Where is the best al fresco dining in Florida?

Florida heat may seem oppressive in the summer, but there are moments where being outside can be quite enjoyable, and that includes eating al fresco.

The regular afternoon thunderstorm show and the cooler evenings make restaurants with covered outdoor dining one of Florida’s little gems, as long as the rain doesn’t fly in sideways. And mimosas and bloody Marys can always assist in making Florida’s warm weekend mornings brunchworthy.

Restaurant reservation service OpenTable recently released its annual list of 100 Best Al Fresco Dining Restaurants in America, and nearly 30 restaurants in the Sunshine State made the list. That includes two of the five Columbia Restaurant locations in the state, the ones in Clearwater Beach and Celebration.

27 more non-chain restaurants dotting the Sunshine State made the list, with the lion’s share coming from Naples, but also Anna Maria Island, Brandon, Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Indian Rocks Beach, Key West, Marco Island, Miami, Palm Beach, St. Petersburg and Sarasota.

Last year’s list had only 13 Florida restaurants on the list. although some of those including Orlando’s Tap Room and the Citrus Grillhouse in Vero Beach didn’t make the 2017 list.

The lists are generated by the website’s diner reviews collected from May 1, 2016 to April 30, 2017.

The complete list is at www.opentable.com/m/ best-alfresco-diningrestaurants-in-america. Florida’s entries are listed below:

Columbia Restaurant, Celebration and Clearwater Beach The Waterfront Restaurant House

Guppy’s

Grill Boca

Moon Fish Restaurant Co.; Sundy

Blue Kaluz

Hot Tin Roof; Latitudes on Sunset Key; Michaels Restaurant

Da Vinci Ristorante; Sale e Pepe — Marco Beach Ocean Resort Red Fish Grill Bayside Seafood Grill & Bar; Bistro 821; BRAVO Cucina Italiana; Cafe Lurcat; Campiello; Continental Naples; Mediterrano; Molto Trattoria; Osteria Tulia; The Turtle Club Renato’s Parkshore

Jack Dusty Coastal Cuisine and Crafted Cocktails; Ophelia’s on the Bay; Shore Diner