No matter which restaurant you visit, ask for St. Augustine’s signature dish, Minorcan Chowder, a delicious stew of tomatoes, onions, potatoes, clams and other spices, seasoned with spicy datil pepper.
The Menorcans are a multicultural group of people who settled in this corner of Florida in the 18th century and are mostly descended from indentured workers from the Spanish island of Menorca.
Let’s take a culinary tour of this historic city, where in addition to history, many people talk about food.
Smokin’ D BBQ
Overlooking the San Sebastian River, Smokin’ D BBQ is a great place to start your culinary tour of the city.
Daryl Perrit learned from his father that the key ingredient to making good barbecue is the time spent. The restaurant owner is in no rush when it comes to cooking.
“It takes six to 15 hours to prepare authentic, freshly smoked barbecue,” Perrit said.
“Here in San Agustin everyone is a food connoisseur, a critic, so if you want to succeed you better do it right,” he said.
This barbecue features pulled pork, ribs, chicken breasts, turkey and chicken thighs, as well as a sweet and spicy coleslaw, Southern-style yellow beans or rice, and a savory garlic toast.
Although this restaurant specializes in takeout, everyone is welcome to sit at the picnic table located on the riverbank.
Salt Life Food Shack https://www.saltlifefoodshack.com
Just outside of St. Augustine, you’ll find Salt Life Food Shack. This is an eclectic seafood restaurant that’s located in Jacksonville Beach.
The restaurant has a relaxed, beachy atmosphere and serves a wide variety of appetizers and seafood dishes, including sushi, tacos and burgers.
For lunch or dinner, you might want to try a delicious wood-grilled mahi garnished with cilantro, lime and red pepper aioli with lettuce and tomato.
The Mill Top Tavern
Old George Street is full of restaurants, bars and shops, but The Mill Top Tavern is a very special place.
Housed in a 140-year-old two-story building, this former mill became a popular music venue and bar in the 1950s and has been a favorite hangout for local musicians ever since.
Here, locals and visitors alike gather to enjoy food and drinks, while telling stories, listening to country and folk music, and dancing.
Michael’s
One of St. Augustine’s most iconic dining venues, Michael’s offers a casual, elegant dining experience where refined flavors and fine wine abound.
The menu changes seasonally and focuses on meats and Spanish-inspired cuisine, with the presence of pleasant local ingredients.
At Michael’s you can try everything from cavatelli pasta to shrimp mofongo to a delicious chicken stew, called chamba, made with smoked tomatoes, olives, glazed fried plantains and sweet red peppers.
St. Augustine Sailing
Lunch at sea? The St. Augustine Sailing excursion is an unforgettable sightseeing experience that is planned for those looking to explore the city from a different perspective.
Enjoy mimosa or sparkling wine, tasty sandwiches, lunch or dinner while appreciating the beauty of the centuries-old Castillo de San Marcos, with serene walks to fabulous sunsets.
Restaurant Raintree
The MacDonald family left England on their 45-foot yacht bound for the United States in 1980, just as their countrymen did in the 17th century and probably for a similar reason, until they reached St. Augustine after a long voyage.
Behind this family history, Raintree Restaurant is recognized as one of the best in St. Augustine.
With an international menu that combines Mediterranean, American and Asian cuisine, there is everything from starters, soups and salads to pastas, seafood and steaks and chops.
St. Augustine Distillery
This place is about more than just sampling homemade spirits. Housed inside a beautifully restored 1907 ice plant, we all learn how they craft award-winning rums, bourbons, gins and vodkas using artisanal techniques from regional agricultural products.
Free guided tours and tastings are available seven days a week.
The Floridian
Located in the city’s most Hispanic neighborhood, The Floridian features a diverse menu that denotes dishes made with local, seasonal and sustainable ingredients.
As a result, their menu features fresh, healthy foods that change with the seasons, from salads to sandwiches and a variety of dinner entrees.
Do you know fried green tomatoes? Like the ones in the movie Fried Green Tomatoesbecause here they will surprise you.
If you like semi-sweet and spicy spices, order the date pepper sauce. Some people try to explain the origin of the date pepper: some say that it was brought by immigrants from Menorca, but others claim that it arrived from Cuba in the 1880s with a sauce maker called SB Valls.
At L’Amour
Housed in a house built in 1890, Chez L’Amour offers a cozy setting with a touch of French elegance.
The restaurant offers a wide variety of small plates and international wines, as well as soft live music. Here you can raise your glass while listening to Alberto’s guitar or fine piano on any given night.
How to get there
The best way to get to St. Augustine is by road from Miami or another city or through Jacksonville International Airport.
If you choose to fly, there is shuttle service to St. Augustine at the Jacksonville Air Terminal, as well as buses you can board in Downtown Jacksonville.
Where to stay
The accommodation offer is wide, from five-star hotels to hostels and Airbnb apartments that you can rent.
Please visit Viajastaugustine.com for more information.
