Floridians are experts on al fresco dining so it should come as no surprise that 11 businesses made OpenTable’s annual list of the “100 Best Restaurants for Outdoor Dining.” It should also come as no shock that two of those places happen to be right here in our backyard, and appear on my annual list of the best waterfront restaurants in Sarasota – with another among my top spots to visit in Tampa along the Riverwalk.

OpenTable, the popular online restaurant-reservation service, reported that the number of establishments listing outdoor dining as an option has grown 54% compared to pre-pandemic 2019, and that their “best restaurants for outdoor dining” report was curated from more than 13 million verified diner reviews.

“The list identifies restaurants coast-to-coast with great views, delicious cuisine and above all, an incredible outdoor dining experience,” OpenTable said in a press release issued July 13. “This year, 25 states feature restaurants on the list, making seeking out one – or many – a breeze, whether at home or away.”

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Dry Dock Waterfront Grill on Longboat Key named ‘100 Best Restaurants for Outdoor Dining’ by OpenTable

The restaurants are presented in no particular order (at least not one that I could figure out) with Dry Dock Waterfront Grill on Longboat Key appearing first among the two Sarasota picks. The seafood restaurant, opened in 1989, is given four and a half out of five stars, based on