9 Best Seafood Restaurants in St Augustine (2023 Update)

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St. Augustine is known for its seafood delicacies and incredible beaches. It has rich European-Spanish colonial buildings stretching from the housing to the food itself. The city is on the Northeast coast of Florida, with plenty of seawater for those delicious crab meals.

The city is a must-visit for any seafood enthusiast for its many dishes loved in the area. The specialty of St. Augustine seafood is the crabs, shrimp & grits, and the gator bites. But knowing where to find these restaurants is tricky at times.

Don’t worry. Here is an exhaustive list (in no particular order) of the best seafood restaurants in the city of the old – St. Augustine.

9 Best Seafood Restaurants in St Augustine

1. Harry’s Seafood, Bar & Grille

Harry’s Seafood, Bar & Grille
Credit: @hookedonharrys
  • Address: 46 Avenida Menendez, St. Augustine, FL 32084
  • Opening Hours: Sunday to Thursday: 11 am – 10 pm, Friday and Saturday: 11 am – 11 pm

Established in 1987, Harry’s Seafood, Bar & Grille offers the nest in southern sea hospitality. Enjoy the best creole and cajun dishes served with modern flavors right by the oceanfront. You can order your favorite drink at the full bar serving beer, wine, and liquor. Not to forget Harry’s out-of-the-world beach cocktails to keep you on your toes!

The seafood menu is big here, and you are feasting on the best Harry’s has to offer in shrimp, fish, and crabs. The restaurant has home-grown recipes for signature dishes like Harry’s Original Gumbo. Straight from Bayou, the shrimp, crab, smoked sausage, fish, and crawfish load will fill you up real quick.

The restaurant has outdoor seating at the back, backlit with lights that give a romantic coastal feel at night. Live music and a special menu are something to look out for at this joint. The porch has a breathtaking waterfront view making the place perfect for a reflective chill spot over a beer or your favorite Cajun food.

2. Salt Life Food Shack

Salt Life Food Shack
Credit: @saltlifefoodshack_og
  • Address: 321 A1A Beach Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32080
  • Opening Hours: Sunday to Thursday: 11 am – 11 pm, Friday and Saturday: 11 am – 12 am

Salt Life Food Shack is a seafood restaurant on the waterline on St Augustine beaches. It has relaxing ocean views, and its rugged looks are ideal for a food shack. They serve creole food, manicured with tasty sides and delicious cocktails on the bar.

Salt Life Food Shack holds the 2020 title for the best in St. Augustine, Best Beer Category.

They serve beers by the bottle or tap, your choice. You can take a cocktail for an added “beach mood”.

The menu features a robust mix of American delicacies and seafood options like sushi and shrimp. The authentic street tacos are a delightful addition to the burgers and wood-grilled salmon. If you are looking for something out of the ordinary, this is it. They also have a full bar serving beer and cocktails on order.

Editorial Note: Some of the foods at Salt Life contain bacon and nuts. Notify your server of any allergies to avoid incidents.

Salt Life Food Shack has a warm atmosphere and ocean decor that completes the beach restaurant. The applaudable polite staff is fast to deliver your order in about 20 minutes. The live music will keep you enjoying that sea plate and sipping those delicious cocktails from the bar.

3. Columbia Restaurant

Columbia Restaurant
Credit: @columbiarestaurant
  • Address: 98 St George St, St. Augustine, FL 32084
  • Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday: 11 am – 10 pm

Columbia Restaurant has been family-owned for five generations, serving St. Augustine with delicious sea palates on this side of town. Get ready to munch on Spanish Cuban recipes with original in-house additions. The decor will tell you more than just welcome, and the hand-painted tiles leave your imagination at a loss.

The recipes borrow heavily from Spanish and Cuban cuisines. Get hefty servings of fish from the Mexican Gulf, or the ultimate century-old seafood recipes: Pompano en Papillote, Paella “a la Valenciana, ” Filet Mignon “Chacho,” Red Snapper “Alicante,” Roast Pork “A la Cubana.”

There is free parking for diners at the parking lot along Spanish Street near the restaurant. Columbia Restaurant is open 365 days a year for lunch and dinner.

Editorial Note: The restaurant doesn’t allow short-sleeved shirts on men; casual attire is allowed.

4. Sunset Grille

Sunset Grille 1
Credit: @sunsetgrille
  • Address: 421 A1A Beach Blvd, St Augustine Beach, FL 32080
  • Opening Hours: Sunday to Thursday: 11 am – 9 pm, Friday to Saturday: 11 am – 10 pm (CLOSED ON TUESDAYS)
  • Social pages: Facebook, Instagram
  • Rating: 4.5 stars

Sunset Grille has been in business for 30 years, serving seafood in the Beach Boulevard area. It welcomes patrons visiting the coastal beach town with delicious recipes and drinks. Two must-eat dishes are the mahi-mahi fish & shrimp and the popular Mo Mo appetizer.

Sunset Grille 2
Credit: @sunsetgrille

Fish and shrimp are great, and so is the feeling of the taste of Sunset’s Baja Fish Sandwich. Mo Mo’s Coco Boss Coconut Shrimp (fried crusted coconut served with Caribbean Pina Colada) has been a specialty in demand for the last 12 years.

The restaurant has outdoor seating with seating booths for 4-12 people. The upper deck has heating for winter and large fans that breeze the section in summer. The full bar at the restaurant offers an extended specialty of liquors and beer from the local distilleries.

5. O.C. White’s Seafood & Spirits

O.C. White’s Seafood & Spirits 1
Credit: @ocwhites
  • Address: 118 Avenida Menendez, St. Augustine, FL 32084
  • Opening Hours: Monday|Wednesday|Thursday: 4 pm – 10 pm, Friday and Saturday: 11.30 am – 10 pm, Sunday: 9.30 am – 10 pm

O.C. White’s Seafood & Spirits combined home cooking and international cuisines to produce a menu that caters to the local and international traveler.

It stands on the White Mansion’s replica, and its history shapes the restaurant’s recipe and decor. For a history and culture enthusiast, this is a discovery.

The restaurant is an American grill serving seafood and American favorites like sandwiches with fish specialty (fish sandwich). The environment is breathtaking, and the service is stellar. Dine on the vegetative outdoor seating or inside with spacious dining rooms able to hold large parties.

O.C. White’s Seafood & Spirits 2
Credit: @ocwhites

Waterview dining is what is an expectation at O.C. White’s Seafood & Grille. The menu features a wide selection of seafood dishes, from shrimp and grits to a local fresh catch grilled, blackened, or fried with rice and veggies.

The haunted Worth’s Mansion tale comes to life at the O.C. White Restaurant. You might even see him “walk by ” your table as you dine-spooky! The outdoor dining and live entertainment will make your afternoon date a repeat business anytime you’re in town.

6. Beaches at Vilano

Beaches at Vilano
Credit: @beachesatvilano
  • Address: 254 Vilano Rd, St. Augustine, FL 32084
  • Opening Hours: Sunday to Thursday: 11:30 am – 9 pm, Friday and Saturday: 11:30 am – 10 pm

Beaches at Vilano is a beach restaurant serving Caribbean dishes on the waterfront in St. Augustine. The outdoor seating on the beach provides a breeze that hits you as you quench your thirst with signature cocktails from the bar.

An interesting feature is a top-notch service by the staff, from food service to the atmosphere itself. You can only describe it in one word incredible! The parking is adequate to hold your ride and a dock if you come by boat.

The menu has a dozen seafood recipes for fish, shrimp, crabs, regular sandwiches, and even tacos. The raw section will move you; they serve steamed crab legs, steamy clams, and peel-and-eat shrimp.

They also have a kids’ menu under $10. Children below 12 years can get cheeseburgers, chicken tenders, macaroni and cheese, and fried shrimp.

Why You Should Dine Here:

The restaurant has live music from local performers throughout the year-checkout the socials for what’s happening currently at the joint. A full bar keeps you sorted with cocktails, wine, and beer.

7. Meehan’s Irish Pub & Seafood House

Meehan's Irish Pub & Seafood House 1
Credit: @meehansirishpub
  • Address: 20 Avenida Menendez, St. Augustine, FL 32084
  • Opening Hours: Monday and Thursday: 12 pm – 12 am, Tuesday and Wednesday: 4 pm – 12 am, Friday: 12 pm – 2 am, Saturday: 11 am – 2 am, Sunday: 11 am – 12 am

Eating Irish is not complete unless you are in Ireland. Or you could go to Meehan’s Irish Pub for traditional Irish recipes and drinks. John Meehan was born in New Jersey but brought traditional Ireland to Florida, establishing an eatery that everyone wants to feast in. The restaurant building has a rich history and is a preserved historical monument in St Augustine.

And what is an Irish meal without a drink? The full bar serves tapped beer and cocktails to pair with your food. As the saying goes, “Eat, drink, and be Irish!”

The restaurant has a wide range of seafood recipes traditional to the Irish. Select Fish & chips, corned beef & cabbage, Shepherd’s Pie, and plenty of burgers and sandwiches.

Why You Should Dine Here:

Meehan's Irish Pub & Seafood House 2
Credit: @meehansirishpub

There’s a raw bar at the Meehan’s pub-a must try if you love oysters. Live music with outdoor seating adds to the excitement at Meehan’s. You can also peek at the two adjacent restaurants: The Backyard Island Cafe Tropical Bar or Famous Johnny’s Fish House Oyster Bar.

8. World’s Famous Oasis Center

World’s Famous Oasis Center
Credit: @worldfamousoasis
  • Address: 4000 A1A S, St Augustine Beach, FL 32080
  • Opening Hours: Sunday to Thursday: 6 am – 9 pm, Friday and Saturday: 6 am – 10 pm

The World Famous Oasis Center is a beacon in St Augustine for tasty food and entertainment. It has 40 televisions to catch up on the world over your meal. They are known for their huge breakfast offerings both in size and taste. Check them out for breakfast, lunch, or dinner while you’re in town.

The food at World Famous Oasis Center is served for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Seafood selections include coconut shrimp platter, scallops, flounder platter, fried clams, and the World Famous Fish Platter. Other dishes include fried oysters, shrimp, salmon, and crab cake.

Why You Should Dine Here:

The restaurant has table service for both food and wine. You can also dine from the relaxed outdoor space in the tented seating area with live entertainment. They have a daily breakfast special before 9 am, and it’s different every morning.

9. Ice Plant Bar

Ice Plant Bar
Credit: @iceplantbar
  • Address: 110 Riberia St, St. Augustine, FL 32084
  • Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday: 11.30 am – 12 am, Friday: 11.30 am – 2 am, Saturday: 10 am – 2 am, Sunday: 10 am – 12 am

Ice Plant Bar serves farm-to-table dishes prepared with fresh local ingredients to savor taste and flavor. The restaurant brings back the days when having a drink and bite was healthy with a fresh look.

The huge dining room has a reminiscence of the 20th-century dining setting. The original Ice Building dates back to the 20’s – no other like it in St Augustine. You are dining in history here.

Get smoked fish and salmon bites with hand-cut fries at the bar. You can ask for a cocktail to match the taste. Fresh rigatoni, cedar key clams, and mussels recipe (spicy “puttanesca”, olive tapenade, parmesan breadcrumbs) are a favorite among patrons.

Editorial Note: Ice Plant Bar doesn’t take reservations. Service is for walk-ins only, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Why You Should Dine Here:

If you’re looking for a calm bar environment to feast, Ice Plant Bar is the place for you. The restaurant is famous for its delicious seafood options and fast service. Their cocktails are made to order at the counter as you crush your lobster tail.

Related Seafood Restaurants in Florida:

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking to have a quick bite or a full-course seafood meal, you will find a befitting option here in St. Augustine. The city has a buzz around seafood, and its proximity to the sea makes it ideal.

Be ready to get going with the best in crabs, lobsters, shrimps, fried oysters, steamed shrimp, you name it. So, what’s stopping you from your seafood discovery in St. Augustine? Clearly, not the saint.

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