Aqua Grill
Aqua Grill sits conveniently off of Florida's Route A1A flanked by two picturesque lakes. "Jacksonville Magazine" has noted Aqua's "casual, beachy charm," and has named it one of the top 25 restaurants in northeast Florida since 2002. Visiting celebrities, politicians and athletes, including Dan Quayle, Michael Jordan and Gene Hackman, make it a point to stop by the restaurant when in town for its fresh seafood and lively atmosphere.
Like the wine list, the menu is extensive and features appetizers, soups and salads and a wide variety of fresh seafood. For landlubbers, vegetarian, beef, poultry and pork options are available. Popular dishes include Caribbean and jerk-roasted triggerfish with a rock shrimp sauté and spiced rum-butter sauce, baked North Carolina flounder with a creamy lobster and mascarpone topping, and almond and fresh herb-crusted New England cod with a Thai chili sauce. Reservations are recommended.
Aqua Grill
950 Sawgrass Village
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
904-285-3017
aquagrill.net
Cap's on the Water
Cap's enjoys a prime waterfront location on St. John's River in the southern part of St. Augustine. Boat docks for those arriving by water connect to a long pier that leads to the restaurant. The outdoor dining area is spacious, rustic, casual and always busy when the weather is warm. Diners can also choose to nosh on shrimp or gumbo at the outdoor Sunset Oyster Bar, or head to the main dining room known as "The Inside." Cap's offers moonlit cruises on Wednesday nights, where up to 70 people can purchase a bottle of wine or bucket of beer to enjoy while cruising down the river.
Fresh locally-sourced seafood is the star at Cap's, although there are plenty of choices for landlubbers. Appetizers, oyster bar selections, soups and salads precede the entrees such as whole flounder, fried and scored, served with orange-shallot glaze and tartar sauce and sautéed shrimp with olives in a spicy Thai chili-garlic sauce. Reservations are recommended.
Cap's on the Water
4325 Myrtle St.
Saint Augustine, FL 32084
904-824-8794
capsonthewater.com
Schooner's Seafood House
Schooner's Seafood is a favorite of St. Augustine locals. The restaurant does not accept reservations, so expect a wait even during the week. The interior is casual and comfortable with plenty of booth and counter seating. Light woods, pale tones, oversized windows and nautical décor give the dining room a fresh look. Besides fresh seafood, affordable prices and courteous service, Schooner's is well-known for its Minorcan clam chowder, a creation indigenous to St. Augustine that utilizes the native Datil peppers grown in the area.
Broiled and fried seafood are featured, along with beef, poultry and pork items from the grill. The "Out of the Creek" selections, consisting of frog's legs and alligator tail, draw surprise from tourists. Customer favorites at Schooners include the shrimp trio with boiled, fried and broiled shrimp, the Captain's Platter with catch-of-the-day, shrimp, scallops, oysters, a crab cake and clam strips, and the New York strip steak.
Schooner's Seafood House
3560 N Ponce de Leon Blvd.
St. Augustine, FL 32086
904-826-0234
schooners-seafood.com
