The last weekend of September brings with it the hint of Fall in the air. Warm days, cool nights, and the smell of burning wood as I drive through town. That is precisely what I noticed the other night at Fireside Bar & Grill, and loved it.

19330 Catawba Ave Cornelius NC 28031
(704) 892-5001 www.firesidebg.com

All summer long there the patio thrived (when it wasn’t raining,) a welcome addition to the restaurant scene making good use of the courtyard fronting Catawba Ave. The attractive center bar flanked by seating all around is inviting, but the huge outdoor fireplaces hinted that something better was in store for us later in the year.  

That time is now. It was enough to make me want to pull in the parking lot that night near the intersection of One Norman Boulevard in Cornelius and abandon all plans. The sunroof was open, I stopped at the light, and looked in the direction of the restaurant. Witnessing the orange glow I said to myself, “I can’t wait to sit by that fire.”

Which is exactly what I plan to do this weekend. I’m going to pick a night, pick a time, and pick a seat by the fireplace. My pick involves a restaurant patio; specifically, the one at Fireside Bar & Grill. But yours can be anywhere. And don’t just go to Fireside for the outdoor fire, enjoy the food.

With a varied menu that includes burgers, flatbreads, entrees, and salads, owner and chef Tom Schiavone fared well during a visit with food critic Aleigh Acerni of Charlotte Magazine. Her review appears in this month’s issue.

A quick glance at our Weekend Calendar reveals several outdoor offerings. I plan to incorporate burning wood into mine.

If you go: The restaurant is located in the former Pelican’s Patio space on Catawba Avenue near McAlister’s Deli. Their hours of operation are 11am-10pm Monday through Thursday, 11am-midnight Friday and Saturday, and noon-10pm on Sunday.

Robin Gibson is a writer living in Cornelius. You can find her blog at robingibsonart.com/blog.html. See her previous columns under the “Robin Gibson” category.

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