Actor Robin Williams once said, “Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party.’” It is certainly a wonderful season in Las Vegas. The temperature is perfect and whatever needs to be done is better done outdoors – including eating. Las Vegas neighborhoods have some great dining venues with outdoor patios. Here are three that I have found enjoyable.

Nevada Chicken Café
The Nevada Chicken Café is a great cafeteria-style restaurant with a neatly maintained outdoor patio surrounded by a decorative wrought-iron fence. With the motto “Eat Good, Eat Fresh, Eat Healthy,” the staff prides itself on providing all-natural chicken with the café’s own special blend of seasonings. The chef grills some of the food just outside the front door. The staff manages to be timely without giving up the pleasantries of great customer service. I enjoyed a reasonably priced yet very delicious Caesar wrap. The outdoor patio has a relaxed atmosphere despite the busy nearby intersection of Jones and Sahara.

Location: 6155 W. Sahara, just west of Jones Boulevard.

Border Grill at Mandalay Bay
Tucked into the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, the Border Grill is near the Events and Convention Center. The restaurant opened in 1999 and belongs to a chain founded by Food Network chefs Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger (the “Too Hot Tamales”). The restaurant has two levels of patio dining. One patio sits on the ground floor near Mandalay’s man-made beach, but I dined on the balcony that overlooks the beach and pool area. The Border Grill prides itself on Mexican cuisines with bold flavors. I ordered carne asada steak tacos, and they were some of the best I have ever had.

Palm trees and cabanas make for an eye-catching view, which is wonderfully reflected in the Mandalay’s mirrored windows. The upper patio has torchiere floor lamps and ceiling fans to extend the outdoor season year round. A variety of tables accommodates groups of all sizes. Though the restaurant is often crowded, the staff was friendly and accommodating. My meal arrived promptly and tasted great.

Location: 3950 Las Vegas Blvd., S.; reservations advised on Friday and Saturday nights.

Café Deià

You couldn’t tell from the bland stucco exterior, but the interior of this restaurant is quite attractive. The use of ambient lighting and the Spanish and Mediterranean accents make this place extremely pleasing on the eyes. I had to stop to look around before I stepped out onto the outdoor patio. Crisp linens, tapestries, lattice frames suspended from the ceiling – nice. The restaurant has great views of the mountains to the west, and you have a choice of sofas or tables for seating. We chose the sofas surrounding a fire pit, and I ordered a glass of single malt scotch from the bar. The mellow sounds of Cuban jazz legend Compay Segundo played throughout the restaurant and patio. Beige canvassing and several umbrellas filtered the bright sunlight to a pleasant glow – no hats or sunglasses necessary.

Marissa, our server, remained pleasant while moving swiftly among the patio customers. She explained that Café Deià serves a variety of Mediterranean dishes as well as soups, salads, tapas, Angus burgers, pizza – and paella. Paella is a Spanish dish made by simmering together chicken, seafood, rice and vegetables with saffron and other seasonings in a pan made specifically for the dish. I enjoyed my first chicken paella. As I made my way out, two staff members stopped to ask if my dining experience was satisfactory and I was able to tell them, “Absolutely!”

Location: 4165 Grand Canyon Drive, south of Flamingo Road.

These are great places to dine outdoors but Las Vegas has so many more. Give me a hand and tell me some of your favorites.