With spring here and summer quickly approaching, it’s the perfect time to check out some outdoor dining in Central Mass. This list is a compilation of personal family favorites and recommendations from friends. It’s such an extensive list, it’s divided into four categories: food is the main attraction, food and entertainment for the family, booze with some food, and ice cream with a side of food. Make sure to share your favorite outdoor dining spots in the comments!
Food is the main attraction:
The Boynton (Worcester)
There is outdoor seating, but this restaurant’s main selling point is the huge food menu with something for everyone and a great drink menu including dozens of beers on tap. You can make reservations online.
Brickstone Kitchen (Sutton)
The outdoor seating is picnic tables pretty close to a busy road, but there is a large food and drink menu (including a kids’ menu). Reservations are only accepted for parties of eight or more.
Flying Rhino Cafe (Worcester)
The menu is fun and eclectic, with brunch offered on the weekend. The hours are limited on some days of the week. The outdoor seating is on the sidewalk.
Harvard General Store (Harvard)
This is a great little spot for coffee or a meal outside on picnic tables. The Town Common, a large open field, is right across the street, and the elementary school’s impressive playground is close by. This picturesque area was one of the filming locations for the latest Little Women movie. Check the website for hours and details. Pizza is only available on Fridays and Saturdays.
Meadowbrook Orchards (Sterling)
This rural farm has a bakery, farm store, restaurant, and a little play area for children to burn some energy. Check the website for daily specials, event options, and more details.
The Mercantile (Worcester)
The outdoor seating is a rooftop bar, so it’s not the kind of outdoor seating that caters to young, energetic children. There is a kids’ menu if you’re looking for lunch on a weekend or an early dinner during the week while in the city. You can’t reserve an outdoor table.
NOLA Cajun Kitchen (West Boylston)
This very casual spot for Cajun food has a fenced-in, uncovered patio and a small kids’ menu. They host bands on Saturdays outside.
Pleasant Cafe (Maynard)
The Pleasant Cafe is one of several restaurants in downtown Maynard with outdoor seating. They offer pub food with some surprises and a kids’ menu.
Rail Trail Flatbread Co. (Hudson & Milford)
You can’t go wrong with delicious pizza and plenty of other fun and unique food options. At the Hudson location, the outdoor seating is a pretty small patio out back. Be sure to take a walk across the street to the New City Microcreamery for delicious ice cream and more outdoor seating. Try a couple of their one-of-a-kind flavors because there are always new and seasonal options.
Samuel Slater’s Restaurant (Webster)
The deck seating overlooks a gorgeous lake. This could be a great date night spot. Reservations are not accepted for the outdoor seating.
Slater’s (Bolton)
As Bolton residents, we frequent Slater’s fairly regularly. They have delicious wood-fired pizza and good barbecue, along with kids’ options. Their outdoor area is a beautifully landscaped patio with grass for children to stray from the table. The pavilion is available to rent for large parties and events.
Still Four Corners (Rutland)
This is a great casual place for families with a good kids’ menu and ice cream. They offer seating on a screened-in porch, an open porch, or indoors.
UxLocale (Uxbridge)
As seen on The Phantom Gourmet, this restaurant is a local gem for fresh, farm-to-table dining. Indulge in their expertly prepared pizzas, pasta, and diverse menu, all perfectly paired with craft beer and wine. Their beautifully designed outdoor space provides a cozy, bucolic setting ideal for a date night. Their dedication to fresh, local ingredients shines through every dish. While they’re open for dinner only, you can make reservations by phone for parties of four or more. This year, don’t miss their new ice cream window, open Wednesday-Sunday from 1 PM to 9 PM, serving up Gifford’s of Maine Ice Cream, milkshakes, and an espresso bar.
Welly’s (Hudson)
When we feel daring enough to take our two sons out to a real restaurant, Welly’s may be at the top of our list. They have a children’s menu with many options, and the regular menu has something for everyone. The outdoor seating is on the sidewalk in downtown Hudson, right by the rotary. While the traffic doesn’t create the ideal background for most, my young sons love watching all the vehicles go by, especially the trucks and emergency vehicles. If we see the doors open, sometimes we visit the fire station with very friendly firefighters right down the street. Welly’s is located on Main Street next door to Rail Trail, so it’s also right across the street from the New City Microcreamery.
Food and entertainment for the family:
Craft Food Halls (Boxborough)
There is counter service for food and a full bar. This location has pool and ping pong inside and cornhole and other games outside. There’s space for children to run, making it a good location to meet up with friends after work on a nice spring or summer evening.
Fourth and Field (Stow)
A couple of years ago, new owners took over this restaurant at the Minute Man Air Field. In the spring of 2025, they completed their new kid-friendly outdoor patio. I don’t know any other place in the area where you can get a delicious seasonal farm-to-table meal while watching planes take off and land just feet away (from inside or outside). Central Mass Mom has had the wonderful opportunity to host a few events at Fourth & Field, and the food, drinks, and views never disappoint. Check the website for hours.
Galliford’s Restaurant and Tavern at Southwick Zoo (Mendon)
This is not your average zoo concession stand. Galliford’s is a full-service restaurant with a good kids’ menu. And you get to see some of the animals while you eat! Check the website for hours and days of operation.
Kimball Farm (Westford)
Kimball’s Westford location is the biggest one. It includes an outdoor restaurant (there are large tents for rainy weather), and it’s like a mini amusement park, including bumper cars, bumper boats, mini golf, an arcade, batting cages, pony rides, and more. You can’t leave without their huge servings of ice cream. A “mini” is plenty for a child, the “kiddie” is a generous normal serving, the “small” is like most larges, and the “large” is best for sharing or when you don’t plan to eat anything else for a while.
Booze with some food:
Carlson Orchards (Harvard)
A family favorite, Carlson Orchards has a little bit of everything. I love their hard ciders and the gorgeous Cider Barn with tons of outdoor seating. There is a grassy area with cornhole and lots of kids around. The food is good when you’re looking for something simple. Sometimes they have a food truck parked too. We also love coming here for pick-your-own apples and peaches (among other fruits). Carlson’s cider donuts and apple cider are delicious, and their apple pies and crisps are some of my favorites in the area. Check the website for their limited hours.
Nashoba Valley Winery (Bolton)
There are many ways to enjoy this place, and all the options (wine tasting, tours, J’s Restaurant, the orchard, etc.) are a bit overwhelming. My personal favorite is their outdoor seating area. “The Knoll” has picnic tables with umbrellas on a large grassy field overlooking the orchard and a menu that includes “sharing plates” and a few kids’ options. “Food Truck Fridays” in the spring and summer are popular and a great way to unwind with friends at the end of the week. The wine slushy is my go-to on a hot summer day. Check their Facebook page for up-to-date information about the food trucks and live music.
Lookout Farm (Natick)
The taproom is open Thursday through Sunday, and the menu features barbeque, sandwiches, a kids’ menu, and well as a weekend brunch. They serve beer, wine, and cider and offer a market, live music, trivia, pick-your-own fruit, and other events and attractions that are great for children. The outdoor area is a beautiful, large, grassy space with picnic tables.
Red Apple Farm’s Brew Barn (Phillipston)
This farm has a lot to offer with Moon Hill’s Brewing Company’s beer and cider, food, and live music and events.
Sterling Street Brewery (Clinton)
The outdoor space has a more urban feel than some of the other breweries and orchards on the list. The menu features appetizers, paninis, and a good selection of beer. They host food trucks and many fun events, including trivia, cornhole tournaments, art classes, and live music.
Stone Cow Brewery (Barre)
This brewery is open Thursdays through Sundays and has a large outdoor seating area with picnic tables. They offer a wide variety of food (burgers, barbeque, cheese plates, salads, ice cream, etc.) with locally sourced ingredients. Check the website for their current beer offerings and the live music schedule.
Thirsty Robot Brewing Company (Fitchburg)
Open Wednesday through Sunday, this brewery has an urban vibe with the cute outdoor space on asphalt. The menu is typical of breweries, and they offer live music and other events.
Tree House Brewing Company (Charlton)
This location is a beautiful, large, busy venue for beer, food trucks, and live music.
Wachusett Brewing Company (Westminster)
This location is open seven days a week and offers a fairly large menu with kids’ options. Some of the outdoor space is in a wooden area. There is live music in a large tent, and other events are hosted here as well.
Ice cream with a side of food:
Kimball Farm (Lancaster)
Kimball’s Lancaster location has the full food and ice cream menu without the other Westford attractions. My family loves to come here for Cruise Nights on Fridays in the summer when the main parking area is full of antique and other unique cars to see. My husband usually takes our boys around to see the cars while I happily wait alone in line for the food or ice cream. There is also a farm store with additional food indoors.
Rota Spring Farm (Sterling)
The main attraction is the ice cream, but they also have a very limited menu, including meatball subs and hot dogs. When I’d rather not have my kids eat ice cream FOR lunch or dinner, we go here so I can feel a little better if they have something else first. Enjoy the food and ice cream while watching cows in the fields, and then walk behind the farm store to feed and pet the goats. This is a great spot!
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