There is not much I enjoy more than dining al fresco.  So, when Cleveland Foodie invited me to attend a party to preview the new patio at Washington Place Bistro and Inn, how could I say no?!

Nestled in Little Italy, at the corner of Murray Hill and Cornell, Washington Place occupies a gorgeous stone building that is both restaurant and inn.  And, as CLEguy and I discovered, the inn prices are fantastic and I think we have found the location for our summer stay-cation!

Washington Place’s brand new patio curves around the back of the building and is sheltered from the street by plenty of greenery. 

As owner Scott Kuhn commented, the feeling is of being in a friend’s (very nice, perfectly landscaped) backyard.  Stone pathways lead to a good, yet still intimate, number of tables.  The vibe was pure summer relaxation.

Veggie U has an “earth-to-table” curriculum that seeks to teach children about healthy eating and stem the tide of childhood obesity and diabetes.  From hands-on instruction to academic, classroom-based pursuits, Veggie U can be incorporated into existing curriculum to help make kids’ lives better, healthier, and longer.  Farmer Lee also told us about Veggie U’s signature fundraising event – the Veggie U Food and Wine Celebration.  Happening on Saturday, July 16 on Farmer Lee’s farm in Milan, Ohio, this event includes nationally-renowned chefs, tasting stations, demos, wine pairings, drawings, and much more.  I highly encourage you to put this fun foodie event for such an amazing cause on your summer calendar!

Now, back to the Washington Place patio – our theme for the evening was a pig roast.  And did we ever have our share of delicious food!

On the buffet, there was a whole roast pig, sausage and kielbasa with peppers and onions, potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans, corn bread, deviled eggs, watermelon, and cookies!

The pork was amazing – fall-apart tender with a deliciously smoky taste.  And the best part was the crisp skin – I’ll be running some extra miles for that indulgence!  Another favorite were the baked beans – their hearty, smoky flavor paired perfectly with the pork.  And Healthy Heddleston and CLEguy could not get their fill of the deviled eggs – topped with a bit of bacon, with bacon fat in the filling.  The desserts were light and summery, but I was hoping for more of the amazing desserts I’ve heard that Washington Place has…yet another reason to go back!

All in all, a perfect summer meal on a beautiful CLE evening.  The Washington Place patio is my newest answer Why CLE?  Definitely make it one of your summer hot spots, too!

***Disclosure: I and a guest were invited by Michelle from Cleveland Foodie to attend the Washington Place Bistro patio party.  While at the party, representatives from Veggie U presented each attendee with a courtesy ticket to the Veggie U Food and Wine Celebration.  As always, all opinions in this post are 100% my own.***