve got a decision to make. From the intersection at Main and Ainslie, you can either saunter up Main until you hit Coffee Culture (138 Main St) or meander down Ainslie (past The Local Eatery) to Cambridge’s hometown coffee roaster, Monigram (16 Ainslie St S). If you opt for Coffee Culture, post up on the charming patio around the side of the place – replete with lovely flower boxes and large umbrella-protected tables – and enjoy one of the place’s signature ‘Ccinos: cold drinks made with espresso, dairy-base mix, all-natural syrups and sauces, topped with whipped cream. If you decide on Monigram, you'll find that any of their espresso-based drinks, ready to be enjoyed on their gaggle of simple yet utilitarian tables and chairs positioned out front, are winners. Consider either place a ‘pick-me-up’ stop between your lower Main patio meanderings and what many consider Downtown Cambridge’s patio mecca: EVO Bar & Kitchen (31 Water St S).

Stretching the length of a re-purposed old factory building, EVO’s side patio is serene, cozy, romantic, and roofed with a creeping vine that will keep you cool and protected from the sun. And get this: there’s a rear patio too. Expansive, and protected from the sun by umbrellas, larger canvas awnings, and even a length of a re-purposed shipping container, this is where you’ll want to settle in with larger groups of family or friends. What’s good here? EVO’s cocktails are always on point, as are its apps – including such delectable treats as ‘Crispy Pork Belly’ and ‘Fresh Rainbow Spring Rolls', or other great options that might appear on EVO's dynamic bill of fare.

When you’ve finished up at EVO, swing a right out the front door and walk a few blocks down Water Street towards the not-to-be-missed intimate outdoor space at The Black Badger (55 Water St N) – the core’s British pub. Positioned beneath the place’s Tudor-style wood beam and stucco exterior, and set underneath its pergolalike structure, the Badger’s cosy patio – which is quaint, homey, and perfect for pints of Kilkenny and servings of blackened steak bites, fish ‘n chips, steak & mushroom pot pie, and beef vindaloo – is a distinctive treat.

Since you’re this far down Water already, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t hit up the Cambridge Mill (100 Water St N) – Downtown Cambridge’s fine dining establishment. While the

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wonderfully-restored mill may be known primarily as a major wedding destination, its restaurant – featuring multiple dining rooms overlooking the Grand River (including an open-air main dining space that could easily be counted as a sort of patio, and that's divine in warmer months) – offers elevated regionallysourced menu items, a great wine list, and a gracious atmosphere.

If Cambridge Mill’s airy dining room isn't quite 'al fresco' enough for you, there's always the everpopular L.A. Frank’s (104 Water St S) – a take-out-only joint across from the Mill at the edge of Mill Race Park. With plenty of outdoor seating and a menu that specializes in summertime ‘park grub’ (including burgers, dogs, fries, melts, milk shakes, ice cream floats and more), it’s a family fave.

Are you rather in the mood for a craft beer fix? If a wide selection of bottles and cans is what you’re after, then it’s the Old Galt Bottle Shop (135 St George N) for you. Located directly across the river from the Mill, OG has a fantastic covered front porch-like patio appointed with large picnic-style tables that offer a perfect venue for friendly gatherings. If it’s crushable lagers and cold seltzers you’re after, a visit to Foundry Brewing (74 Grand Ave S) might be right up your avenue. And although the brewery doesn’t have its patio right now (due to construction at the Gaslight Condos development), we still recommend you stop by to grab some cans for your next backyard gathering with friends.

And if you’re craving a true ‘craft brewery’ atmosphere, you won’t beat Farm League Brewing (295 Ainslie St S). Located inside the old Cambridge Knife Company building, this brewery oozes character and personality. Year-round, we love the taproom inside Farm League, with its patina’d yellow brick walls, massive factory windows, and a wooden accent wall (where painted signage lets people know that Farm League brew is ‘Best Paired With Good Times’). But now, during these warmer months, we never miss the opportunity to enjoy a flight on the place’s wood-chip covered rustic patio area (the farmhouse ale, by the way, is a winner).

So there you have it: the Downtown Cambridge patio scene in a nutshell. It’s all here. It’s all walkable. And it’s all so good. Sunscreen not included.

EAT. SHOP. EXPLORE.

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