Outdoor Dining in Austin

Yes, it is packed with tourists. But the locals come here, too--and with good reason. Who could resist the green chile cheese fries washed down with a shady thing on the oak-shaded patio?

If it's good enough for Anthony Bourdain ... Dine on freshly shucked oysters with some of the best people-watching on the Avenue enjoyed outdoors on a deck outfitted with picnic tables and striped umbrellas. You'll be able able to get the freshest catches in town.

It's standard Tex-Mex fare so the real reason to come here is for locale. Multi-tiered decks offer stunning sunset views over Lake Travis.

Watch the sun go down over Lake Travis while indulging in some fine dining. Yes, please! The Italian-Mediterranean fare includes baba ghanoush, marinated gulf crab and shrimp and linguini with clam sauce.

You can dock your boat and dine outside on the wooden deck. A newly revamped menu at this 1950s icon keeps folks coming back for more. Staples include the classic cheeseburger, fish sandwich and specialty pizzas. Try the wakeboard pie, a meat lover's dream.

When you think tavern, you think dark, rich woods with a cozy bar. This place fits the bill but also has an intimate front patio shielded by jasmine vines and good tunes coming out of the strategically placed speakers. Enjoy front row views of the West 6th Street action while dining on traditional American tavern cuisine made interesting with British influences.

An indoor/outdoor dining room with an emphasis on the outdoor, this is the place to see and be seen adjacent to the swank W Hotel in downtown. The food happens to be some of the best in town, too; they have their very own food forager who traces the ingredients back to their original roots for the some of the best farm-to-table fare around.

Fresh, Mexico City-inspired eats and drinks are served on a garden-like patio setting at this hidden gem tucked into the charming Clarksville neighborhood.