Before last evening, I’d never met McCormick and I’d not been introduced to Schmick. I’d never even been to or heard of McCormick and Schmick’s. Presently, I’ve still not met McCormick or Schmick. To be honest, I’m not even sure they exist. Luckily, though, I did get to meet McCormick and Schmick’s newly renovated patio.
I plan on getting to know it even better.
The old M&S patio apparently wasn’t so nice, something you might find stuck to the back of your aunt’s house. Plastic tables and chairs, a craggy and bumpy surface, and boring silence have been replaced by lovely custom-designed furniture (including comfy chairs) placed on an even, hand-laid brick patio. They also now play live music a few times a week.
The whole aura of the patio is pleasant. That is to say, if patios have auras. It isn’t situated in the heart of the hustle and bustle of the Inner Harbor. As such, it’s about as secluded as one can possibly get. A good thing, in the end, considering the main point of outdoor dining is to be immersed in nature, enjoying the scenery. And one can’t really do that when one can look over the shoulder and witness 16 variations of Tourist Dad leading his family around, so busy being immersed in his guide map that he walks straight off the pier and plunges into the harbor. That doesn’t exactly scream scenic seaside dining.
Now, don’t mistake me. The patio is seaside dining, but it isn’t smack dab up against the habor. I mean, you can’t lean over the railing and spit into the sea in order to see which way the current is flowing, or anything. But it does offer a scenic and pleasant view of the Inner Harbor, and the food is quite fantastic.
The patio, I think, was best summed up as I sat and sampled some stingray (at least I think it was stingray; I didn’t exactly hear what the waiter said it was, but no matter). Men at Work’s brilliant '80s tune “Land Down Under” started to play. The sun was setting, the breeze was cool, and I felt like life was good.
Yes, life is good: That’s the way the new patio makes you feel.