New on the Scene
New Restaurants Opened Recently

Donovan's Irish Pub Now Open
Irish pubs have a following and this family-owned, family-oriented pub and grill, located north of St. Augustine on U.S. 1 in the new Plaza Palencia, is destined to become a Northeast Florida favorite. Owners Maureen and Michaal Bellantoni serve Irish standards, such as Shepherd's Pie, Fish & Chips, Corned Beef & Cabbage, and Irish Stew, along with a full bar.
Donovan's is Maureen's longtime dream; she recently retired from a corporate career as CFO for several national foodservice companies. It is a chance to pay homage to her own Irish heritage, and many of the dishes Donovan's will serve are family recipes from Maureen's Grandma Tess, who hailed from County Cork.
A gracious 21-seat bar is the centerpiece for Donovan's and features a wide selection of imported draught beers, including, of course, several Irish favorites. The full bar features specialty drinks and daily drink specials.
Though the menu and the atmosphere hark back to the days of old; other elements of Donovan's are completely 21st century. Huge high-definition televisions featuring sports events and even a Wii station will add to the fun in this Irish pub that features the very best of tradition and innovation.
For more information, visit www.donovans-irishpub.com or call (904) 829-0000.

DECO
980 Santa Maria Blvd. • U.S. 1 South • 797-5505
www.decodining.org
Experience the art of dining at St. Augustine’s newest fine dining restaurant. DECO is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for Chef-Owner Sandy Krebs. This experienced chef honed her skills in Los Angeles; Vail; Mackinac Island, Michigan; Europe; and the Caribbean, before coming to St. Augustine in 1996 to open Azalea’s Cafe in downtown St. Augustine. After 10 years at Azalea’s, Chef Sandy was ready to spread her culinary wings with a new venture, DECO, featuring fresh seafood, Angus beef, daily chef’s specials, and homemade desserts. DECO’s hip decor, architecture, and plate presentations are innovative without being pretentious. Open for dinner 4:30-11 p.m. Mon.-Sat.

GALANGAL
145 Hilden Road, Suite 110 • U.S. 1 North • 827-1150
www.galangalcuisine.com
Located north of St. Augustine on U.S. 1 North, between County Road 210 and Palencia, this stylish restaurant features upscale Thai cuisine in an unforgettable setting. Favorite authentic Thai dishes, such as crab rangoons, classic pad thai, and red curry, get a very favorable update with beautiful plating and presentation. Other house specialties are the chef's invention, using the ingredients and flavors—lemongrass, coconut, curry, peanuts, and, of course, galangal (Thai ginger)—that distinguish Thai cooking from other famous world cuisines. The menu is rounded out with an offering of sushi and a fabulous dessert menu. The setting is sultry with just the perfect mood lighting, jazzed with colorful accents. Serving dinner Tuesday through Thursday and on Sunday from 5-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 5-11 p.m.

The Restaurant News
News, Notes, and Announcements from Local Restaurants

Tasting Room Offers First Tuesday Wine Tasting Club
Owners Michael Lugo, Christine McMillan, and Chef Michael McMillan announced their new Wine Club, which meets every month on the first Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The group gathers in the private dining room of The Tasting Room, affectionately referred to as the "Red Room".
Each month the event will feature a theme and between 6 to 8 wines and several tapas selections for tasting. The price is $10 per person and is open to the public. Reservations are required.
Members of the Wine Club can register on the restaurant's web site to receive special announcements and pre-sale pricing. The one-time registration is $50 per couple. Members receive personal invitations to the wine club meetings each month, as well as pre-sale prices and discounts on events, such as 10% off wine dinners, and 15% off wine purchases made through the Wine Club.
For more information, visit www.TasteTapas.com or call (904) 810-2400.

Independent Restaurant Association Forms in St. Augustine
Partly in response to the deluge of chain restaurants flooding the area, several of St. Augustine's established independent restaurant owners recently joined forces and formed the St. Augustine Independent Restaurant Association, or SAIRA. "For decades St. Augustine's independent restaurants have drawn people from all over the world to come to this town," says Lorna MacDonald, president of SAIRA and owner of the Raintree Restaurant, which celebrates it's 30th anniversary in 2008. "Dining in St. Augustine was and still is one of this city's major attractions." But, according to MacDonald, the influx of chain restaurants, from casual to upscale concepts both in St. Augustine and in Jacksonville, have impacted independent restaurant owners in a big way."The restaurant business is famously tough but when you're facing competition from these huge, faceless corporate entitities, the going gets even tougher," says MacDonald. But, as the saying goes, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. "SAIRA's mission is 'to enhance the visibility of independent restaurants, which provide St. Augustine with its culinary and cultural diversity,'" says MacDonald. "We just want to remind people that we're all still here, working hard in our community, as we have for many years, to make St. Augustine an amazing place to visit and especially to dine." Member restaurants include: Barnacle Bill's, Gypsy Cab Co., La Pentola, Le Pavillon, Opus 39, Purple Olive, Raintree, South Beach Grill, The Sunset Grille, The Tasting Room, and Zhanras. For more information, visit www.staugustinerestaurants.com.