The first question we food editors get asked about Miami restaurants is which has the best view, preferably one that faces the water. We hear it so often that we even made an entire list devoted to waterfront restaurants in Miami. The folks at OpenTable also recognize the importance of a panoramic setting, and they’ve come up with a ranking of their own, revealing the 100 most scenic restaurants in the U.S.
Florida racked up 13 mentions, with many in Fort Lauderdale just across county lines. Surprisingly, only one Miami eatery made the cut and that honor goes to La Mar by Gastón Acurio. The Mandarin Oriental’s breathtaking restaurant is on Brickell Key and features a waterfront seating area with 180-degree views of Brickell’s glistening skyline. So no shock there.
The list is culled from 12 million verified OpenTable reviews that span more than 28,000 restaurants in the United States. With such a large national pool, why didn’t more local spots, like Lido Bayside Grill, would make the list? Reviews require reservations, and Miamians make those as often as they use turn signals—never. Better luck next year.
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