A (Brief) Farewell to Al Fresco Dining - City & BDA Seeking Feedback for Next Year

A (Brief) Farewell to Al Fresco Dining
City & BDA Seeking Feedback for Next Year

As cooler weather approaches, we temporarily say goodbye to this year's Al Fresco expanded outdoor dining program. The on-street patios along Main Street will close on Sunday, Sept. 19, while sidewalk patios may remain open as long as weather and demand allows.

To ensure that on-street dining continues and to create an even better Al Fresco program in 2022, we are seeking feedback on the Old Bellevue dining experience. If you visited Main Street this year, please share your thoughts with us and the City of Bellevue in a short survey. Last year’s survey revealed that 80% of visitors were more likely to visit Main Street again because of the outdoor dining, and one in three said they made a purchase at a retailer while they were dining out. This program does more than provide extra space for dining -- it helps other businesses nearby.

Patrick Bannon, President of the Bellevue Downtown Association, emphasized how amazing the community has been in supporting the program.

“Our local businesses, the city and customers deserve great credit for making the al fresco program a success,” said Bannon. “It’s rewarding to see the special value it gives the community and our restaurants as they recover from the pandemic.”

Take Al Fresco Survey

Throughout the dining program, we created a weekly #AlFrescoFriday blog series that promoted more than 50 restaurants and cafés across the city. To conclude our series for the year, here's a list of some of our favorite patios we visited this season.

ON-STREET & SMART-CASUAL SPACES

• Bis On Main
  With a dedication to quality and service, Bis On Main offers an intimate and personal feel that sets them apart. They offer a full premium bar with great food, great atmosphere and great company.
• Monsoon
  Monsoon strives to bring authentic and delicious Vietnamese dishes using only local ingredients from the Pacific Northwest. Come in for the food and stay for the warm atmosphere and welcoming staff.
• Other on-street patio dining included: Fern Thai, Cantinetta and 520 Bar & grill.

COZY & COMFY PATIOS

• JOEY Bellevue
  Enlivening Eastside experiences, JOEY is a vibrant spot with an energetic lounge and desirable patio, bringing a casual upscale restaurant experience to Bellevue.
• SUITE Restaurant + Lounge
  SUITE is an award-winning restaurant and popular nightspot offering shareable and portable small plates as well as unique entertainment like aerial performances and DJ nights.
• Andiamo Ristorante
  Standing its ground since 1993, Andiamo offers a cozy, romantic Italian Restaurant in Downtown Bellevue. They feature numerous award-winning dishes, a long list of delicious wines and charming outdoor seatings.

PATIOS WITH A VIEW

• Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi
  Situated on the 31st floor, Ascend offers a panoramic view of the city paired with delicious elevated food for those wanting a fine-dining experience.
• Daniel's Broiler
  Daniel's Broiler sits nicely on the 23rd floor where guest can enjoy a stunning view while enjoying top-quality steak with a large selection of high-end cocktails for any occasion.

TENTS & COVERED DINING

• Bake's Place Bar & Bistro
  You only have to find them once. Bake's Place exudes atmosphere and elegance featuring outdoor covered and heated areas serving high-quality food and an ever-revolving craft cocktail program.
• Central Bar + Restaurant
  Uniquely Bellevue, Central is a dressy yet casual place to celebrate the most important occasions of our lives. The 4,000 square foot space is a social hive, there is always something happening at Central whether it's morning, noon or night.
• El Gaucho
  Get to the know the El Gaucho experience, a nice blend of impeccable service and exceptional quality of food and drinks. Each ritual, from the initial step into the restaurant to the fire-dancing dessert, it's all part of the unique , unparalleled dining at El Gaucho.

CURBSIDE COFFEE STOPS

• Café Cesura
  Café Cesura is a local staple after 10 years in Bellevue. Owner Sean Nickerson believes coffee represents the community where it's cultivated, and he strives to present it in a worthy way.
• Third Culture Coffee
  Third Culture Coffee continues to transcend borders and bring together the tradition and history of coffee and tea. They welcome all to try handcrafted drinks from all around the world.

QUICK & SIMPLE PATIOS

• Blazing Bagels
  Nothing about Blazing Bagels is average. Their bagels have a mission: to provide a positive "OMG" sensory experience that starts right when a customer comes through the door.
• Bellevue Square Fountain Court
  Set right outside of Macy's, Bellevue Square Fountain Court offers an interactive atmosphere where you can find two grab-and-go eateries. Get a taste of Istanbul Cuisine Cafe or build your own poke bowl at MIX Poke Bar.

These are just the few that we have enjoyed sharing and writing about. See more participating patios on our al fresco directory.

The on-street dining spaces were made possible by a close partnership between the BDA, the City of Bellevue and Old Bellevue Merchants Association, with generous sponsorship from Microsoft.

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This blog is part of the Heart of Bellevue: our campaign to showcase local businesses while connecting you with stories of activity, creativity and recovery. Find out about our campaign and explore more of what’s happening around Downtown.