I will be in St. Augustine for a week next month. Can anyone recommend some good causal restaurants that give a local feel. I'd like to avoid the big chains and try some local favorites ...
Thanks !

Columbia..

The only name I can remember now is La Parisienne, on Hypolita Street. A tiny bistro so sometimes it is hard to get a table, but I know we enjoyed a couple of meals there..

Both of those are good. The Conch House is fun- not the world's greatest food, but nice atmosphere.

& if you go to COlumbia, get the Sangria..

AIA is really good. Views of water, casual atmosphere. I think they have a website.

I have been to them all and I recommend Creekside for authentic Florida ambiance, it is a real treat. The Raintree woould be my second choice.

Conch House -- especially in the evening. Be sure to walk back to the baby alligator exhibit while you're waiting for your table. I agree with kgk52 that the food isn't the very best, but it wasn't terrible. The atmosphere is great.

Another place I liked was Gypsy Cab. Food was better there than Conch House.

Haven't been there in years...but O'Steens on A1A was wonderful. It was always so crowded, we would pick it up "to go" and take back to the our condo. Very casual.

We have owned a condo there for 15 years. Here are our top choices (not in order) for casual, non-chain restaurants:

1. Saltwater Cowboys <http://www.saltwatercowboys.com/>

2. Creekside Dinery <http://www.creeksidedinery.com/>

3. The Raintree <http://www.raintreerestaurant.com/>

4. Gypsy Cab Company <http://www.gypsycab.com/>

5. The Cafe Alcazar, (25 Granada St.,
904-824-781) is located behind the Lightner Museum. It occupies the deep end of what was the casino swimming pool in the former Alcazar Hotel. Only lunch is served there, Tuesday – Saturday.

6. Old City House <http://www.oldcityhouse.com/restaurant.html>

You will notice that I have not mentioned the Columbia Restaurant <http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/>. Some may disagree with me, but I would rate it second tier behind the others, IMHO. With seven locations, it is technically a (Florida) chain restaurant. The food is not bad, but I still prefer all of the others better.

Have a great stay in St. Augustine. You can't go wrong with any of these choices!

Oh Yes! The Alcazar! We always had very nice lunches there and it is cool and not too lit up on those hot days