The Swimmer family of South Charlotte takes time out to dine al fresco at South 21 Drive-In on South Boulevard. David and Kirstin share a shake, while Jake and Natalie munch on burgers and fries in the back seat.

The disease: Spring fever. Symptoms include restlessness, erratic behavior, general fidgeting and an aversion to fluorescent lights and paperwork. In some acute cases there may be an overwhelming desire to spruce up homes and offices from top to bottom, commonly known as spring cleaning syndrome.

The cure: Remain calm. Don't panic. Victims should be placed outside immediately. Remove shoes and run barefoot through the grass. Tilt head back, close eyes and bask in the warm springtime sun. When victims show signs of hunger, eat outside. Dining al fresco will help calm spring fever symptoms quickly and effectively with few known side effects, except possibly, the desire for more.

This time of the year in Charlotte is the favorite season for many of us. Sandwiched between the annual falling of the pollen and the first onset of summertime mosquitoes, it's a great time to dine outdoors. There are numerous places in town offering patio dining. If you've come down with a case of the fever, or you know of someone who has, here are some of the top patios around town to enjoy. Spring fever isn't fatal, and fortunately, for those who enjoy good food and Charlotte in the spring, the cure is the best part of the ailment.

Let's start in the SouthPark area with a trio of patios... THE VILLAGE TAVERN, in the Rotunda Building on Congress Street off Barclay Downs Drive, gets the award for the largest patio where you can dine when weather permits. A casual Sunday brunch runs from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. On Wednesday and Thursday nights there's live jazz outside. New this season is a late-night menu served from 10-11 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m.-midnight on weekends. Basically bar food, the late-night offerings feature appetizers, pizza and several popular sandwich combinations. Village Tavern is open for lunch and dinner Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday till midnight. Call 704-552-9983.

ZEBRA RESTAURANT AND WINE BAR, located at 4521 Sharon Road in the Siskey Building across from SouthPark, gets my vote for one of the prettiest patios in the area. Soft blooming flowers and green vines, a bubbling fountain and a big wall shelter you from the Sharon Road noise and traffic. And the cuisine? It's some of the finest al fresco dining in town. Springtime favorites include a white and green asparagus salad served at both lunch and dinner, the almond and sesame "vase" of baby lettuces, mushrooms, citrus and fresh raspberries, and the pistachio opera cake made with coffee buttercream and chocolate ganache. Breakfast is served Monday-Friday, 6-10 a.m; lunch from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; dinner, weeknights, 6-10 p.m.; Saturdays, 5:30-10:30 p.m. Call 704-442-9525.

The patio at UPSTREAM RESTAURANT is where you'll want to cast your line and catch all of the action at South Charlotte's Phillips Place. The restaurant features a menu of seafood specialties from around the world, prepared as only Chef Tom Condron can. In addition to the patio, there's an oyster bar, separate lounge, and a beautifully appointed dining room. Upstream offers fine seafood for dinner Sunday- Thursday, 5:30-10 p.m., and Saturday until 11 p.m. Lunch is served Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays there's a buffet brunch in the same time slot. If you've been dreaming of a springtime trip to the beach, Upstream is a way to get the feel of being there faster than you can make your reservation. Just sit out on the patio, watch the sun set over Phillips Place and enjoy. Call 704-556-7730.

In Dilworth, check out these three patios in the East/South Boulevard corridors... BONTERRA offers contemporary American cuisine in an elegant, yet casual setting in a historic building that once was a church. Bonterra features over 200 wines by the glass, a captain's list of about 150 additional upscale wines, a diverse menu of fresh, innovative dishes and several sumptuous desserts. Since its opening in 2000, Bonterra continues to be a fun and satisfying dining destination. This spring, owner John Duncan, known as JD, encourages customers to come play on the patio on the bocce ball court. This time-honored sport can best be described to the uninitiated as an Italian version of outdoor bowling. Bonterra, located at 1829 Cleveland Ave. at the intersection with East Worthington Avenue, is open for dinner Monday-Thursday, 5:30-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5:30-11 p.m. Reservations are recommended, call 704- 333-WINE. The restaurant and the patio - bocce ball court and all - also are available for private parties and luncheons.

Dine at the PEWTER ROSE and find yourself surrounded by lush greenery, original local art and an eclectic blend of furnishings from antique to '50s-style. For 15 years, the restaurant has occupied the second floor of a turn-of-the-century textile warehouse at 1820 South Blvd. in SouthEnd. Original massive wood beams and soaring 30-foot ceilings, flanked front and back by walls of French paned glass, provide a unique setting for a unique dining experience. Chef Blake Dewey offers a wonderful sampling of American cuisine drawing on the diverse, ethnic and cultural heritage of the United States and relating it to the palate of the region. Local produce, fresh seafood, poultry, beef, pork, game meats and vegetarian items are featured on the menu. There is an extensive wine list of over 500 selections with an emphasis on French and California wines. A monthly menu features some 10-12 wines by the glass. Call 704-332-8149.

A few miles south on South, between Clanton and Scaleybark roads, enjoy the ultimate in al fresco dining by driving over toSOUTH 21 DRIVE-IN. The whole place could be considered a patio. George Katsanos and staff have been serving Queen City customers in search of a great burger or the best in Southern fried chicken since 1955. Pull up to one of the covered parking spaces, place your order from your car, crank up the tunes on your stereo and just relax until your order is delivered on a tray beside your car window. South 21 is open Mondays from 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; Tuesdays-Thursdays till 9 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays till 10 p.m. Favorite fare includes golden frenchfried onion rings, the Super Boy (that's two beef patties with all the trimmings), Southern-fried chicken, and, of course, a choice of chocolate, vanilla or cherry milkshakes. If you can't stay, everything is available for takeout, too. Call 704- 527-5530 for special orders or more information.

It seems that almost every Uptown restaurant is taking advantage of the lunch and dinnertime crowds and Charlotte's most spectacular of seasons. Just a quick walk up Tryon Street finds al fresco dining at every turn. Popular patios include, SONOMA BISTRO AND WINE BAR at the corner of Trade and Church streets, LAVACCHIA'S SEAFOOD, BRIXX PIZZA and REID'S FINE FOODS at Seventh Street Station, and on the Tryon side of the Hearst Tower, LUCE RISTORANTE. The newest and coolest Uptown patio honors, though, go to BLUE RESTAURANT AND BAR on the College Street side of the Hearst Tower. Here, the patio is glassed in during unseasonable weather, but the louvered glass windows open to enjoy the seasons as weather permits. Blue, which opened in April, features fare with an array of flavors from around the Mediterranean region. Complimentary valet parking is available after 6 p.m. on weekdays and 5 p.m. on weekends off College Street. The Hearst Tower garage is accessible from Fifth and Sixth streets. Call 704-927-2583.

Honors for Charlotte's most unusual patio go to FAT CITY in the NODA district. It's minutes away from Uptown - drive north on Davidson Street. Fat City is a great place for sandwiches, salads, vegetarian fare and the like. The place was artsy and eclectic before "artsy and eclectic" was a hip and happenin' thing to be. Open for seven years, the patio at Fat City has grown along with the restaurant's popularity. It's casual dining to be sure - basically a grouping of picnic tables under a big shelter, with some rockers and sliders where you can sit and enjoy the sun; but it's the accoutrements that make the patio so much fun. There's everything from tire yard art to the kitchen sink. Well, it's actually a bathroom sink - in fact there are two along with a footed bathtub and a porcelain commode - filled with flowers to create a small garden that surrounds the patio. Lunch starts at 11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday, noon on Saturday and noon Sunday for brunch. Call 704-343- 0240.

CASCO BAY is a New England fish house, located at the back of Park Road Shopping Center. Look for the mural of the lobsters. New this season is a funky patio. Inside and out, you'll find the casual surroundings with excellent seafood at reasonable prices. Be sure to check out the $7 lunch. It's self-serve with lunch specials changing daily. Order and pay at the bar and find a seat. Price includes entrée drink and tax. Casco Bay is open for lunch Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., and for dinner Monday- Wednesday, 5-10 p.m., and Thursday- Saturday, 5-11 p.m. Call 704-716-3474 for more information.

The patio at Blue in Uptown Charlotte lets you watch passersby on the College Street side of Hearst Tower.

Well-known Charlotte restaurant critic, food writer, cooking instructor and connoisseur of food and wine, Heidi Edidin writes "South Charlotte Weekly: Culinary Corner," a restaurant review or food feature that appears weekly. Contact Heidi with questions and restaurant, food or story ideas by email at heidi@southcharlotteweekly.com.

SCW photos by Sean Busher.

This article first appeared in "South Charlotte Weekly" on April 25, 2003. "South Charlotte Weekly" is a free, locally owned, independent newspaper that's "About the Community, For the Community," available every Thursday in South Charlotte and Uptown.

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