We are back in St. Augustine for a while and am interested in updates on restaurants.
Thanks.

Hi, wopel, and welcome back to St Auggie !
Not sure which places/locales you are interested in, but here are a few changes over the past year on the island (all these are on A1A):

New pub/grill--FInnegan's Wake

http://www.finneganswakeona1a.com/

Crab Shack is gone; that site is now Iggie's Iguana
http://www.iggiesona1a.com/

Pomar's is also gone; that site is rumored to have been sold, with plans to open a new establishment. I haven't kept up with the news on it, though.

Our favorite new spots are in the Anastasia (Publix) Plaza.
**Tokyo Thai and Sushi has an excellent sushi bar, have not tried any of their Thai offerings.

(for Thai, we still prefer to travel to Thai by Thai in Palm Coast)

**Casa Maria Mexican has opened in the former Bono's location. They seem to be doing well. Quality is consistent, prices are very reasonable.

The "usual suspects" are still going strong, e.g., Oasis, Sunset Grill, South Beach Grill, La Strada, O'Steen's, et al.

I'm not aware of any new spots downtown or in the 312/US 1 areas, but someone else may be able to offer more info on those places.

BTW, if you're a cinema fan, you'll be pleased to know about the new Epic multiplex on SR 207.

Hope this info helps a little !

I didn't see a couple of my favorites mentioned, so I will suggest you consider them as well. The Cafe Alcazar in the Lightner Museum, The Raintree, The Manatee Cafe (vegetarian emphasis) and The Gypsy Cab Company. I hope Orlando Vic sees this posts and adds some ideas.

Enjoy your stay.

Good catch, cmcfong---I did not mention the ones on your list. We love Raintree, but have been disappointed with Gypsy Cab recently. I usually remember to recommend Old City House and Harry's, both downtown. (Harry's being the lesser of the two, by far, but its outdoor courtyard ambience is perfect on a warm night)

Thanks for expanding the list. Living at the southern tip of Anastasia, I sometimes forget many of the off-island places. I agree Orlando_Vic needs to chime in !

Welcome back, wopel.

Chiming in!!!

If I remember correctly, last trip you were not able to try Creekside Dinery http://www.creeksidedinery.com/ Try them if you haven't been there before. They are a long-time favorite of mine.

On the beach, try Mango Mango's http://www.mangomangosstaug.com/ It's a little, unpretentious place that you really have to look for, but they food is quite tasty. It's very casual too.

Oh, BTW, did you every try Collage http://www.collagestaug.com/ ? It's strictly a special occasion restaurant, but very good IMO. It's also #1 (of 258) on the Tripadvisor list of reviewed restaurants.

An afterthought: Here are a few restaurant coupons to enhance your dining experience:

http://www.therestauranttimes.net/Im...Works-IHOP.pdf

http://www.therestauranttimes.net/Im...t%20Grille.pdf

And, if you sign up for Restaurant.com's e-mail list, you will receive codes for 50%, 60%, 70% and even 80% off sale prices of their already discounted restaurant certificates. I just used one at Old City House last night and saved $25 off my total tab. The certificate cost me $2 on one of these periodic sales. That's pretty good math in my book.

The purple Olive on the A1A, it is in a small strip mall close to Winn Dixie and easy to miss. www.purple-olive.com Saltwater Cowboy's is another place we really enjoy, some items on the menu are pricey, but they have a lot of very reasonable selections and the food is always good and the view wonderful. It is a sister site to Creekside (which also has great food and a wonderful view) www.saltwatercowboys.com

The restaurant in the Case Monica Hotel is amazing! It is called 95 Cordova. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was great.

I am toppping this because I will be in St. Augustine in a few days. Does anybody have anything to add? These recs are looking pretty good.

ahotpoet, Here are my restaurant recommendations, based solely on my personal preferences... and 19 years of enjoying their cuisine:

For Lunch

Café Alcazar (25 Granada St, Saint Augustine, FL 32084-4387) is a true hidden gem…and is definitely off the main tourist path. It is a small restaurant located in what was once the deep end of the world's largest indoor swimming pool, now the Lightener Museum building. The food is quite good (I love their curried chicken salad.) and the atmosphere is absolutely unique and very conducive to conversation. They don't take reservations and only serve lunch. If you have trouble finding them, you can phone them at 904-824-7813. Check out their Trip Advisor reviews: http://tinyurl.com/5qlvrq

For Dinner

Old City House http://www.oldcityhouse.com/
Outstanding breakfasts and dinners. Located just steps away from the Casa Monica.

The Raintree http://www.raintreerestaurant.com/

The Reef http://www.thereefstaugustine.com/index.html?
The food is very good, and the ocean views are even better. Be sure to arrive before sunset (or for Sunday brunch) for best views. Request a window table when making your reservation.

Saltwater Cowboys
(My personal favorite for ambiance and value combined)
http://www.saltwatercowboys.com/

Gypsy Cab Co. http://www.gypsycab.com/

Creekside Dinery http://www.creeksidedinery.com/rest.html

Le Pavillion http://www.lepav.com/

And, for a special treat...you should try Collage http://www.collagestaug.com/ It is strictly a special occasion restaurant, but if you like good service, warm & relaxing ambiance and a creative, eclectic menu, this restaurant is a wonderful experience. They do everything right!


Honorable mention

O'Steens
(Perhaps the best shrimp in town. ZERO ambiance, no reservations, reasonable prices)

http://tinyurl.com/2qtxgd

Barnacle Bill's
(Very good shrimp, reasonable prices, family atmosphere)
http://www.barnaclebillsonline.com/

Bistro de Leon http://www.bistrodeleon.com/
Many people rave about the place, but I am quite ambivalent about Bistro de Leon despite having dined there twice. The food can be quite good, but not consistently so. Decide for yourself.

You'll notice that I did not mention the Columbia restaurant. IMO, their food is good, but not as good as any of the other restaurants I have mentioned. Also, it is somewhat of a tourist trap and one of about 6-8 other Columbia's around the state. This may qualify them as a chain restaurant. I know a lot of people eat there, but the other restaurants I have given you are all better.

_______________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

Vic - good recommendations! I definitely agree with the Saltwater Cowboys recommendation. It is awesome!

Vic,
You sound like my kind of foodie. Thank you so much for all those recs. I printed out those coupons you posted and have also bought a $25 certificate for 95 Cordova.
Cafe Alcazar sounds wonderful and word of mouth is always tops in my book.
Thanks again

You will love 95 Cordova. You can have a wonderful meal there and then stroll over to the little martini bar at the Casablanca Inn which overlooks the bay. They have a piano player I think and small tables for two. It is very romantic.

ahotpoet,
Just a P.S. about the Restaurant.com certificates, Be sure to get the "sale" codes for even better discounts. You can either sign up for e-mail notifications or you can check online here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/s-p-m...s-coupons.html

Here is the current sale info:
Discount: 70%
Code: ENJOY
Good through Sunday, February 21, 2010

_______________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

I'm right on it Vic. I actually got my cert yesterday at 80% off. I discovered this years ago. Ain't they great???