Al Fresco was a notorious war criminal who cannaballised the children of POWs during WWII and the Korean War. His even more evil mistress’ name was Wendy. So, of course the people who grew up around that time period would have a problem dining Al Fresco or with it being too Wendy on the patio.
You forgot the follow-up questions (since you are their kid, you’re allowed to do this) of “But why?” and “What is it about eating outdoors that you don’t like?”
Go back and try again. 
There is your answer, why would you want to eat outside in Cleveland?
I kid, I have never even been to Cleveland. I seem to recall hearing from someone, I am not sure who, that in fact, it rocks.
I am nearing 40 and when I go out with the family, I assess where it is the quietest and then weigh that with the comfort (heat, wind, bugs, smokers) to make the call. I can’t stand restaurants who crank up the music/tv volume to the point that you can’t hear each other. Going out with friends, though, it does not matter as much.
I used to hate eating outside. For all the reasons listed here. . .it seemed too distracting or something, not a “controlled environment”.
Then, one summer a few years ago, we were having work done in the house and we had to put our dining table on the front porch for about a week. We ate there every day. Within a week of moving the table back indoors, we bought a table and chairs for the front porch and now we eat out there every chance we get (including last night).
My beer gets warm, my soda gets warm, my food gets cold, things are blowing around - I eat inside.
Doesn’t Fraser Crane refer to himself as al fresco when he is wearing no underwear under the clown costume? Even if not, that’s what the phrase reminds me of.
A patio out back when the weather’s nice, okay.
But here in Chicago they put tables on the sidewalks in front of the restaurants, so you get to eat with car, bus, and truck exhaust as side dishes, and have people walking by the entire meal. No thank you. I’ll sit inside.
Because it pisses you off. Thats why I do it. Gives the fam a chance to poke fun at me. I cant wait ,soon .they will ask my fam what I want to eat or drink like iI am old and senile.
There is a market not far from our home. It was Chathams 20 years ago. Long gone. When someone asks where I am going I say Chathams. It diffrentiates it from the chains around us. It is Kroger now. There are 3 around. Only one was Chathams.
Also I do not want to chase my menu down the street. In Key West there is a resturant near a nude beach. I eat outside there.
I am 24 and will not eat outside. Deathly afraid of bugs, yes, and of other things (rainwater, dandelion fluff, etc) getting into my food.
It reminds me of that episode of Monk when Dale the Whale lifted his nightgown to show Sharona that he was, indeed, that fat.
“Completely al fresssscooo!”
HEH! We went to Luby’s once years ago, and never since. I sort of freaked out seeing the other old guys with their pants up under their armpits. Weird scene, not for us.
Unfortunately, Hooters does not seem to have patio dining. Or, fortunately.
Oh, yeah, when I’m backpacking or climbing 14,000-ft (and lower) mountains, I find it is almost always necessary to eat outside.
I’ve always loved the outdoors, and dining out at home or at restaurants just feels good to me. Not, however, those with patios that only face a street, a parking lot or other unnatural vistas.
Here, you get all that, plus beggars that either hassle you for money, or reach over and grab food off your plate.
Hey KG, sorry for the hijack but I see that you list the Sonoran Desert as your location and was wondering more specifically where you were? I live in the Atlanta burbs right now but my first 25 years on Earth I lived in Tucson… and had the misfortune to eat at the Luby’s on Oracle a couple of times… gag…
Ever try to eat outside with bees around? Yeah, it’s like that.
Actually, I don’t MIND eating outside, but I can see why some people might.
There are a number of places here with patios off the street; Moody’s and Arco de Cuchilleros spring to mind.
Speaking as an old person, we did not go through the trouble of developing civilization and indoor kitchens and plumbing to eat outside with the dirt and the bugs. I mean, have you ever looked at the ground? It’s covered with dirt.
I’m 63 and I love eating outside. Please don’t stereotype groups of people. It generally just doesn’t serve a good purpose or make much sense.
Noting the observation that patrons sitting outdoors tend to be younger–is it possible that there is something going on here besides personal preference? Perhaps some restaurants want to maintain a trendy image and so will tend to offer the outdoor seating preferentially to younger groups? It could be customer preference or it could come from instructions to the hostess based on “selfish” motives (maintain a younger image) or “unselfish” motives (experience that older groups tend to prefer indoors anyway). Can someone with experience as a host or hostess provide some insight?.
I’m in the camp that suspects that when you put people plagued by chronic physical complaints out-of-doors, you instantly give them an environmental factor to blame it on. You put 'em inside and the stiff neck is no longer caused by the breeze at their back, but by that damn pillow the doctor recommended, or whatever.
…or Bistro Campagne, Mia Francesca, Socca or Bistrot Margot just to name a few that I know of offhand with outdoor seating off the street.