While our USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Dining and Entertainment Team already published its 2024 lists of the best restaurants and top bars in the Sunshine State, we now turn to a new ranking from OpenTable.
The popular online restaurant reservation service has revealed its Top 100 Restaurants in America for 2024. This year’s list features dining spots from 27 states, with Florida represented by four restaurants. OpenTable selected locations from both coasts of the state, including one that has been open for nearly 70 years.
“I couldn’t be prouder of every restaurant that made this list for their incredible efforts to deliver hospitality to their guests at every turn,” said Debby Soo, CEO of OpenTable, in a statement. “For diners, there’s something for everyone on this list — it’s an amazing hit list for locals and travelers too.”
Here’s a look at the four Florida spots that made OpenTable’s list of the Top 100 Restaurants in America for 2024. OpenTable notes that the list is compiled by analyzing “more than 14 million diner reviews, along with diner ratings, reservation demand, percentage of five-star reviews among other factors.”
Bern’s Steak House | Tampa
Bern’s Steak House, open since 1956, is at 1208 S. Howard Ave., Tampa.
Details: 1208 S. Howard Ave., Tampa; 813-251-2421; bernssteakhouse.comOpen since 1956, with decor often likened to “Dracula’s bordello,” Bern’s Steak House has attracted everyone from mafiosos to at least one sitting U.S. president, thanks to its dry-aged cuts of beef and legendary wine collection.
Must-try menu items include the Delmonico steak and French onion soup au gratin. Be sure to secure a seat upstairs at the cozy Harry Waugh Dessert Room to indulge in desserts like Bananas Foster or Baked Alaska, both flambéed tableside. Serious steak enthusiasts and oenophiles should consider booking a room at the Epicurean Hotel, Bern’s sister property located just across the street.
“Perfectly aged steaks, one of the largest wine collections in the world, and an internationally famous dessert room,” OpenTable writes. “These elements have combined since 1956 to provide guests with a unique culinary experience.”
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Buccan | Palm Beach
Clay Conley is chef and co-owner of Buccan bistro in Palm Beach.
Details: 350 S. County Road, Palm Beach; 561-833-3450; buccanpalmbeach.com
Opened in 2010, Buccan is a Palm Beach culinary treasure, best known as the home of James Beard Award-nominated chef and owner Clay Conley. OpenTable notes that “the predominant characteristic of Buccan’s menu is a changing array of small plates — highlighting the use of superior ingredients and preparation — offering an adventurous and memorable dining experience.”
“We are truly honored and grateful to be included on this (OpenTable) list,” Buccan general manager Andy Boles told the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, on Wednesday.
“Our greatest satisfaction comes from making our guests happy and exceeding their expectations,” Boles said. “This recognition is especially meaningful because it comes not from critics or OpenTable executives, but from the everyday diners who support us. Without them, Buccan would not exist.” — M.M. Cloutier, Palm Beach Daily News
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Dry Dock Waterfront Grill | Longboat Key
Dry Dock Waterfront Grill, on Longboat Key overlooking Sarasota Bay, photographed Sunday, July 9, 2023.
Details: 412 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key; 941-383-0102; drydockwaterfrontgrill.com
Dry Dock Waterfront Grill, located on Longboat Key with a picturesque view of Sarasota Bay, offers diners two floors of indoor seating and a full-liquor bar area, as well as covered outdoor tables overlooking the water. To complement the waterfront setting, Dry Dock serves expertly prepared Gulf of Mexico seafood dishes, including its standout Citrus Grouper entrée.
The combination of the stunning view — often featuring pelicans and playful dolphins — and the delicious, locally sourced seafood has earned Dry Dock numerous national honors in recent years, including a spot on OpenTable’s list of the Top 100 Restaurants in the U.S. for Outdoor Dining in 2023.
For its 2024 list of Top 100 Restaurants in America, OpenTable notes, “The Dry Dock Waterfront Grill is a ‘polished casual’ restaurant overlooking Sarasota Bay (that is) best known for local fresh grouper and red snapper.”
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Sails | Naples
Rajkumar Holuss is Sails Restaurant’s new chef de cuisine.
Details: 301 Fifth Ave. S., Naples; 239-360-2000; sailsrestaurants.com
Located steps from Naples Beach, Sails specializes in the cuisine of France, Italy, and Greece, featuring dishes such as seafood towers, handmade pastas, and Kobé beef creations.
Born in East Africa and following successful stints at multiple Michelin-starred destinations in Europe, Rajkumar Holuss became Chef de Cuisine at Sails about a year ago, according to a story in the Naples Daily News, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida.
“Pairing the freshest food with exceptional five-star service amid beachy-chic décor, relaxed sophistication prevails at Sails, with a nod to the gracious manners of traditional fine dining, ever-so-slightly modernized,” OpenTable writes.
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Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram and X. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: 4 best Florida restaurants, according to OpenTable
