Best Al Fresco Dining In Libertyville: Poll

LIBERTYVILLE, IL — Several Libertyville restaurants and bars have upped their outdoor dining game and options in recent years. COVID-19 forced municipalities and businesses to think outside the box in order to keep drawing customers in, or during many months, drawing them out to beer gardens and igloos they can dine in during the winter and added heating to semi-enclosed decks.

While the rules have loosened regarding where and when we can dine — a welcome change for most — there are more outdoor dining options than pre-COVID and many others have gotten a glow up as businesses continue to fight past the COVID revenue slump.

"Outdoor dining played a major role in buoying the restaurant industry over the last few years, and restaurants took note – whether adding, expanding, or elevating their offerings," Susan Lee, chief growth officer for OpenTable said in a news release. "Offering outdoor dining is now a key part of restaurants' business, and we're happy to see that diners continue to embrace it."

This past week, a pair of Illinois restaurants lauded for their outdoor dining spaces cracked OpenTable's Top 100 list. Piccolo Sogno in Chicago and Hardware in North Aurora got the nod from Open Table.

• 2 Illinois Restaurants Rank Among Top 100 In Nation For Outdoor Dining

And while no Libertyville businesses made this year's list, we know there are plenty that deserve a nod. So, tell us, which Libertyville outdoor dining areas are your favorite and why? NOTE: Poll results and feedback could be shared in future Patch.com articles.