Del Mar Eatery Named Among '100 Best Al Fresco Dining Restaurants In America'

DEL MAR, CA: Dine on pistachio-crusted brie, Nori vegetable-crusted Chilean sea bass or a Kona coffee-rubbed ribeye, all with the Pacific Ocean in view.

Try these and a host of other menu items at Poseidon in Del Mar, one of seven San Diego-area eateries named Wednesday to OpenTable's "100 Best Al Fresco Dining Restaurants In America."

The list was generated from more than 5 million restaurant reviews submitted by verified OpenTable diners between May 1 and April 30 of this year.

All restaurants with a minimum "overall" score and number of qualifying reviews were included for consideration, according to Opentable.com. 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.

"Dining al fresco is a delicious way for travelers and locals alike to take in the sights, sounds, and flavors of a city," says Caroline Potter, OpenTable Chief Dining Officer. "These winning restaurants have created delightful outdoor seating areas that provide a front-row seat to the natural beauty and urban vistas around them, allowing guests to commune with their surroundings while experiencing welcoming hospitality and fresh fare."

Users of the online reservation service give Poseidon a 4.5-star overall rating. According to the site's description, "The minute you walk into Poseidon, you’ll be swept by the fabulous view. You couldn’t be closer to the sand and the beach than sitting at Poseidon on their beautiful outdoor patio. With such a spectacular ocean view, you’ll experience breathtaking sunsets and during the right season even catch a glimpse of the whales migrating up or down the coast. The bar offers a large circular firepit, which is nice on those chilly fall or winter nights. Off to the side of the bar is a split level dining room offering every table a panoramic view of the beach and the ocean. For over 33 years, Poseidon has delighted both local San Diegans and the tourists that love the beach. An excellent menu, a favorite with all the locals is designed to cater to all appetites and pocketbooks."

To see which other San Diego-area restaurants made the list, click here.

To view OpenTable's full list, click here.

(Image via Poseidonrestaurant.com)