You don’t have to wait for the warm breezes of summer to dine al fresco.  Battery Wharf Hotel has a wonderful location nestled between the water and Boston’s North End.  Their swanky Aragosta Bar is a wonderful place to go for date night or a cocktail, but even more fun is snuggling under a blanket by the fire pit for a little dinner or after dinner treat outdoors.

We recently went as a family for a Friday night out on the town.  We were invited guests of the Battery Wharf Hotel out to enjoy a little early spring dining by the fire pits.  The staff were extremely nice and as we enjoyed our fireside fondue, couples were seated at neighboring tables to enjoy a cocktail around their own fire pits. Aragosta Bar and Bistro was hopping with young couples, business men and women, a mix of a Friday night crowd.

Dan chose a beer and I had a seasonal Whiskey warmer, which was a whiskey spiked tea served warm. It was just the thing to enjoy by the fire.  The children loved the novelty of couches and blankets at a restaurant and of course were anticipating the grand finale: s’mores on the fire.

We gave the children dinner at home so that we could go out a little later after Dan got home from work and they wouldn’t be too cranky and hungry.  If your family dines later or you get there a bit earlier, there is a large children’s menu with all the classics: macaroni and cheese, chicken fingers, peanut butter and jelly and more.

Here is my Whiskey warmer glowing from the light of the fire behind it.  The hotel provides warm blankets and there are heat lamps around each seating area.  On a windy day, you may need a few extra blankets but the waitstaff is happy to bring them as needed.

The cheese fondue comes with a wonderful assortment of treats from broccolini, carrots and butternut squash to dried fruit and blueberry sausage, hot peppers and salumi. 

In addition to fondue, my non-dairy dining husband enjoyed a large bowl of soup and this gorgeous charcuterie plate.  Charcuterie plates can be a choice of 3 or 5 cured meats off the menu and is served with dried fruits, nuts, mustard and ciabatta. The artisanal salumi includes a choice of venison sausage and wild boar prosciutto. The fondue is a Vermont cheddar cheese fondue made with hard apple cider, which results in a creamy, smooth, slightly sweet, but still earthy dip.

For dessert, we had to go for the s’mores.  I loved the sliced bananas to cut the sweetness of the chocolate and marshmallows. Isabelle was in heaven with the peanut butter cups.  Henry went classic with the marshmallow, chocolate and graham cracker.  

Fondue and s’mores at the Battery Wharf Hotel patio fire pits is a great way to start the weekend or perhaps begin the week on a Sunday evening.  The Firepits at Battery Wharf Hotel are open seven days a week with seatings at 5:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Reservations recommended, please call 617-994-9000.