Amelia Island Restaurants
FERNANDINA HISTORIC DISTRICT RESTAURANTS (located within walking distance of downtown bed & breakfast inns, the harbor front Hampton Inn & Suites, and the city of Fernandina marina.)
Bonito’s Grill & Shushi – Asian- American fushion. Located on Centre Street and 7th, Bonito’s is a fine dining restaurant offering both lunch and dinner. FOR LUNCH: Check out one of the best deals in town, Bonito’s “Bento box lunch” — a local favorite — get the Grouper! Also great shushi and for dinner, their Chilean Sea Bass is held in high esteem. (904)-261-0508.
Best View: Brett's Rear Deck on Fernandina Harborfront
Brett’s Waterway Café, Front Street (foot of historic Centre Street at city marina) Fernandina Beach, FL 32035-1496. Phone: (904) 261-2660. Best riverfront view at Fernandina Harbor. Sit outside in rocking chairs and enjoy a sunset cocktail on waterfront porch — definitely the place for best sunset view in the historic district where you can eat and drink overlooking the marina. Southern specialties here you may wish to sample: fried green tomatoes with goat cheese, a specialty, shrimp with grits, and fried gator.
Cafe Karibo and Karibrew Brew Pub
Cafe’ Karibo, 27 North 3rd Street, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034. Phone: (904) 277-5269, Website: http://www.cafekaribo.com Very good food and nice atmosphere. Indoor dining room plus nice outdoor brick patio shaded by oak trees and adjacent BREW PUB (this is the place for beer lovers). FRESHEST BEER ON AMELIA ISLAND. Does home brewed beer sound enticing? KARIBREW BREW PUB & GRUB also has tasty menu of burgers, soft-shelled crab sandwiches, Thai spring rolls, and more.
Espana Restaurant, 22 S. 4th St., Fernandina Beach, FL 32034. Phone: (904) 261-7700, http://www.espanadowntown.com Specializing in traditional Spanish and Portuguese dishes. Menu includes varied hot and cold tapas, steaks, “just caught” fish, and several types of paella, homemade sangria. Indoor dining room, enclosed patio dining or outdoor garden dining.
29 South, Fernandina Beach (Amelia Island)
29 South Restaurant, located at 29 South 3rd Street in Fernandina. (904)277-7919. Chic neighborhood bistro offering “classic world cuisine with modern twist.” Fresh ingredients from local sources when possible. (Grilled pizza and sandwiches also available.) See the 29 South website for full menu and more details… Check out a restaurant review here, “29 South in Fernandina Easy To Love”
Luigi’s Trattoria — Located at 31 South 5th Street (off Centre Street). Great Italian food, the mouth watering aroma hits you when you walk in the front door in this quaint setting — a favorite Italian eatery of local residents. Eat indoors or outside in the rear patio area. (904)277-4080.
Gennaro’s Ristorante, Italiano 5 South 2nd St., Fernandina Beach, FL 32034. Phone: (904) 261-9400. Website: http://www.GennarosItaliano.com Southern Italian cuisine with baked and sauteed pasta dishes, gourmet raviolis, and Italian dinners featuring veal, chicken and seafood. Signature dishes — Chicken Marsala, Veal Cacciatore with fresh mushrooms and savory sauce, Shrimp Fra’ Diavolo is a favorite, and Veal Piccata with lemon, butter capers and white wine sauce. Hand tossed pizzas, calzones and strombolis. Bread baked on-site. Serving lunch and dinner, beer and wine available. Located next to the Hampton Inn.
Jack & Diane’s, 708 Centre St., Fernandina Beach, FL 32034. Phone: (904) 321-1444, Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner 7am-9pm everyday in the historic district. Jack & Diane’s offers an innovative menu of “food with attitude”. Traditional food with unique flair. Cocktails, music and Happy Hour 4-6pm.
Joe’s 2nd Street Bistro,14 S. 2nd Street, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034. Phone: (904) 321-2558. Website: http://www.joesbistro.com New American cuisine with influences from Italian, French, Creole, Asian and South of the Border cooking along with fresh baked bread, homemade ice cream, sorbets and signatures desserts. Dine in restored 1900’s home in our intimate main dining room or outside by the fountain in New Orleans-inspired courtyard.
Le Clos Restaurant of Amelia Island ,20 S. 2nd Street, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034. Phone: (904) 261-8100 Website: http://www.leclos.com Le Clos serves Provencale dishes by candlelight in a charming, intimate 1906 cottage. Chef-owner Katherine Ewing received full degrees in both pastry and cuisine from Le Cordon Blue and L’Ecole de Gastronomie Francaise Ritz-Escoffier, Paris, and trained at the Ritz Hotel, Paris, France. Open Mon.-Sat. from 5:30 – 9:30. Reservations recommended. Extensive wine list.
Pablo’s Mexican Restaurant, 12 N 2nd Street, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034. Phone: (904) 261-0049. Authentic mexican cuisine from owners’ Pablo and Fernando. Open daily 11 am – 10 pm serving lunch and dinner. Happy Hour Mon – Wed from 4 pm – 6 pm, full bar serving the best margaritas outside of Mexico. Courtyard seating also available.
Beech Street Grill, 801 Beech Street at intersection of South 8th Street), Fernandina Beach, FL 32034. Phone: (904) 277-3662. (Note the location of this restaurant is a further walk from the Fernandina marina area. Beech Street Grill is located a few blocks from the 8th Street and Centre Street corner, so some may prefer to drive here.) Website: http://www.beechstreetgrill.com Extensive, award-winning wine list, fine dining in Fernandina Beach.
Arte Pizza, Fernandina Beach, Florida
GET PIZZA DOWNTOWN, at ARTE’s PIZZA, located at 109 North 3rd Street (off Centre St.). Wood fired oven, thin-crust style pizza is their specialty, delicious. (904)277-1515.
CASUAL BEACH RESTAURANT/ BEACH BARS
Sliders Seaside Grill, oceanfront grill with outdoor tiki bar on the beach, located on South Fletcher Avenue at the roundabout at Sadler Road, 1998 S Fletcher Ave., Fernandina Beach, FL 32034. Phone: (904) 277-6652.
The Surf, 3199 S. Fletcher Ave., Fernandina Beach, FL 32034. Phone: (904) 261-5711. http://www.thesurfonline.com The Surf Restaurant & Bar provides a casual beach atmosphere located across the street from the ocean. We specialize in seafood and steaks and offer daily specials such as our Sunday $5.95 lobsters and Wednesday Wing-It. Dine indoors or out on our huge oceanview deck, and enjoy live entertainment. The Surf offers live entertainment nightly on the deck (in summer season) and 23 TVs throughout the property.
FINE DINING AT AMELIA ISLAND’S LUXURY OCEANFRONT RESORTS
Amelia Island Ritz-Carlton Features Fine Dining at "Salt"
Salt At The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island (RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED) Phone: 904-277-1100. AWARDS: One of the top restaurants in the state of Florida, Golden Spoon Hall of Fame. For a rare fine dining experience, Salt is located at the AAA five diamond award winning Ritz-Carlton hotel on Amelia Island. Valet parking, jackets suggested. Salt salutes the Ritz-Carlton’s standard for modern gourmet meals made from carefully sourced ingredients prepared for different menus each week with top chef skills. Located at 4750 Amelia Island Pkwy., Amelia Island, Fernandina Beach, Florida. Cuisine: Modern American. Dinner served nightly in Salt (other meals available in the Ritz-Carlton’s Cafe 4750). Visit Salt’s website.
AMELIA ISLAND PLANTATION RESORT: THREE RESTAURANTS WITHIN THE RESORT PROPERTY (RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED)
Ocean Grill, Amelia Island Plantation – — Phone: 904-261-6161. Menu updated seasonally with finest steaks, seafood, chops, chef’s specials, and bounty from the local farmers’ market, enviable wine list and a lavish selection of desserts. Located oceanfront, dine with view of the Atlantic. Signature favorites on the menu include “Grilled Shrimp & Grits, Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass, Surf & Turf, and Steak Amelia.” Located at 6800 First Coast Hwy within the Amelia Island Plantation resort.
Verandah, Amelia Island Plantation –Phone: 904-261-6161. A popular restaurant with residents of the Plantation as well as other livings on Amelia Island, the Verandah is resort casual dining. Menu features “Roasted Pork Loin, Land & Sea (try locally caught Fernandina shrimp), Spring Lamb Chops, Tenderloin, Creole Seafood Carbonara, Seafood Pasta , Floridian Style Scallops, Grilled Chilean Sea Bass” and many more seafood plates. Enjoy a wonderful meal at the Verandah on Amelia Island Plantaton (near the tennis complex). Located at 6800 First Coast Highway.
Plae Restaurant (People Laughing And Eating), located on Amelia Island Plantation Resort
PLAE (People Laughing And Eating) Phone: 904-277-2132. AWARDS: Top 500 Restaurant in FLORIDA. Cuisine: Modern American. Located in the Amelia Island Plantation’s Spa & Shops off First Coast Highway, with views of the golf course. Offering an eclectic menu, including beef, pork, fowl, lamb and of course, sea food, PLAE is beautifully designed and furnished — this is a stylish restaurant offering a wonderful dining experience for those with an accomplished palate. A well-trained staff, all dressed in black and attentive, will usher you to a table or booth and explain the featured specials. It’s also a great place to enjoy cocktails in the lounge or outside on the deck. PLAE has an impressive cocktail lounge, offering live entertainment in the lounge some evenings — call for the entertainment schedule, further information and dinner reservations. Only open for dinner. 6800 First Coast Highway, Amelia Island Plantation.
OUTSIDE THE HISTORIC DISTRICT — OTHER RESTAURANTS LOCATED CENTRALLY ON AMELIA ISLAND
Moon River Pizza, 925 South 14th Street (near Jasmine St.), a favorite of locals, in small strip plaza. Very kid-friendly, inexpensive but great pizza, salads, calzones, serving wine and beer. (The gorganzola walnut salad dressing is wonderful.) (904)321-3400.
Loop Pizza Grill. Family-style eatery with nice burgers, pizza, salads, and great thick shakes. Located in the same plaza as Blockbuster Video (Sadler Road and South 14th Street). (904) 321-0093.
Tony’s Brick Oven Pizza & Restaurant, 1425 Sadler Rd. (next to Publix) Fernandina Beach, FL 32034. Phone: (904) 277-7661. Featuring brick oven pizza and pasta. Lunch specials 11am to 3pm everyday. Happy Hour everyday 11am – 6pm. Free Wi-Fi and free local delivery. All booths are equipped with 20 inch LCD TV’s and direct TV boxes. Casual dining for families and sports enthusiasts. Open everyday Monday – Sunday, 11am to 10pm.
Carolyn’s Breakfast and Desserts, 1881 S 14th Street Suite 1, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034. Phone: (904) 261-6277. A favorite of locals for breakfast and the homemade coconut cake!
Barbara Jean’s Restaurant ,960030 Gateway Blvd., Amelia Island, FL 32034. Phone: (904) 277-3700. A favorite of locals who like home-style cooking.
ASIAN CUISINE RESTAURANTS
Jade Bistro,1484 Sadler Rd., Fernandina Beach, FL 32034. Phone: (904) 321-2777, http://www.jadesbistro.com Asian cuisine.
Kabuki Japanese Steakhouse, 1147 Amelia Plaza, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034. Phone: (904) 277-8782. Kabuki chefs, masters of Ancient Art of Japanese Teppanyaki cookery, will thrill and amaze as dinner is prepared at your table before your very eyes. Sushi chefs also serve custom made sushi rolls and platters.
Fancy Sushi, 1478 Sadler, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034, Phone: (904) 261-9855.
