We are fortunate to live in a community where the weather at this time of year is conducive to al fresco dining.

When the governor halted dining inside restaurants recently, many restaurants on the mountain turned to their patios, decks and even sidewalks to accommodate their diners.

Some restaurants – like The Grill at the Antlers, LouEddie’s Pizza, Rosalva’s, the Lake Arrowhead Pizza Deli, Spade & Spatula, the Stockade, Hilltop Chinese, RB’s Steakhouse and those at SkyPark at Santa’s Village – had existing patios or decks where they could serve their customers.

Papagayo’s has a patio overlooking Lake Arrowhead which is usually only open on weekends. They have extended those hours to daily and added additional tables on the asphalt between the patio and the restaurant.

Next door, the Lakefront Tap Room has cordoned off an area next to the restaurant where diners may eat while socially distanced.

Several restaurants – Bill’s Villager, Toto’s, Crestline Café, the Old Country Coffee Shop and Stone Creek Bistro (which also has a patio) – have placed tables just outside their front doors for their diners.

The Bear House is seating diners on their patio as well as at some tables outside their front door.

Puglia has added a white picket fence to its parking lot to create an al fresco dining area. And Dogwood Tavern has installed a wrought iron fence in front to accommodate its clientele.

The Grapevine already had a patio area in front of the wine bar but needed additional seating. They got permission from both ABC and Lake Arrowhead Village to add cordoned off tables on the peninsula.

Other restaurants – like the Cedar Glen Malt Shop, the Cedar Glen Inn, Neo’s Pizza and Mandarin Garden – have food available for you to take home and enjoy.

Bon appetit!