2. Comfort
A patio must have more than just bar stools. There should be tables with a variety of seating options for large and small groups. The perfect patio needs to be partially covered to allow for comfort, no matter the weather, with fans and umbrellas to keep the area cool on a summer day and removable walls and heaters for chilly fall and winter nights. Also, since not everybody wants their meal to be dominated by sports, the placement of televisions should allow one to keep an eye on the game without having their evening dominated by big screens.
3. Great food
The ultimate test of a good patio is the menu. Typical sports bar fare must be accompanied by options for everybody. Each person in the group should have reason to be excited about enjoying the patio, and it starts with offerings that can satisfy even a picky eater. Beer selections must venture beyond the standard domestic taps, and there should be good options for the non-beer drinker, too. There have to be real options for the kids, whether it is juices and lemonades for drinks, or more than just chicken fingers to choose from on the menu.
So what do I recommend?
After all my explorations into Dayton-area patio options, the one family sports restaurant that checks all of the boxes is TJ Chumps. I recently visited their Huber Heights location, which has a patio that can seat almost 200 guests. There is room the push your chair back from the table without affecting your neighbors, and the 10 televisions are perfectly placed to be an accessory to your meal without dominating your night.
TJ's menu is nothing short of revolutionary in the sports patio scene. I opted for the Asian ginger salmon with a fantastic asparagus side. We shared some soft Bavarian pretzel sticks for the table and washed it all down with local craft beers. The menu offered their famous ribs and burgers, but also a number of lighter/vegetarian entrée options. I was very impressed with the way the covered patio was kept cool on a very hot, sunny day.
TJ Chumps has four area locations, so there's sure to be one nearby. The Huber Heights location is in the midst of their second summer, and they really seem to have this patio thing figured out. The Englewood and Fairborn locations offer pizza, and all locations offer margaritas and a good wine list, in addition to their full bar and beer options. If you're looking for a summer spot that has all the features of a perfect patio, check out TJ Chumps for a family dinner or a great place to watch a game.
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