Even though the Valley’s restaurants have been reopened for dine-in service since May 9, diners are taking a baby-steps approach to eating out again. Many are finding that sitting out on the patio is a comfortable first step. They can still enjoy a restaurant’s offerings without worrying about tight quarters and limited air circulation.

Indeed, in his latest Senate testimony on June 2, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert and part of the president’s coronavirus task force, stated that when it comes to restaurants and bars, “outdoor [is] better than indoor.”

We are a fortunate bunch in this town that loves to eat. There are ample outdoor dining spaces all across the Valley (see Food & Drink, Page 32), with restaurateurs and chefs who are going above and beyond implementing sanitation protocols.

For a more luxe experience, many Strip properties boast poolside dining for escapism and respite. And beyond the tourist corridor, our suburbs have no shortage of green spaces for picnicking with takeout orders. And for nature lovers, an early-morning drive to Mount Charleston or Red Rock, when the temperatures are cool, provides the perfect backdrop for a bag of hot bagels, a tub of schmear and a box of coffee. (If you’re not the early-bird type, a sunset picnic is just as nice.)

Sure, we can’t wait to fully enjoy the singular joy of dining out inside our city’s myriad restaurants, with their unmistakable hospitality and culinary mastery. But we have to look out for our health and the greater good of our community, and dining outdoors is a great way to do that.