Dining
Amelia Island Surrounds Hungry Visitors with
Deep Ocean of Options
With more than 40 distinctive restaurants from which to choose, Amelia Island surrounds and satisfies visitors with a surprising variety of enticing dining options. The little barrier island is home to an eclectic and authentic mix of cuisine, ranging from the freshest Florida seafood, to authentic Italian and Mexican specialties. Diners can choose from waterfront seafood hangouts, fine dining restaurants presided over by extraordinary chefs, or the quiet intimacy of a romantic bistro. Amelia Island’s menu of restaurants provides a satisfying selection of dining encounters that make a lasting memory out of every meal.
SALT
Chef de Cuisine Richard Gras leads the culinary team at SALT, a AAA Four Diamond restaurant. Located at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, SALT features a unique menu with seasonal changes each week, more than 500 wines, and a growing collection of salts from around the world. Sophisticated design and an elegant oceanfront ambience make SALT one of many local favorites. SALT features simple ingredients from the earth and the sea, properly seasoned, artfully prepared and served in a contemporary coastal setting. SALT features a unique menu with seasonal changes, including Seared Hawaiian Tuna as an appetizer; Braised Kobe Beef Short Rib; Virginia Striped Bass with Lemon Risotto and Cepe Mushrooms; and Grand Marnier Soufflé.
Ocean Grill
The AAA Four-Diamond resort of Amelia Island Plantation is located on the south end of the island, and is home to the Ocean Grill. With a menu of the finest steaks, chops, chef’s specials, an extensive wine list, and lavish selection of dessert, the Ocean Grill is among the best in oceanfront dining. The Ocean Grill’s attentive staff works their magic in a upscale atmosphere that is both accommodating and intimate. Designed to delight diverse palates, the menu includes a variety of seasonally changing dishes like grilled organic king salmon and pan roasted diver sea scallops with porcini and spinach tortellini. Decadent desserts include a flight of chocolate or a triple crème brulee.
The Crab Trap
Amelia Island is widely known as the birthplace of the modern shrimping industry, and the home of some of the best seafood you can find. For visitors in search of fresh seafood and a down-to-
earth dining experience, the Crab Trap can’t be beat. Located in downtown Fernandina Beach, guests can choose their favorite blackened, broiled or fried seafood, along with chicken, steaks and oysters year-round. With a family-friendly, nautical atmosphere, the Crab Trap offers a children’s menu, with kid-pleasers such as grilled hot dogs and shrimp or chicken fingers. Featuring a fireplace, full bar, upstairs lounge, and nautical bric-a-brac throughout, the restaurant is open seven days a week for dinner and offers banquet space for up to 150.
Le Clos
Le Clos is a Provencal-inspired restaurant serving exquisite seafood, pasta and meat dishes such as seared duck, roasted salmon, braised lamb and nicoise salad. It's a charming, intimate 1906 cottage nestled in the heart of Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island’s only city, and is owned and operated by Katherine Ewing who has received full degrees in both pastry and cuisine from Le Cordon Bleu and L'Ecole de Gastronomie Francaise Ritz ~ Escoffier, Paris. Le Clos also offers an extensive wine list to beautifully compliment their menu selections.
España Restaurant & Tapas
Enjoy Old World Spanish and traditional Portuguese cuisine at España Restaurant & Tapas. The restaurant offers guests an intimate indoor setting or outdoor closed patio. España provides a menu of more than 10 tapas dishes, and a variety of extravagant salads and main course options. The restaurant features specialties like Mero a Lisboeta, which features fresh grouper roasted with tomato, onion, capers and olives with white wine and herbs; and Paella Marinera, which includes clams, shrimp, scallops mussels, calamari, and lobster cooked with Saffron rice. The restaurant also offers homemade sangria and a delicious selection of desserts.
Joe’s 2nd Street Bistro
For critically-acclaimed cuisine in a relaxed island setting, try Joe’s 2nd Street Bistro in Fernandina Beach. Situated in the heart of Fernandina Beach, Joe’s 2nd Street Bistro offers elegant cuisine, a relaxed setting and historic charm. Rated among Jacksonville magazine’s “Top 25 Restaurants,” Joe’s is one of Amelia Island’s many hidden treasures. Joe’s creative menu matches the lively atmosphere, with New American cuisine with international flair – from Asian Barbequed Duckling, to the tropically-tasty Cashew Crusted Tilapia. Patrons love the fresh-baked bread and homemade ice cream that can be enjoyed on the New Orleans-inspired courtyard or inside the restored 1900’s home.
Centre Street Eateries
The downtown historic district of Fernandina is home to a collection of cafes and eateries with offerings as diverse as the town’s steady stream of visitors. Barbeque fans can stop by the Happy Tomato for a taste of Richard Bolton’s down-home cooking. The Café Karibo offers a spicy combination of Cajun gumbo, chili, salads, wraps, and a full espresso bar. At the end of Centre Street, Brett's Waterway Café serves a variety of dishes in a casual dining experience, where guests can enjoy views of Fernandina Harbor and marina on the Amelia River. One of Amelia’s newest dining hotspots, Pablo’s Mexican Restaurant, Grill & Cantina is dedicated to serving the best in fresh, Mexican-style food. Pablo’s is the perfect place for a friendly fiesta, where Shrimp a la Diabla, Seafood Fajitas, and Fish Tacos go great with imported beers served indoors or in the open-air courtyard.
Beech Street Grill
Located in Fernandina Beach, the Beech Street Gill provides an upscale dining experience in a romantic setting that includes crisp white tablecloths, stellar service, and live music by resident pianist John Springer. Blackboard specials showcase the island’s freshest seafood, seasoned with freshly-cut herbs, homemade sauces and chutneys. With an emphasis on quality and detail, Chef Rick Erickson creates culinary masterpieces such as Broiled Scallops with Arugula and Oven Roasted Salmon and Wild Mushroom Roulade. To top off the perfect meal, guests can feast on White Chocolate Cheese Cake with a Mixed Berry Sauce or Granny Smith Apple Bread Pudding.
For visitor information and online planning, visit www.ameliaisland.com.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Katharina Brierton Lane, Hayworth Creative Public Relations
386.677.7000 • katharina@hayworthcreative.com