To my way of thinking, we're now in the "sweet spot" of outdoor dining. The winds (and, oddly this year, the chills) of spring have all but dissipated, and even when the daytime temperature soars, the evenings are still comfy.

There are plenty of different allures of eating outside — and a few downsides. Some do it for the people-watching (the Central West End is my favorite for this); others for the view (the new "sky terrace" at Cielo downtown tops my current choices); and others just for the camaraderie or romanticism of dining under the stars. And some people in search of a fine-dining experience prefer it indoors so that they don't have to deal with wind gusts, wobbly temporary tables, heat, bugs, exhaust fumes or other factors not conducive to atmosphere for a great meal.

The list provided here is designed to satisfy a cross-section of the above-mentioned reasons across varied geographical areas. Yeah, I know there are many more fun places to eat outside. If your favorite doesn't show up on this list, please log on to my new blog, Off the Menu (www.stltoday.com/offthemenu), and add it.

jbonwich@post-dispatch.com | 314-340-8133


DOWNTOWN/LAFAYETTE SQUARE









<Cielo, 999 North Second Street, 314-881-5800, www.fourseasons.com/stlouis. Expensive. One of St. Louis' newest outdoor venues is also one of the most striking, featuring a 25,000-square-foot terrace overlooking the Arch grounds and part of downtown. Just have a drink or two if you don't want to blow a bundle on dinner.

Eleven Eleven Mississippi, 1111 Mississippi Avenue, 314-241-9999, www.1111-m.com. Moderate. The rooftop terrace at sister restaurant Vin De Set gets lots more buzz for outdoor seating, but I also really enjoy eating the California/Tuscan hybrid food at Eleven Eleven while seated in the vaguely New Orleans-feeling courtyard.

F15teen, 1900 Locust Street, 314-588-8899, www.15stl.com. Moderate to expensive. We first encountered the patio here in the fall, when the outdoor fires were especially appropriate for the weather. It's a very nice space, removed from the street, and a good choice if you're in the mood for a steak. (We're not sure of the effects of a recent chef change in the kitchen.)

MIDTOWN/CENTRAL WEST END

Duff's, 392 North Euclid Avenue, 314-361-0522, www.dineatduffs.com. Moderate. A fixture in the neighborhood for more than 35 years, lasting that long by serving consistent, interesting bistro food. Always some of the best people-watching from the sidewalk on the Euclid strip.

Revival, 3800 Chouteau Avenue, 314-771-3939, www.revivalstl.com. Moderate. Upscale, clever comfort food with some Southern influences marks the menu at the redo of the old King Louie's space. The patio at King Louie's was always a treat, sequestered from the surrounding industrial terrain but with trains passing by below and a fragrant garden as an accent.

The Majestic, 4900 Laclede Avenue, 314-361-2011. Inexpensive. One of numerous outdoor choices at the corner of Laclede and Euclid, with great breakfasts ranging from basics to a gyro omelet and a bottomless cup of coffee.


SOUTH ST. LOUIS


<The Royale, 3132 South Kingshighway, Tower Grove South, 314-772-3600, www.theroyale.com. Inexpensive. If you love older American cities with wonderful stocks of brick housing (like, say, St. Louis) or you're interested in St. Louis politics, you'll always find good conversation on the back patio here, along with cheap but well-made small plates and sandwiches and a fun cocktail selection.

Sage, 1031 Lynch Street, Soulard, 314-256-1203, www.sageinsoulard.com. Moderate. There are many lovely courtyards in Soulard, and Sage's is one of the nicest, with both a courtyard space and an upper deck accented by trees. Chef Jack MacMurray serves up an eclectic menu of meatloaf, planked salmon and a variety of other specialties, and the unusual "sweet shots" ($1.95 small desserts) would make a great end to a summer evening.


MID-ST. LOUIS COUNTY


>Araka, 131 Carondelet Plaza, Clayton, 314-725-6777, www.araka.com. Moderate to Expensive. Although Clayton has a number of outdoor choices, I find many of the places in the main business district to have patios too close to the street and with limited people-watching. But Araka's sizable patio and location on the less-vehicular-traveled Carondelet Plaza give it a nicer atmosphere, and chef Mark Curran's southern-European-inspired menu is usually quite a treat.

Robust, 227 West Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves, 314-963-0033, www.robustwinebar.com. Moderate. Sip wine — maybe a lot of different wines, since they're offered in three-ounce tasting pours — and nibble on a variety of small plates of charcuterie or cooked food at the periphery of the Old Webster historic district.


SOUTH ST. LOUIS COUNTY

The Glass Olive, 6348 Telegraph Road, 314-293-2393, www.theglassolive.com. Moderate. The side terrace to a somewhat boisterous martini bar is removed enough from nearby Telegraph Road that you can simulate seclusion. Executive chef Matt Franke's vaguely Mediterranean menu is occasionally innovative and always well-prepared.

NORTH ST. LOUIS COUNTY

Hendel's Market, 599 Rue St. Denis, Florissant, 314-837-2304, www.hendelsrestaurant.com. Moderate. Plants and trellises line the courtyard, with additional tables on the porch of this country-store-themed restaurant in Old Towne Florissant. Seafood, beef, veal, chicken and pasta are featured on the straightforward but reasonably lengthy dinner menu.


ST. CHARLES COUNTY

Trailhead Brewing, 921 South Riverside Drive, St. Charles, 636-946-2739, www.trailheadbrewing.com. Inexpensive to moderate. A partially covered outdoor space on the lower level with historic Main Street as a backdrop. Beers brewed on the premises, plus everything from brats, pretzels and burgers to fish and prime rib.


ST. CLAIR COUNTY

Roemer Topf, 1415 McKinley, Mascoutah, 618-566-4884, www.roemertopfllc.com. Moderate. At one of the few places in the metro area to find German food, the outdoor tables set up behind the restaurant and on the deck and patio overlook the Mascoutah Country Club, providing a quaint, rural, small-town feel.


MADISON AND JERSEY COUNTIES

Mississippi Half Step, 420 East Main, Grafton, 618-786-2722, www.mississippihalfstep.com. Moderate. The outdoor space is the garden of an 1885 mansion on the National Register of Historic Places and overlooks the Great River Road. Generally basic entrees, but it's one of the few places around where you can find chicken livers on the list.

<Thymes Past, 223 State Street, Alton, 618-462-7279, www.thymespast.com. Moderate. The porch and decks overlook the herb and flower gardens of the Krug House, a lovely historic mansion on a large lot dating to 1862. Dinner entrees are straightforward: prime rib, salmon, chicken and pastas.