Waterfront Restaurants in St. Augustine

I wrote recently, in my Cap’s on the Water post, “for all the water we have in St. Augustine (Matanzas River, many creeks, the Intracoastal Waterway, and the Atlantic Ocean), we have very few waterfront restaurants!”

But then I started a mental list… alphabetically, of course, because I’m organized like that:

• Aunt Kate’s*
• Beaches at Vilano*
• Cap’s on the Water review
• Conch House
• Creekside Dinery*
• Hurricane Patty’s (Thanks for the correction, Michelle!)
• Kingfish Grill review
• Saltwater Cowboys*
• San Sebastian Winery’s bar has views of the creek*
• Santa Maria Restaurant review
• South Beach Grill*
• The Reef*

Then there’s the beachside one on St. Augustine Beach that supposedly serves a great breakfast (Beachcomber? Can’t remember the name.)

St. Augustine Restaurants with water views, as in they’re not on the water but you can see the water:

• A1A Ale Works*
• Acapulco*
• Harry’s review
• Mary’s Harbor View Cafe*
• Meehan’s review
• OC White’s*
• Panama Hatties’s at St. Augustine Beach

So it appears I was wrong.  St. Augustine does have several waterfront restaurants.  You have to know where to find them (several on the waterfront restaurants list are tucked away) but they do indeed exist!  And it also appears I need to get crackin’…  I’m behind on waterfront restaurant reviews!!  Where do you go for waterfront relaxation?

I’ve been to the restaurants with *, either without my camera or the blog is coming soon.  Don’t miss a review!! Sign up for posts to be delivered to your in-box {<- that’s the link}.

St. Augustine’s Spanish Bakery

When I was a kid, Dad used to take my sister and me to the Spanish Bakery on St. George Street.  That alone is enough reason for me to bring my own children there for lunch in St. Augustine!

photo credit: www.TheSpanishBakery.com

Dad grew up in Puerto Rico- I guess the picadillo and pigeons walking around old picnic tables of a family-owned bakery reminded him of his childhood.  And The Spanish Bakery on St. George Street is still in the same building, serving the same menu on the same picnic tables I remember as a child!  It’s been in the same family all 37 years of operation.

My little family started out by sampling their Picadillo.  We made it a “combo”  and carried out a tray with a bottle of water, a freshly baked roll, picadillo over rice and a cinnamon cookie for $5.50.  Picadillo is essentially chili minus the beans… I think I spotted onions & green peppers hidden in it.

We also tried some beef Empanadas ($3.50)- the original “hot pockets”.  Whatever your preference, it’s better to arrive early.  Food is made fresh daily and when it’s sold out, it’s gone.  Almond cookies were already gone when we arrived and Timothy bought the last cinnamon roll…

Which, as you can see ^, he was very happy about.

When school groups come through, the place packs out.  Otherwise, there are always open tables.  Another local brought her lunch and some bread scraps for the pigeons and picnicked in the corner under a sheltering tent.  The side yard has picnic tables nestled under a sprawling oak, it’s a nice shady respite in the middle of busy St. George Street!

I like the old world feel of The Spanish Bakery- and the fact that you can pick up a loaf of bread for $2.00.  I should take one to Dad and share some memories…

The Spanish Bakery
42 1/2 St. George Street
Look near the public restrooms, across from The Colonial Quarter
904-827-9701

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