Outdoor Dining Archives - OpenTable Blog

Celebrate Summer: The 100 Best Al Fresco Dining Restaurants in America 2016 #OpenTable100

Caroline Potter May 25, 2016 26 Comments

In honor of spring and to kick off summer travel season, we are thrilled to reveal the 100 Best Al Fresco Dining Restaurants in America 2016. These awards reflect the combined opinions of more than 5 million restaurant reviews submitted by verified OpenTable diners for more than 20,000 restaurants in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Featuring restaurants nestled on white sand beaches and under majestic desert skies to those in chic urban areas, the complete list features winning restaurants in 19 states and Washington, D.C., and includes Hau Tree Lanai in Honolulu, Farm & Table in Albuquerque, and Perch LA in Los Angeles. The scenic state of California claims almost half the number of winning restaurants with 44, followed by Florida with 13, Hawaii with 12, and Arizona with eight. North Carolina and South Carolina boast three honorees apiece. Maryland, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania have two each. Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. are also represented. Menus showcasing American cuisine are most popular; however, many highlight regional fare, including Californian, Hawaiian, and Mexican, and seafood is a common theme at coastal restaurants. Other cuisines strongly represented include French and Italian.

Check out some of the delightful outdoor dining experiences in our slideshow below.

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The 100 Best Al Fresco Dining Restaurants in America list is generated from more than 5 million restaurant reviews submitted by verified OpenTable diners between May 1, 2015, and April 30, 2016. All restaurants with a minimum “overall” score and number of qualifying reviews were included for consideration. Qualifying restaurants were then scored and sorted according to the percentage of qualifying reviews for which “great for outdoor dining” was selected as a special feature.

Based on this methodology, the following restaurants, listed in alphabetical order, comprise the 100 Best Al Fresco Dining Restaurants in America 2016 according to OpenTable diners.

100 Best Al Fresco Dining Restaurants in America 2016Continue Reading

Secret NYC Restaurant Gardens: The Best Backyard Lairs for Dining in the Big Apple

Michael Rice July 8, 2015 2 Comments

For urban adventure seekers, few things are as exhilarating as hitting the pavement of the boroughs and seeing where the day takes you. But it can be grueling out there in the summer heat. Fortunately, New York has a deep web of hidden points of delicious respite waiting for you — if you know where to find them.

These are not your sidewalk cafes; these are al fresco urban oases where you can delight yourself with a bit of a breeze and put some distance between you and the grit of the streets. Seeking sustenance and solace from the teeming masses of competitive curb crawlers? Find serenity with our NYC outdoor dining guide to hidden New York secret restaurant gardens.

Barbone
Executive chef Alberto Ibrahimi at Barbone will treat you like family and introduce you to his version of Italian soul food. Fresh ingredients, a full bar, an extensive wine list, and a spacious outdoor dining area make this a one-stop relaxation destination.

Edi and The Wolf
The executive chef team behind midtown Manhattan’s Michelin-starred (and, sadly, shuttered) Seasonal Restaurant & Weinbar opened this casual homage to Austria’s wine taverns. Located in Alphabet City, it features an eye-pleasing menu of wonderfully prepared rustic Austrian best enjoyed beneath the patio’s hanging garden.

Home
A sustainable restaurant since opening in 1993, Home boasts a menu that showcases the best of New York’s regional agriculture. Beyond the local bounty, the petite eatery boasts an intimate wood-paneled backyard seating area that is guaranteed to ease and please.

ICI
At Fort Greene’s ICI Restaurant, executive chefs Armando Reyes and Robert Howay prepare du jour bounty with a contemporary French twist (garlic scape soup, anybody?). Whether you go for dinner or brunch, the garden seating that hides behind the 19^th-century brownstone is positively transportive.

La Birreria at Eataly
Atop the bustling hordes of the Flatiron District, perched upon the great piazza of plenty that is Eataly, rests this comforting beer garden where you can sip your Peroni — or better yet, one of many house-brewed ales — accompanied by some mussels, housemade sausage, and other delights. [Photo credit: Virginia Rollison]

2015 Top 100 Outdoor Dining Restaurants in Canada + 10 Most Instagrammable Patios

Caroline Potter June 23, 2015 Leave a Comment

Dust off your sandals and bust out the sunscreen, diners! Summer is here, and to kick things off we’re unveiling the 2015 Top 100 Best Outdoor Dining Restaurants in Canada. The awards reflect the combined opinions of more than 275,000 restaurant reviews submitted by verified OpenTable diners for more than 1,600 restaurants in Canada.

Featuring restaurants that offer some of Canada’s most stunning views and dining experiences, the complete list includes winners from picturesque regions such as Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Stanley Park, British Columbia, and Banff, Alberta. Ontario leads all provinces with 41 winning restaurants, followed by British Columbia with 28, Alberta with 18, and Québec with 12. Restaurants associated with wineries, such as Miradoro at Tinhorn Creek Winery in Oliver, British Columbia, and Vineland Estates Winery Restaurant in Vineland, Ontario, are well represented among the winning restaurants.

Forget phone etiquette for a moment when you visit any of these honorees, and open your Instagram app to share snaps of these fabulous outdoor seating areas. Need inspiration? Check out 10 of the most Instagrammable restaurant patios from this year’s Top 100 below.

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OpenTable Diner Reviews Reveal the Top 100 Outdoor Dining Spots in the U.S.

Caroline Potter May 21, 2013 Leave a Comment

As we look forward to warm summer days and balmy nights, we are pleased to announce the 2013 Diners’ Choice Award winners for the Top 100 Outdoor Dining Restaurants in the United States. These awards reflect the combined opinions of more than 5 million reviews submitted by verified OpenTable diners for more than 15,000 restaurants in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Winning restaurants, which include Geoffrey’s Restaurant in Malibu, California, Latitudes in Key West, Florida, and Plumeria Beach House in Kahala, Hawaii, are located in 15 states and the nation’s capital. California restaurants swept close to half the spots on the list with 42 winning restaurants. The island state of Hawaii followed with 20 top outdoor dining restaurants, and Florida was not far behind with 16 honorees. Arizona restaurants claimed five spots on the list and New York took three spots. Missouri, Rhode Island, and Texas each have two winners. Colorado, Louisiana, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. are also represented.

American fare was extremely popular, as were seafood and regional cuisines, including Hawaiian and Californian.

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