Summer arrived early this year and I am remiss. Last year we called attention to the spots in Edmonds that offer dining out in the sunshine. With sunny days and warm temperatures it is time to update our list. I found new locations that have “outdoor seating” as an option.

Brigids’ Bottleshop has a lush outdoor area. Enjoy the lovely flowers and comfortable setting while sipping a cold brew.

Sip a cup of tea in the shade, or nibble on assorted tea sandwiches and other delightful noshes, at Baicha Tea Room.

Copper Pot Indian restaurant is sporting a very nice outdoor dining area as well this season. They have capitalized on all their outdoor space. There is even a table tucked in the area by the parking lot.

Salt and Iron expanded its space both inside and outside last August. Seats in the sunshine are plentiful on Main Street this summer.

Outdoor dining on the move: Here and There Grill sets up a lovely table when it is parked at 4th and Dayton. Enjoy your meal, or just rest in the shade while you are waiting for your order. I love the re-purposed colanders as table décor. New menu item alert: Peruvian Butifarra Sandwich – aji pepper-rubbed pork loin, aioli, salsa criolla (red onion, aji pepper, cilantro, lime juice) lettuce on toasted French baguette. I just love it when our local chefs go on vacation, to exotic places like South America, and we get to taste the results. Thanks Julie, and my apologies- I didn’t get a photo to share, but Edmonds folks can purchase this week and taste for themselves.

Spud Fish and Chips’ Edmonds location has opened their deck. The lively space is filled with tables shaded by umbrellas. Customers can enjoy delicious Spud meals, al fresco.

Speaking of Spud- Can’t get enough of that tartar sauce? Forget to pick up a jar on your last visit? This summer, shoppers can purchase jars of Spud’s original tartar sauce in stores like the Met Markets.

Restaurants nearby offer plenty of patio spots

My Edmonds Restaurant News took a trip to Lynnwood to dine at Indigo Kitchen and Alehouse. Outdoor patio tables, topped with bright umbrellas, were full on both sides of the main restaurant on the sunny afternoon. Ditto the interior tables, which indicate that Indigo is a popular spot with local diners.

Open for lunch, dinner and happy hour seven days a week, Indigo offers delicious comfort food, salads, sandwiches and decadent desserts. Serious about their beer, they have 20 draft beers on tap in addition to a wide variety of house and classic cocktails. Wine list includes a respectable group of whites and reds, from Washington, Oregon and California.

Happy hour meant I could order many items, without guilt and without significant damage to my wallet. Items ranged from $3 – $7.50 and the pours on wine were generous. My job requires I report on as much of the fare offered as I can, at the eateries I review, so I dug in.

Spinach & Artichoke Dip appears on many menus, but at Indigo Kitchen it tastes fresh and like a great recipe we make at home. Still-crisp vegetables in a light sauce disappeared in rapid order as we scooped it up on triangles of warm pita that accompanied the dish. Everybody’s Law of Nature Pale was the perfect beverage to enjoy with this item.

Warm temperatures make me want salads, so I ordered two. Caesar Salad arrived with a light coating of dressing, crisp croutons and shaved parmesan. Roasted beets topped crispy romaine, dollops of fresh goat cheese, dressed with an apple cider made this almost perfect — almost. The addition of canned mandarin orange slices didn’t pair well with the other ingredients. I saw this salad on the dinner menu with salmon, as an entrée. That would be a better combination, in my opinion.

The name Arancini, translated from Italian, means “little orange.” The shape and color is reminiscent of an orange after cooking and a generous plateful was only $4.50. The crispy balls of rice, stuffed with mozzarella and prosciutto, melted in my mouth. The Canyons house red, a Cabernet, tasted great and complimented the Italian pork hidden inside the crispy orbs.

Coconut Shrimp as an appetizer were crispy and delicious. I noticed these are also offered as an entrée with a side of rice and asparagus. Sweet and tangy sauce had us swiping the bowl to get every last drop.

A plate of Blackened Ahi Tuna, still perfect and pink, was accompanied by a piquant salsa of pineapple that complimented each bite.

Restaurant News always finds room for dessert, and the description of Cinnamon Bread Pudding tempted this reporter. A cup of Seattle’s Best coffee ended the meal on a perfect note.

I recommend repeated visits to readers, so they can enjoy more tastes from the ample menu offered at Indigo Ale House.

Inquiring minds…
Wonder what’s in the works at Aurora Village parking lot? Restaurant News has it on good authority that a new Starbucks will occupy this space, on the pad under construction across from the Petsmart. It will be a drive-up unit similar to the Westgate location at 100th and Edmonds Way.

— By Kathy Passage

A specialty gourmet food broker for over 30 years, Kathy Passage has in-depth knowledge on food and the special qualities of ingredients used in the exquisite products she helped bring to market. Kathy brings this unique perspective from the “other side of the plate” to writing about the food and restaurant scene in Edmonds.