Alexandria Restaurant Ranks Among Top 100 In Nation For Outdoor Dining

ALEXANDRIA, VA — An Alexandria restaurant has been lauded for its outdoor dining space and is among the top 100 places to dine al fresco, according to OpenTable's new ranking.

The ranking is based on diner reviews on OpenTable. BARCA Pier & Wine Bar made the 100 Best Outdoor Dining Restaurants in America for 2022, which was released by OpenTable on Wednesday. BARCA, which offers Mediterranean-style tapas and other food along with drinks, opened in 2021 at the Robinson Landing development. Diners can't get any closer to waterfront dining than this, as BARCA has a bar located on a pier above the Potomac River.

BARCA has also been recognized on OpenTable Diner's Choice lists for Spanish cuisine, best ambiance, scenic view and most booked.

This year's Best Outdoor Dining in America list highlights the increasing value of outdoor dining with the COVID-19 pandemic. As the COVID-19 pandemic set in, many restaurants were forced to rely on outdoor seating to accommodate guests due to restrictions placed on businesses and restaurants to allow guests indoors. According to OpenTable, the number of restaurants offering outdoor dining grew by more than 54 since pre-pandemic times.

"Outdoor dining played a major role in buoying the restaurant industry over the last few years, and restaurants took note – whether adding, expanding, or elevating their offerings," said Susan Lee, chief growth officer for OpenTable, in a news release. "Offering outdoor dining is now a key part of restaurants' business, and we're happy to see that diners continue to embrace it."

Other DC area restaurants on OpenTable's list are Zaytinya in DC's Penn Quarter, Ruthie's All-Day in Arlington, Le Diplomate in DC's Logan Circle and L'Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls.