Even though the outdoor tables at Cantina<\/a> overlook a parking lot, they have always been a great place to soak up a warm evening. And judging from a recent visit, the parking lot won\u2019t be a much of a problem anymore. New high hedges mask the view and help enclose the patio, and strings of lights overhead add atmosphere. I can\u2019t wait to see how that looks at night.<\/p>\n Bottega<\/a>\u2019s terrace strikes me as a little piece of Los Angeles on Highland Avenue. Perhaps it\u2019s the restaurant\u2019s architecture, the front-door valet service, the colorful umbrellas, or all the sunglasses that give me a California vibe. It\u2019s certainly a place to go to see and be seen.<\/p>\n And last on my list, but perhaps best, is The Garage Caf\u00e9<\/a>. For me its courtyard is a kind of wonderland, with its nooks and crannies and odd juxtapositions of antiques and junk. I highly recommend escaping from the office to enjoy a lunch under the wisteria there when it blooms in a few weeks. You\u2019ll feel a little decadent\u2014and very lucky to be in Birmingham in the spring.<\/p>\n Got any of your own favorite outdoor dining spots to add to the list?<\/p>\n Rojo, 2921 Highland Avenue South<\/em>; Cantina, 2901 2nd<\/sup> Avenue South<\/em>; Bottega, 2242 Highland Avenue South<\/em>; Garage Caf\u00e9, 2304 10th<\/sup> Terrace South<\/em><\/font><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" You know it\u2019s spring here when, at the first sign of warmth, people are throwing on the T-shirts, shorts, and sandals. It seems we in Alabama can\u2019t stand to be cooped up in our houses when the sun is shining, … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/bhamterminal.com\/timetable\/wp-content\/plugins\/thumbnail-for-excerpts\/tfe_no_thumb.png\" "\\"\\"")
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