If you're in the mood for a few small bites, a garden setting and not having to drive too far, head over to Capers, the restaurant at 2756 S. Main St. in Kennesaw. For the past few years, chef and owner Steven Dudley has used the few tables in the rear garden for overflow dining, but he's now taking a different approach.

Three nights a week, guests can now settle down at an umbrella-shaded table and order from a special menu of small plates. Among the offerings: smoked trout dip, smoked salmon, crab fingers, bruschetta and the Capers "strudel" — cream cheese, artichokes, prosciutto, mozzarella and Swiss cheese rolled into phyllo dough and topped with garlic butter. Prices range from $5 to $7. To go with the tastes, order any glass of wine for half off the list price. And you can have a martini for $5.

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There are only six tables, seating about 30 guests, so it's an intimate setting for dining and enjoying live music. "There's also a lot of foliage, so it doesn't even feel like you're in downtown Kennesaw — until the train comes by and you're back in reality for a few moments," Dudley said.

The garden is open from 5 to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and from 5 to 9 p.m. on Sundays. 678-594-7735; www.capersonmainst.com.

• More outdoor dining is now available in east Cobb. The Wild Wing Café, 2145 Roswell Road in Marietta's East Lake shopping center, recently expanded its deck area and built a tiki bar. The 20-seat area has a grass-covered roof, a tiki totem pole and lots of beach memorabilia. "We really wanted to make something unique," general manager Ed Herson said.

The tiki bar is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, but the cafe — including the expanded deck area — is open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and from noon to midnight Sunday. There's live music in the outdoor area every Friday. 770-509-9464; www.wildwingcafe.com.

• Music, barbecue and beer are highlighted this weekend at South City Kitchen in Vinings. Beginning Friday and running through Sunday, the restaurant will host a "Blues, Brews and BBQ" feast that features a special barbecue menu, Sweetwater beers and live music. On Sunday, 10 percent of sales will be donated to Camp Twin Lakes for seriously ill children.

Among the food options: smoked pork shoulder with corn flour cake; sautéed garlic shrimp with creamed corn and barbecued sweet onion; a 14-hour smoked beef brisket sandwich with barbecue mayo; smoked half chicken; deep-fried pork ribs; a barbecued mahi mahi; watermelon and tomato salad with goat cheese; and Georgia Gouda fritters. Prices range from $6.95 to $21.

Live blues bands are slated to perform from 6 to 10:30 each night. South City is located at 1675 Cumberland Parkway; 770-435-0700; www.fifthgroup.com.

Keep Table Talk lively! Send comments and questions to hm_cauley@yahoo.com or call 404-514-6162.