Highest-rated restaurants with outdoor seating in California, Maryland by diners

The average person spends over 74 minutes eating and drinking on any given weekday. On weekends and holidays, that goes up to over 81 minutes. Where is a better place to spend that time than a restaurant?

Consumers agree. The National Restaurant Association states that 9 in 10 adults enjoy eating out at restaurants, which give people access to a world of great-tasting food that's often difficult to reproduce at home.

People choose restaurants to scope out the latest food trends, including deeper dives into Southeast Asian cuisines from Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines, without trying to master these complex dishes at home. Chefs also have the resources to experiment with ingredients and bring new favorites like hot honey, spicy maple, matcha, and pickled foods to the table.

Dining out also offers unique, hyperlocal experiences featuring local farmers, food producers, brewers, winemakers, and distillers in a way that connects diners to the area.

When the weather's nice, diners flock to al fresco seating. At least 2 in 5 diners like eating outdoors and look for great ambience like skyline views, rooftop settings, and waterfront seating to enhance their dining experience.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in the California area using data from Yelp. Data is as of Aug. 4, 2025. Only businesses marked as having outdoor seating on the Yelp website were included. Yelp's ranking system calculates an adjusted rating value that considers the number of ratings and the rating score itself. Only businesses with at least 20 reviews within a 10-kilometer radius of California were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 10 locations nationally, based on our Yelp data, were not included. Read on to see if your favorite spot made the list.

Plaza Azteca - Lexington Park

1 / 30

#30. Plaza Azteca - Lexington Park

- Rating: 3.4/5 (157 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 22201 Three Notch Road Lexington Park, Maryland
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Charles Street Brasserie

2 / 30

#29. Charles Street Brasserie

- Rating: 3.5/5 (166 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 120 Charles St. Solomons, Maryland
- Categories: Piano Bars, Tapas Bars
- Read more on Yelp

The Pier Restaurant

3 / 30

#28. The Pier Restaurant

- Rating: 3.5/5 (220 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 14575 Solomons Island Road South Solomons, Maryland
- Categories: Sandwiches, fast food
- Read more on Yelp

Salsa's Mexican Cafe

4 / 30

#27. Salsa's Mexican Cafe

- Rating: 3.6/5 (132 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 25470 Point Lookout Road Ste A Leonardtown, Maryland
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

The Lighthouse Restaurant & Dock Bar

5 / 30

#26. The Lighthouse Restaurant & Dock Bar

- Rating: 3.6/5 (544 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 14636 Solomons Island Road South Solomons, Maryland
- Categories: Bars, Seafood, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in California, Maryland

Slim Chickens

6 / 30

#25. Slim Chickens

- Rating: 3.7/5 (43 reviews)
- Address: 22622 Macarthur Blvd. California, Maryland
- Categories: Chicken Wings, Salad, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

The Front Porch

7 / 30

#24. The Front Porch

- Rating: 3.8/5 (284 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 22770 Washington St. Leonardtown, Maryland
- Categories: Southern, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Sandgates Inn

8 / 30

#23. Sandgates Inn

- Rating: 3.8/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1555 Sandgates Road Mechanicsville, Maryland
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

The Jamaican Grill

9 / 30

#22. The Jamaican Grill

- Rating: 3.8/5 (45 reviews)
- Address: 23105 Three Notch Road California, Maryland
- Categories: Caribbean, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp

Bollywood Masala

10 / 30

#21. Bollywood Masala

- Rating: 3.9/5 (315 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 23418 Three Notch Road California, Maryland
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp

Bugeye Grill

11 / 30

#20. Bugeye Grill

- Rating: 3.9/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 14470 Solomons Island Road Solomons, Maryland
- Categories: Seafood, American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

IL Piccolo Morso

12 / 30

#19. IL Piccolo Morso

- Rating: 3.9/5 (57 reviews)
- Address: 22854 Washington St. Leonardtown, Maryland
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

MOD Pizza

13 / 30

#18. MOD Pizza

- Rating: 3.9/5 (77 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 44940 St. Andrews Church Road California, Maryland
- Categories: Fast food, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

Ruddy Duck Brewery & Grill

14 / 30

#17. Ruddy Duck Brewery & Grill

- Rating: 3.9/5 (446 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 13200 Dowell Road Solomons, Maryland
- Categories: New American, Breweries, Gastropubs
- Read more on Yelp

Boomerangs Original Ribs

15 / 30

#16. Boomerangs Original Ribs

- Rating: 4.0/5 (156 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 13820 Solomons Island Road Solomons, Maryland
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: California, Maryland 7-day weather forecast

Olde Town Pub

16 / 30

#15. Olde Town Pub

- Rating: 4.0/5 (172 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 22785 Washington St. Leonardtown, Maryland
- Categories: Pubs, American
- Read more on Yelp

The Island Hideaway

17 / 30

#14. The Island Hideaway

- Rating: 4.0/5 (366 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 14556 Solomons Island Road South Solomons, Maryland
- Categories: Seafood, New American
- Read more on Yelp

Hacienda Los Guayabos

18 / 30

#13. Hacienda Los Guayabos

- Rating: 4.1/5 (68 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 19661 Three Notch Road Lexington Park, Maryland
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

SweetBay Restaurant & Bar

19 / 30

#12. SweetBay Restaurant & Bar

- Rating: 4.1/5 (145 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 22680 Washington St. Leonardtown, Maryland
- Categories: Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp

Hidden Harbour

20 / 30

#11. Hidden Harbour

- Rating: 4.1/5 (92 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 14755 Dowell Road Dowell, Maryland
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, New American, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

The Beanery Cafe & Bakery

21 / 30

#10. The Beanery Cafe & Bakery

- Rating: 4.1/5 (99 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 22741 Three Notch Road California, Maryland
- Categories: Cafes, Coffee & Tea, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp

Atomic Seafood & Bar

22 / 30

#9. Atomic Seafood & Bar

- Rating: 4.2/5 (52 reviews)
- Address: 258 Town Square Drive Lusby, Maryland
- Categories: Seafood, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Mezeh

23 / 30

#8. Mezeh

- Rating: 4.2/5 (60 reviews)
- Address: 45000 St. Andrews Church Road Bldg 5 Unit A California, Maryland
- Categories: Mediterranean, Salad, Halal
- Read more on Yelp

County Manners

24 / 30

#7. County Manners

- Rating: 4.2/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Charles County, Maryland
- Categories: Food Trucks, Caterers, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

Blue Wind Gourmet

25 / 30

#6. Blue Wind Gourmet

- Rating: 4.3/5 (228 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 22803 Gunston Drive Lexington Park, Maryland
- Categories: Sandwiches, Salad, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

Sawatdee Thai Seafood & Grocery

26 / 30

#5. Sawatdee Thai Seafood & Grocery

- Rating: 4.4/5 (107 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 21525 Great Mills Road Lexington Park, Maryland
- Categories: Thai, Seafood, International Grocery
- Read more on Yelp

Botanic Cafe-Delicatessen

27 / 30

#4. Botanic Cafe-Delicatessen

- Rating: 4.4/5 (32 reviews)
- Address: 22720 Duke St. Leonardtown, Maryland
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Delis, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

The Slice House

28 / 30

#3. The Slice House

- Rating: 4.4/5 (99 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 22745 Washington St. Leonardtown, Maryland
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

Showtime Deli

29 / 30

#2. Showtime Deli

- Rating: 4.5/5 (77 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 21719 Great Mills Road Lexington Park, Maryland
- Categories: Delis
- Read more on Yelp

Cryptic Pizza

30 / 30

#1. Cryptic Pizza

- Rating: 4.5/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 14618 Solomons Island Road South Solomons, Maryland
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 327 metros.