Outdoor Dining Options
Downtown Walpole offers a variety of choices
Who doesn’t like to dine outside? Downtown Walpole is fortunate to offer several restaurants that provide outdoor dining. The foodie scene continues to grow with various opportunities to dine outdoors, particularly at the south end of Main Street where Tessie’s, The Raven’s Nest, and CRISP, have made this intersection the center of a buzzing and bustling dining scene.
A recent National Restaurant Association report found that four in ten consumers said that the availability of outdoor seating would make them more likely to choose one restaurant over a similar one. Another recent report found that 69 percent of adults say they like the option to dine outside, which has now become more mainstream due to the recent pandemic.
We take a look at the the outdoor dining options inside Walpole’s Central Business District, which is the focus of Destination Downtown’s mission. (Please check out a more complete list of Walpole restaurants and contact information in the Dine section of our Business Directory at the top of the page.) Here’s a rundown of downtown eateries currently offering outdoor seating and dining. Click any photo to see a full view image.
Bianco’s Italian Pizzeria and Grill, 938 Main St, (at the corner of East St.) has three permanent outdoor tables. Umbrellas over the tables provide desirable shade from the sun. No table service provided, however. It’s a great spot overlooking the busy intersection.
Chill Juice Bar, 5 West St, provides several outdoor seating options for adults and children with areas in the shade provided by trees or an umbrella. Enjoy a healthy acai bowl, fruit or protein smoothie, or delicious fruit juice while enjoying the view of the Town Common.
CRISP, 1049 Main St, has a unique outdoor covered patio. This large area can accommodate up to 75 customers and includes a full-service bar and sit-down area. Numerous wide screen TVs provide several choices for customers to watch. Large fans and heaters are available for cooling and heating needs. There is Karaoke every Wednesday. Additionally, CRISP will feature one-man bands Thursday-Saturday 7-10 p.m. and Sundays 4-7 p.m. CRISP is now open for lunch. The space is also available for private events with catering provided by CRISP.
Farmer in the Dell, 935 East St, offers four picnic tables and two café tables out front at its location. This restaurant and take-out eatery can get busy inside, so the outdoor area provides some relief for more seating and a quieter area for customers who prefer to be outside with their laptops, enjoying free Wi-Fi from the restaurant.
Jalapeno’s Grill, 960 Main St, has the largest outdoor patio downtown. It’s located behind its restaurant by the municipal parking lot, providing an accessible place to park. There is seating for more than 70 customers with overhead umbrellas. The space features music pumped out from inside and a unique outdoor full-service bar made from a repurposed shipping container. A permanent gas fire pit provides a cozy ambiance. The bar seats 10 people and has two widescreen TVs. Jalapenos also offers several tables and chairs out front overlooking the Town Common on Main St. The back patio is a favorite spot to enjoy the July 3rd Walpole fireworks with a cocktail or a Mexican entree for dinner. The whole area can be reserved for outdoor functions.
Kosmos, 944 Main St, has a quaint outdoor dining area in the back of its restaurant that is designed to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Bistro lights provide a warm, gentle glow during the evening, enhancing the ambiance. For comfort, there are fire pits that add a touch of warmth on cooler nights, along with umbrellas to offer shade during the day. Additionally, the area is equipped with heaters to ensure guests can enjoy outdoor dining on chilly days. It's a perfect setting for a relaxing meal under the stars.
Muffin House Café, 907 Main St, has an outdoor covered area on both sides of its main entrance. There is seating at tables – some with umbrellas – for up to 30 customers. The outdoor area has ceiling fans overhead and music for your listening pleasure. The atmosphere here can be lively and buzzing, and its outside area is dog-friendly.
Napper Tandy’s Pub, 1065 Main St, is offering outdoor seating in the front of its restaurant as in previous years. The pub has replaced its picnic tables with all new tables and chairs. The space holds approximately 40 customers and music will be piped outdoors from its speaker system. Bistro lights will provide lighting and ambience after dark and the space is dog-friendly.
The Raven’s Nest, 998 Main St, features a quaint outdoor dining area at the back of its restaurant. The area offers shade, two wide screen TVs and a string of bistro lights that provides a nice ambiance at night. This popular spot also has a front patio dining area on the sidewalk that can accommodate up to two dozen more guests. This front dining area overlooks one of the three town commons and has bistro lighting for nighttime dining. Dogs are welcome on the front patio.
Tessie’s Bar & Kitchen , 1006 Main St, located two doors down from The Raven’s Nest, recently completed its expansion with an exterior update including large windows that open to the street. Its expansion provides a wonderful enhancement to the corner and features an appealing rockwork exterior. Tessie’s outdoor dining area offers background music and a desirable environment for dining outside under bistro lights. Umbrellas provide shade on those sunny summer days.
Another great option is take-out food available from most, if not all downtown eateries. Don’t forget Gate House Kitchen at 127 West St. The test kitchen has numerous food options ideal for picnic-style lunches including: Casa De Lala (Latin street food), Mike and Lenny’s Bar Pizza, ThankQue Barbeque, and Royal Indian Kitchen. Enjoy your food right on Walpole Town Commons - now with free Wi-Fi - where several permanent tables are available right in the center of town.
-Spotlight article contributed by Rick Ward. Photography contributed by Eric Hurwitz
