OpenTable says this Shore restaurant is among the most popular in U.S. for outdoor dining
Dining outdoors can make any meal extra special, especially at a restaurant that pays extra attention to its outdoor space.
The folks at OpenTable agree, recognizing nearly 100 restaurants across the country as the most popular for outdoor dining.
"Summer is here and it’s time to dine outdoors," reads the website. "Our list of the most popular restaurants for outdoor dining highlights spots offering delicious food, beautiful views, and above all, incredible outdoor dining experiences. The list spans restaurants coast-to-coast and is determined by verified diner reviews."
This year's rankings include three restaurants in Monmouth and Cape May counties. Together, they have more than 15,000 reviews, and each has between four and five stars on OpenTable:
Rooney's Oceanfront Restaurant,100 Ocean Ave. N. in Long Branch: As the name says, this restaurant — in business for more than 25 years — faces the beach and ocean from its spot on the boardwalk, where it is the oldest restaurant. Also this year, Rooney's earned a spot on Wine Spectator's list of Restaurant Awards.
Sapore Italiano, 416 S. Broadway in West Cape May: Old-school Italian recipes are served in a fine-dining setting at this BYOB, which has a pretty outdoor patio off the porch of a restored Victorian.
Tisha's Fine Dining, 322 Washington St. in Cape May: Located on the Washington Street Mall, the patio at this BYOB offers white tablecloths, pretty plants and plenty of people-watching.
More: Soak in the sun while dining outdoors at these Jersey Shore restaurants
This isn't the first time restaurants in the Garden State have received national recognition:
Last year, Readers Digest named Brooklyn Square the best pizza in New Jersey.
In 2021, OpenTable included The Grand Tavern in Neptune City, Capriccio in Atlantic City, Deauville Inn in Strathmere, and Peter Shields Inn in Cape May, among others in the northern and central parts of the state, in its series "The Greats." This series recognized "restaurants around the country that are so closely woven into the fabric of a city they become part of its heartbeat, making it almost impossible to imagine the place without them."
In 2021, Food & Wine named the Garden State, along with New York and Connecticut, as the top three states for pizza in the country.
In 2019, OpenTable named Anjelica's Restaurant in Sea Bright, Two Fish in Haddonfield and Steve & Cookie's By the Bay in Margate to its list of Top 100 Restaurants in America.
Want dinner with a view? Reserve a table at one of these 8 must-dine South Jersey spots
Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to sgriesemer@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore restaurants: Rooney's in Long Branch honored by OpenTable
