Hasta la vista: The Water Works has a proposal-worthy view overlooking Boathouse Row. (photo by michael persico)

Field Guide

Dining outside.

by Tim McGinnis

There are great places to dine out in the open other than your 2-by-2-foot South Philly backyard or Market Street, where bridge-and-tunnelers pretend SEPTA exhaust wafting over their crudites isn’t nauseating. To help navigate the real al fresco Philly finds, Field Guide throws on its Ray-Bans circa 1984 and basks like an iguana at some of the brightest al fresco dining spots around.

If You Love the Herb

The Herb Garden Lounge at Gayle (617 S. Third St. 215.922.3850) is a 20-seat fenced-in, summer-centric high-end picnic spot. After 9 o’clock they serve $5 to $10 seasonal small plates like lobster rolls with lavender, chicken and waffles with chanterelle mushrooms and soft shell crab with asparagus tuille. Cool cocktails like the herbaceous garden tonic made with thyme-infused vodka, lemon and fresh mint keep it fresh. Summer never tasted so good. C W

If You Want to be Bootstrap Bill

The pirate staff at Bongo Bar & Deck (401 S. Columbus Blvd. 215.923.2500) aboard the good ship Moshulu on the Delaware River won’t let you raise the mizzen mast, but they’ll fry you up some light and tender Narragansett Bay calamari and serve up beautiful views of Jersey and desserts like mini ice cream sandwiches and old-school cones. Aye matey, it’s good! Sodomy not included. C S L V

If You Need a History Lesson

Charles Dickens once noted, “In Philadelphia there is a place that is wondrous to behold, and that is the Philadelphia Waterworks.” Instead of pumping water, nowadays Water Works Restaurant and Lounge (1 Boathouse Row. 215.236.9000) pumps out wonderful appetizers like a tartare duo of salmon with potatoes and tuna with cucumbers. Take in the view of Boathouse Row and wash dinner down with a “Q” cumbertini; ’tis wondrous thing indeed. C S L $ V W

If You Have Green Thumbs

The Mt. Airy landmark Cresheim Cottage Cafe (7402 Germantown Ave. 215.248.4365) has an outdoor patio surrounded by a flower and herb garden. Lemon basil adds just the right amount of grassy citrus to the dill-spiked gazpacho, and the sweet beet and pineapple salad with bleu cheese and vanilla oil imbues the historic backyard locale with a slightly tropical vibe. I think this is what they mean by victory garden. C S L V W

If You Can Handle South Street

Down near Headhouse Square, Bridget Foy’s (200 South St. 215.922.1813) is perfect for people watching. The pageant of suburbanites glimmers on while you munch on Foy’s eclectic American fare. The appetizer of scallops and blood orange reduction and a strong kiwi caipirinha puts you in just the right frame of mind to be amused by the heathen hordes. C S L W

If You’re Not Afraid of Litigation

The patio at Bubble House (3404 Sansom St. 215.243.0804) in University City sits directly across from Penn’s Law School. That means if you wanted to, and we aren’t saying you should, you could spit tapioca pearls at the passing future lawyers of America. The ones at Penn. Yeah, yeah, I have an attitude. So sue me. C L W