The Porch

In the heat of summer, finding places to have a drink that aren't dark and air-conditioned caves becomes a challenge. Enter Henderson Avenue's The Porch, a casual brasserie for those of us with no veranda at home. When the heat comes, fans blow a cooling but oddly humid mist that does its best to keep despair at bay. You could have a few pints here, swilling them down while enjoying a fried-chicken salad. If you'd rather be honest with yourself, you could go with the Stodg burger, named after Dallas lawyer Steve Stodghill. It's packed with tomato, onion, melted cheddar and a fried egg on a bun smeared with foie gras butter. You wish you had a porch like this at home.