With the sun getting warmer, try outdoor dining at these eight MetroWest restaurants

MILFORD — With erratic early spring weather seemingly behind us, time is drawing near for one of the more enjoyable parts of warmer weather: outdoor dining.

In Milford, Rail Trail Flatbread Co. is among the restaurants that are gearing up to offer an outdoor dining experience. Partner Michael Kasseris said business is booming.

"It's been amazing," he said in a recent interview. "The community has been extremely welcoming and we've already made hundreds of regulars."

Rail Trail Flatbread, which made a name for itself more than a decade ago in Hudson, opened its second restaurant late last year in a renovated bank building at 223 Main St. (Route 16) in downtown Milford. The restaurant offers customizable flatbreads, burgers and an extensive cocktail program.

From left, Rail Trail Flatbread Co. partners Michael Kasseris, Vanessa Gilchrist and Anastasios Vitsas on their patio in Milford, April 25, 2024. The restaurant is gearing up for its first outdoor dining season in Milford.
From left, Rail Trail Flatbread Co. partners Michael Kasseris, Vanessa Gilchrist and Anastasios Vitsas on their patio in Milford, April 25, 2024. The restaurant is gearing up for its first outdoor dining season in Milford.

'Excited about connecting': Hudson's Rail Trail Flatbread Co. hopes to double its success in Milford

Rail Trail Flatbread opened its Milford location six months ago, and has already seen success from private events and takeout.

"We've gotten a lot of feedback from people in the community thanking us for becoming their new takeout go-to," Kasseris said. "We needed Milford as much as Milford needed us."

Rail Trail Flatbread's Hudson location will also have outdoor seating available this season, as will New City Microcreamery, another venture of the company.

Ryan Beck, left, and Tucker Jones, both marketing team members at Rail Trail Flatbread Co., enjoy food and drink on the patio of the restaurant's Milford location, April 25, 2024.
Ryan Beck, left, and Tucker Jones, both marketing team members at Rail Trail Flatbread Co., enjoy food and drink on the patio of the restaurant's Milford location, April 25, 2024.

The Milford location is at 223 Main St. In Hudson, Rail Trail is located at 33 Main St.

Looking for other options to dine outside this spring and summer? Here are seven throughout MetroWest:

The Cottage

190 Linden St., Wellesley - (781) 239-1100

Opened in 2007, this restaurant offers outdoor dining along with summer drinks such as its Pineapple-rol Spritz, an aperol spritz with pineapple; and the Gold Rush, a French 75 that contains St. Germaine — an elderflower liquor — and an edible glitter.

The Cottage's patio opened late last month, and began featuring seasonal ingredients.

Co-owner Georgios Vasilakeris, left, and his son, Evan Vasilakeris, are shown in July 2021 at The Buckley Kitchen and Bar on Franklin Street in Framingham.
Co-owner Georgios Vasilakeris, left, and his son, Evan Vasilakeris, are shown in July 2021 at The Buckley Kitchen and Bar on Franklin Street in Framingham.

The Buckley Kitchen and Bar

440 Franklin St., Framingham - (508) 309-4614

The Buckley Kitchen & Bar, owned by Zacharias Siarkos and Georgios Vasilakeris, offers cuisine that's a twist on American cuisine, as well as Mediterranean options as well such as chicken souvlaki and gyros with either pork or chicken.

Besides food, The Buckley offers of outdoor dining cold beverages, such as its Buckley Mai Tai and spiked seltzer offerings.

GlenPharmer Distillery opened in Franklin in mid-2020 at the former Incontro, an Italian restaurant.
GlenPharmer Distillery opened in Franklin in mid-2020 at the former Incontro, an Italian restaurant.

GlenPharmer Distillery

860 West Central St. (Route 140), Franklin - (508) 528-4000

Known for its cocktails and spirits, GlenPharmer also offers a full-service restaurant. Enjoy sandwiches and upscale entrees along with house-made spirits.

GlenPharmer offers dinner daily; lunch on Fridays and Saturdays; and a brunch on Sundays.

Buttercup opened in June 2018 at 13 West Central St. in Natick.
Buttercup opened in June 2018 at 13 West Central St. in Natick.

Buttercup

13 West Central St. (Route 135), Natick (508) 545-1506

At Buttercup, having a farm-to-table restaurant means the menu is subject to change with the farmer's availability. That also means the menu changes to reflect changing seasons, which can be enjoyed on the restaurant's outdoor patio, right in the heart of Natick.

At Buttercup, patio reservations are weather-dependent and inclement weather may result in a cancellation. Additionally, due to limited space, the restaurant cannot move patio reservations inside last minute.

Steve Uliss, shown holding a rack of ribs from the outdoor smoker last year, owns Firefly's BBQ in Marlborough.
Steve Uliss, shown holding a rack of ribs from the outdoor smoker last year, owns Firefly's BBQ in Marlborough.

Firefly's BBQ

350 East Main St. (Route 20), Marlborough - (508) 357-8883

Looking to add some spice to your outdoor dining? Look no further than Firefly BBQ.

As the name suggests, this barbecue restaurant offers a full outdoor dining experience called The Backyard, complete with a sports bar and lawn games. Additionally, starting after Memorial Day, the backyard will begin offering live acoustic music to enjoy on weekends.

Reservations are recommended for the backyard.

Central Public House

42 Main St. (Route 135), Hopkinton - (508) 625-2570

You can't miss this Hopkinton eatery's patio right in the heart of downtown.

Central Public House's website says it brings the buzz of big-city dining to the center of Hopkinton. With food from executive chef Dennis Wilson, the menu at Central Public House offers diners with a little bit of everything, from sandwiches to swordfish steak.

Waiter Anthony Viana carries a drink for an outdoor diner last May at Labaredas Brazilian BBQ & Bar in Marlborough.
Waiter Anthony Viana carries a drink for an outdoor diner last May at Labaredas Brazilian BBQ & Bar in Marlborough.

Labaredas Brazilian BBQ & Bar

500 Boston Post Road (Route 20), Marlborough - (508) 281-6555

Of course, you can't have dinner in MetroWest without Brazilian food.

Laberadas, a family-run Brazilian barbecue restaurant, offers craft cocktails and South American flavors, all in Marlborough. Dining with two or more people? Labaredas offers feasts that are designed to give you the meat sweats by the time your party is finished.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Eight MetroWest restaurants to take advantage of outdoor dining