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I like a swanky view of the ocean (or river or mountaintop) with my dinner as much as the next person. The problem is that, more often than not, those top-floor, waterfront restaurants want to charge you an unspoken “view tax” for the privilege of enjoying the scenery. That’s how you end up dropping $200 for a mediocre meal that would cost you less than half as much at a normal restaurant where the main focus is the food. And it’s why I’ve pretty much stopped eating anywhere remotely fancy when road-tripping in unfamiliar areas.
Luckily, the Bay Area is home to plenty of non-fancy restaurants that still offer million-dollar views, and even a handful of fancy-view restaurants that wind up being worth the price. Here are a few of my favorites.
The Cafe at the Sea Ranch Lodge
60 Sea Walk Dr., Sea Ranch…