Heat doesn't keep diners from outdoors

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Many diners aren't abandoning outside seats despite the sweltering temperatures. Restaurants with patios said outdoor dining heats up once the sun disappears.

Sally Luzader visited with a friend at Nine Irish Brothers in West Lafayette for an after work drink.

"I prefer to sit outside unless it's beastly hot,” she said.

And it has been with heat indices over 100. Still, after being cooped up inside all winter she gave outdoor dining a try.

"I was sticking to the back of the chair,” said Luzader.

Restaurants with patios said their outdoor seating has been mostly vacant recently.

"There's been three to four days no body is out, even the dogs aren't out. You just say hey the patio is not going to be a factor today,” said Nine Irish Brothers owner Jerry O'Bryan.

Across the street, the patio at Spurlock's West was empty, but when the sun goes down, a crowd appears.

"We do get a lot of people who show up at 9 or 10 o'clock at night and they'll come sit out on the patio,” said Spurlock's West bartender Matt Coxhead.

Over at Sgt. Preston's in Lafayette, servers were doing brisk business on the patio. Still warm outside, people ventured out after a few days of basking in the air conditioning.

"When it gets hot, people don't want to be outside,” said Sgt. Preston's bar manager Matt Huckstep. “They'd rather be in the AC.”

Patio dining is a big draw for all three restaurants, so they do what they can to make it comfortable for customers. Each had umbrellas for shade. Nine Irish Brothers also added fans that mist cool water.

"It lowers the patio about 10 degrees,” said O'Bryan.

Making it hard to find a seat outside despite the heat.