New
Restaurants Opened Recently
Cabo Taco Mexicali Grill
965 S.R. 16, Unit 110 • Between U.S. 1 North & I-95
(904) 824-5852
www.cabotacomexicaligrill.com
Enjoy the fresh flavors of Cabo Taco Mexicali Grill for dine-in or takeout daily. A world away from the average Mexican restaurant, Cabo Taco’s specialties are inspired by many cuisines—Coastal Mexican, Jamaican, Cuban, Tex-Mex, and Asian! Enjoy every kind of taco under the sun, burritos, fajitas, quesadillas, chimichangas, signature wrap sandwiches, and entree salads. Serving wine and beer, Cabo Taco offers a fun, surfer-cool casual setting for casual dining with counter service and fresh salsa bar. Minutes from downtown and I-95 & S.R. 16 hotels. Open daily: Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
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Café Alcazar
25 Granada Street • Historic Downtown
(904) 825-9948
Located in the spacious elegance of what was once the world’s largest indoor swimming pool of the former Alcazar Hotel (now the Lightner Museum), Café Alcazar is newly reopened with a new owner and new management. Harken back to the days when the rich and famous made St. Augustine their home away from home. Offering fine dining in a casually elegant setting, Café Alcazar serves lunch 7 days a week from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. and dinner on First Friday Artwalk from 5-9 p.m. Enjoy sautéed specialties such a Shrimp Giovanni, Crêpes Alcazar, sandwiches, paninis, salads, and homemade soups and desserts. Serving wine and beer; all major credit cards accepted.
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Carmelo’s Pizzeria • Carmelo’s Marketplace
146 King Street • Historic Downtown
(904) 494-6658
www.CarmelosMarketplace.com
Located at the corner of King and Malaga Streets (across from San Sebastian Winery), is a cozy old-world pizzeria tucked in next to Carmelo’s Marketplace. Enjoy hand tossed brick oven pizza made with the finest ingredients—also available by the slice for a quick meal to go. Select from signature deli sandwiches made with Boar’s Head meats and cheeses, pasta dinners, and garden fresh salads. Serving a large selection of beer and wine, Carmelo’s cozy dining room features a bar area with plasma big screen TVs. Dine-in, takeout, or delivery. Carmelo’s is conveniently located in the heart of downtown St. Augustine.
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Casa Maria Mexican Restaurant
1001 A1A Beach Blvd. • St. Augustine Beach
(904) 342-0532
www.CasaMariaJax.com
The fiesta is every day in this fun, colorful restaurant located in Anastasia Plaza (Publix) at the beach. Open daily for lunch and dinner, Casa Maria serves a full menu of Mexican specialties including beef, steaks, chicken, pork, seafood, and vegetarian items. The menu features a full range of tacos, chimichangas, chalupas, tamales, tostadas, quesadillas, chiles rellenos, enchiladas, and sizzling fajitas accompanied by your favorite libation from the full bar. All of the restaurant’s chips, beans, guacamole, salsas, and rice are made in house daily for the freshest taste and quality. Open daily at 11 a.m. Children’s menu. Takeout available.
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Conrad's Steakhouse
4010 U.S. 1 South • South St. Augustine • (904) 794-9440
Located in the Shoppes at Moultrie Creek in South St. Augustine, Conrad’s Steakhouse offers a relaxing, stylish ambience and a masterful menu featuring hand-cut steaks, fresh seafood, pasta, and chicken. Chef-owner Conrad Martin, a native of Spain, trained in Switzerland at top restaurants and hotels to hone his culinary skills. He and his wife Mary, a Boston native, have been in the restaurant business for 20 years and owned two restaurants in the Tampa/Clearwater area before relocating to St. Augustine. Serving wine and beer (and, of course, Spanish Sangria!). Lunch Mon.-Fri. 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; dinner Mon.-Thurs. 5-9 p.m. and Fri./Sat. 5-10 p.m. Closed Sunday..
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Meehan's on Matanzas
20 Avenida Menendez • Historic Downtown
(904) 810-1923
www.MeehansIrishPub.com
Located directly on the bayfront, Meehan’s menu features a fresh approach to Irish Cuisine as well as local seafood favorites (fried oyster and shrimp baskets; locally caught mahi-mahi; and raw bar), and hearty burgers, sandwiches, and salads. Starters such as Guinness Beef Sliders (stout-marinated beef brisket on garlic rolls) or Reuben Roll (deep-fried corned beef and sauerkraut spring rolls, served with Gruyere fondue) take traditional pub fare to a new level. Signature dishes and daily market specials feature local shrimp, seafood, Angus sirloin strip steak, chicken, and salmon. Open daily at 11 a.m. Late night dining. Full bar. Weekend breakfast and brunch.
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Paula’s Beachside Grill
6896 A1A South • Crescent Beach
(904) 471-3463
Located at the entrance of the Crescent Beach ramp and Scenic Highway A1A, Paula’s is the perfect location for family fun dining with a tiki theme—inside and out. With a colorful beach-themed atmosphere, enjoy an endless summer feeling for lunch and dinner daily no matter what time of year it is (breakfast served from 8 a.m. Sat. and Sun.). Open daily at 11 a.m., Paula’s menu features seafood, chicken, salads, panini, sandwiches, burgers, and footlong hotdogs. Kids and adults alike will love the soft serve ice cream, shaved ice, and funnel cake fries. Enjoy the seabreeze at the outdoor courtyard and tiki bar and live music Wed.-Sun.
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Shenanigans Food & Spirits
4010 U.S. 1 South, Ste. 116 • St. Augustine South
(904) 217-3051
www.ShenanigansUSA.com
Enjoy a welcoming comfortable atmosphere and food that will keep you coming back for more at this fun neighborhood pub in South St. Augustine. With plenty of free parking and only a short drive from downtown St. Augustine and the beaches, Shenangians is worth seeking out! Serving seafood, steaks, juicy handmade burgers and, of course, Irish specialties. Open from 11 a.m. daily. Weekly specials include Trivia Night on Monday, Ladies Night on Wednesday, and live music several nights a week (call or visit web site for details). Full bar features selection of international beers and high definition TVs for sporting events.
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Zaxby's of St. Augustine
1107 North Ponce de Leon Blvd. • Historic Downtown
(904) 825-1545
www.zaxbys.com
Beautifully decorated with St. Augustine memorabilia and antiques, this brand new Zaxby’s restaurant is like no other quick service restaurant in town. Local owners Matt and Tara Strickland are happy to call St. Augustine home and welcome you to enjoy Zaxby’s famous chicken in a comfortable family setting, located just outside of the historic district. Enjoy crispy chicken fingers with delicous signature dipping sauces, sandwich baskets, garden fresh entree “Zalads,” and traditional and boneless wings. Kids meals, fresh-baked cookies, old-fashioned milkshakes, crispy onion rings, and fried dill pickles round out the selections. Open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
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Dish: Restaurant News & Notes
Raintree Restaurant Joins Forces with Limelight Theatre to Host New Mystery Dinner Theatre Event in July
Beginning July 9 and continuing every Friday in July, the Raintree Restaurant and Limelight Theatre will offer a unique dining and theater experience. "Murder in the Olde City," a play that has enjoyed statewide success in private and corporate settings, will debut in St. Augustine in this newly created dinner theater venue. Based on a true story of murder, scandal, love, and deceipt in the year 1886, the audience becomes the jury in this fascinating drama that puts the audience in the middle of the action. Tickets are $35 per person and includes dinner and the show. Alcoholic beverages will be served at an extra charge. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. followed by the show at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Limelight Theatre during regular box office hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tues.-Fri. and 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday and at the Raintree Restaurant the day of the event. Call (904) 825-1164 for reservations, or (904) 347-5103 for more information.
SAiRA Hosts Food & Wine Festival in September
One way to sample some of St. Augustine’s best independent restaurants all in one place is to attend the St. Augustine Restaurant Association’s (SAiRA) Food and Wine Festival, on Sunday, September 19, from 1-5 p.m. Held at the Council on Aging’s elegant River House, a gorgeous space overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, the event will feature food from 17 restaurants and a wine tasting featuring more than 100 wines. Tickets are $50 and all proceeds benefit The Boys and Girls Club. Visit www.staugustinerestaurants.com to purchase tickets and learn more about SAiRA’s members, whose efforts and offerings we appreciate all year long.
Milestones
Congratulations to the Connell family, owners of Santa Maria Restaurant for 60 years. Like the vessel it is named for, the Santa Maria resides not on land but over the water, allowing guests breathtaking views of the bayfront, city marina, and Bridge of Lions and a unique opportunity to “feed the fish while you dine.” Opened in 1950, Santa Maria’s rustic building and vintage neon sign are now icons of St. Augustine’s bayfront scene. Call (904) 829-6578 or visit www.SantaMariaRestaurant.com for information.
Congratulations to Mark DeRusso, chef-owner of La Strada Italian Restaurant, who celebrates 10 yeasrs of being in business as of July. His Anastasia Island location, features indoor and outdoor patio dining and the most comprehensive Italian wine list in town. Chef DeRusso thanks his many loyal customers and welcomes new customersto come enjoy his own special brand of Italian-American cuisine and signature chef specials! Call (904) 471-0081 for information and reservations.
More Mango Mango’s
Mango Mango’s International, LLC recently announced the restaurant concept is now available for franchising. Created in 2004 by owner Rick Worley, Mango Mango’s features colorful, tropical decor and a Carribbean-infused menu. Worley enlisted the help of Chef Jon Anderson to form the franchise company, Mango Mango’s International, LLC. Chef Anderson brings a wide variety of culinary, hospitality management, and franchising experience to Mango Mango’s. Mango Mango’s International, LLC will focus franchise activities in Florida and Southeastern U.S. coastal communities. For information, call (904) 669-6468.
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