It's no secret that our ideal summer Saturday involves a patio, whether we're enjoying a sunny lunch or late-night lounging with cool drinks. And we don't have to always default to Newbury Street for our al-fresco fix. Union Street (107R Union Street, Newton, 617.964.6684) recently completed a total renovation of its three floors, including its legendary patio. The outdoor deck now has a retractable roof and strategically placed space heaters, making it ideal for three seasons. Union Street also features updated summer food and drink menus, with new items such as sweet-potato dumplings with maple dipping sauce ($8.99), which you can enjoy while watching any of the restaurant's 17 plasmas or its two 100-inch fixed-screen projector TVs. Not everything about the place has changed, though: they still host '80s Night every Thursday, and live or DJ-spun music every Friday and Saturday. Did we mention that the hop, skip, and jump from downtown will help you burn off the Massive Margarita pitchers ($24) you're sure to guzzle here?
