24 'Most Scenic' Restaurants in California, According To New OpenTable List

What's better than enjoying a great meal? How about enjoying a great meal AND having a breathtaking view?

Whether it's watching the sunset from an outdoor patio while sipping on a handcrafted martini, or taking in an amazing city view while sharing appetizers with friends, there are some places in which the ambiance just makes eating out that much better. And for those out there looking to expand their dining horizons, OpenTable has just released a ranking of the 100 Most Scenic Restaurants in America for 2016.

"Whether they're perched atop a city skyscraper or nestled on a mountainside, this year's winning restaurants provide awe-inspiring views that showcase all the beauty of their surroundings for locals and travelers seeking a front-row seat to a city's natural or manmade splendors," said Caroline Potter, OpenTable chief dining officer. "A dining experience at any of these honorees is the most delicious way to get a true sense of place when vacationing or exploring your own hometown."

To arrive at its final list, OpenTable says it examined some 5 million restaurant reviews from more than 20,000 restaurants across the nation.

"All restaurants with a minimum 'overall' score and number of qualifying reviews were included for consideration," the company says of its methodology. "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."

When all was said and done, California claimed top honors with "scenic views" — sweeping up 24 of the 100 spots. Washington claimed 10 spots, while Florida had seven.

OpenTable says most of the eateries serve American fare, but seafood is also popular, followed by international options like Asian, French, Latin American, Italian and Peruvian.

The California honorees are listed below, in alphabetical order:

• A Caprice - Tiburon, California
• Beachcomber Café- Crystal Cove - Newport Coast, California
• Bertrand at Mister A's - San Diego, California
• Chart House Restaurant - Monterey, California
• Christy Hill - Tahoe City, California
• Duke's Malibu - Malibu, California
• Il Fornaio - Coronado, California
• Island Prime - San Diego, California
• Jake's Del Mar - Del Mar, California
• La Costanera - Montara, California
• The Marine Room - La Jolla, California
• Orange County Mining Co. - Santa Ana, California
• Poseidon - Del Mar, California
• Restaurant at the Getty Center - Los Angeles, California
• River's End - Jenner, California
• Rustic, Francis's Favorites - Geyserville, California
• Salute E Vita Ristorante - Richmond, California
• SEA180 Coastal Tavern - Imperial Beach, California
• Shadowbrook Restaurant - Capitola, California
• Summit House Restaurant - Fullerton, California
• Sutro's at the Cliff House - San Francisco, California
• Tom Ham's Lighthouse - San Diego, California
• Ventana Grill - Pismo Beach, California
• Yamashiro - Hollywood, California

>>CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL LIST.<<

Image of River's End credit: John Perry on Flickr