A CT restaurant knew the pull of outdoor dining. They created it on a river and added lobster rolls.

A Connecticut restaurant stands out among 10 others of the same name with its stunning outdoor view and even a special patio menu that includes lobster rolls.

Wood-n-Tap in Farmington has a close-up view of the Farmington River, where outdoor guests can see deer, eagles, people fishing, kayaking, an occasional bear on the other side of the river, water rippling over stones and anything else nature might bring, said Phil Barnett, co-founder and co-CEO of Hartford Restaurant Group and its Wood-n-Tap restaurants.

“The view is beautiful,” Barnett said. “Our outdoor patio is well-known for its ambience, appearance and popularity as the place to meet friends and family with the Farmington River as a beautiful backdrop.”

Hartford Restaurant Group has nine Wood- n-Tap restaurants, including in Connecticut and one in Massachusetts. Another is slated to open in Groton later this year.

The Farmington restaurant, opened in 2019 at 1593 Farmington Ave. has a different look outdoors than all the others.

Barnett said his restaurant group owned a Wood-n-Tap nearby when the property on the river became available. They were planning upgrades at the former location, but decided instead to buy the riverfront parcel that long housed Apricot’s Restaurant.

The deciding factor to buy was the view, Barnett said. There was also more parking, he said.

The other location had a view of a pond.

Barnett said to maximize the location they more than quadrupled the outdoor space.

They can seat more than 100 people on patio, 40 on the deck, 40 on the grass, Barnett said.

There is also an outdoor bar and live acoustic music on Tuesdays.

Barnett said this is the time of year outdoor dining is popular, as it’s not cold, but not super hot either.

“It’s got a great feel to it. It’s lively, relaxing,” said Barnett, noting they’ve received awards for outdoor dining in the spot.

Even though it’s not the ocean, sitting outside near the water makes people want seafood, so they even came up with a special menu two years ago.

The special summer dining menu at the riverside includes steak, Connecticut lobster rolls; the Riverview Platter, with fried clam strips, shrimp and cod; Clams Casino Flatbread with garlic, peppers and bacon, Fajita Steak with Cubanelle peppers and onions; Sausage and Peppers, Island Bites; and Key Lime Pie.