3055 CR 210 Jacksonville, FL 904-287-8898  ( The old Ginger Bistro)

www.sunrisecuisine.com

The head cook of the Ginger Bistro bought the place and opened up his own place.  Good news for us because we always loved the Ginger Bistro.  Those who frequented the Ginger Bistro will be familiar with this menu as it has many of the same dishes. 

This evening my wife got the Honey Glazed Walnut Shrimp for $13. A favorite of hers and was pleasantly surprised to find it again on the menu.  This comes with soup and salad included with the price.  I got the Mongolian Beef which I always liked at the Ginger Bistro and it was as good as I remember. This was $10 which also included soup and salad. 

We began our meal with some Cheese Wantons which were great.  Service was excellent.   The waitress really knew her dishes.

This is a very good restaurant with very reasonable pricing.  I would highly recommend it.

Rating --****   Very Good

http://www.sunriseasiancuisine.com/

....................................................

Charles Stamm  7/2009

Went back again to see how things were going for the new owners of this restaurant.  The food and service again were excellent.  Still $10 got you a great meal with soup and salad included. Not a very busy place.  Very neat and clean but not a lot of customers.  Easy to walk right in without a reservation. The appetizers are great.  We had the Crispy Shrimp Wantons for $5. Doris got the Honey Glazed Walnut Shrimp again and I again got the Mongolian Beef. Each of us got two meals out of the entrees. I have to say I am impressed with this place every time we go.

Rating --*****   Excellent!

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145 Hilden Rd Suite 110 Ponte Vedra, FL  (US 1 Between CR210 and Palencia)  904-827-1150

This is an upscale Thai restaurant with some upscale prices but well worth the experience.  the ambiance is refreshing and elegant.  The food superb.  The serve is excellent. For an appetizer we had the Golden Curry & Lump Blue Crab Stuffed Rangoons Sweet & Sour Dipping Sauce…that was $8. For an entrée I had the Spicy Thai Drunken Noodles. With that you get a choice of Chicken, Beef, Pork or Tofu $17 or Shrimp for $21.  My wife Doris had the Classic Pad Thai choice of Chicken, Beef or Tofu  for $18.  She chose the Tofu. 

Both meals were excellent.  Mine was a bit spicy but you expect that in a Thai restaurant.  They give you a choice of how spicy you like your food.

Rating --*****   Excellent!

http://galangalcuisine.com/

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Deco

DECO  the Art of Dining        Chas Stamm  4/4/2009

980 Santa Maria Blvd. St Augustine, FL  904-797-5505  www.decodining.org

This is a very well hidden, upscale restaurant at the south end of St Augustine that will surprise you.  The food is Excellent.  The presentation is wonderful and the service is outstanding. Our waiter reminded me of the old English butler in the movie “Arthur.” He was very “Proper” and knew his menu very well.

As a “Meat and Potatoes” kind of guy, and being a bit “Thrifty,” I had the Grilled Chicken Breast. It was the least expensive item on the menu at $17. It was topped with a basil and pine nut pesto and served with potato gnocchi.  It was great!  My wife Doris had the Grilled Salmon with a tangy Cape Malay Curry sauce with onions, bell pepper, dried apricots and raisins served with fried plantains. Oy!  Another wonderful dish at $19.  Our friends Greg and Taffy Smith both had the special of the evening, Chilean Sea Bass. It was the best they’ve ever eaten! That was somewhat pricey at $30.

The menu featured other dishes ranging from Medallions of Beef Tenderloins at $30 along with Seared Jumbo Sea Scallops at $23 to Seared Breast of Duck at $25.

A favorite dessert was the special Bananas Foster and Nana’s Lemon Cake.  Both were outstanding.

Rating --*****   Excellent!

www.decodining.org

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St. John's Town Center  904-996-7147

This is an upscale contemporary American restaurant placing a special emphasis on food quality and professional service. A national chain of restaurants.  Four of us went to this eatery and everyone was impressed.  A call ahead feature really put us to the head of an hour long wait.  It's best to call ahead.  904-996-7147.

For starters we tried the "Colossal Buttermilk Onion Rings."  Wow!  A tree of huge stacked onion rings that stood a foot high.  They were great! My wife, Doris had the Veggie Burger of a lifetime.  "The best ever!" It was huge! I had the Rattlesnake Pasta with southwestern spices, peppers and chicken.  It was prepared perfectly and plenty of it. $14.  For dessert we shared one of the best pieces of Carrot Cake we have ever had.  It was brought out warm with a nice cream cheese icing.  Excellent!  $6  Well worth it! All desserts are made in the restaurant and not store bought or shipped in.  Mike and Marlene Bailey swear they have some of the best "Baby Back Barbeque Ribs on the planet.  Next time I have to give them a try.

Mike had their Chili and Iron Skillet Cornbread that was out of this world!

They feature an extensive wine list along with a number of handcrafted premium martinis. The service for our table was handled by what seemed to be a staff of 4 who attended to our every wish but not overbearing. The presentation of the food was excellent.  

Rating --*****   Excellent!   A great place to have dinner.

J.Alexanders.com

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 I'll say this, they have some of the best wings in all of St. Augustine.  They get them shipped in from Purdue Chicken and they are big. The burgers are big as well.  They offer a burger they call their "Paradise Burger."  This is big and fashioned off of the famous Jimmy Buffet Song.  It's a great burger.  They have also won many awards for their Chowder in the Great St. Augustine Chowder Debate for 11 years now.

Also featured are some great salads.  Big salads with plenty of choices. The Sunset Shrimp and scallops is also a favorite among the locals.  $15.99

A favorite hang out for many of the "Bikers" coming through the area.  One tip for the bikers...Don't park in front of the restaurant where they reserve parking for you.  The cars parked in the angled spot will back into your bikes!  They invite bikers to park there but it is a BAD area to park your bike. They share the area with cars and vans and there is very little room for the cars to back out without hitting the bikes.  You will get hit by some old bastard not paying any attention!

Rating --**** Very Good

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125 Suite C  King Street  St. Augustine, FL  32084  824-4221

This is a sandwich shop that will surprise you.  Located next to Rembrantz in the Art Walk section of King Street near the Post office and College in the Old City. This is a great place to go for lunch.  Good food and huge portions.  My wife Doris had one of their specialty salads.  She got the small portion and that was huge.  Fresh and flavorful and a lot of surprises in it.  I got the Teriyaki Chicken Wrap. This was a bit of a surprise because the only thing that resembled a wrap here was the fact that the food was wrapped.  Other than that it resembled more of a Chimmichonga than a sandwich wrap.  This thing was huge and covered with salsa and salad and nacho chips.  It had so much going on you had to eat it with a knife and fork.  It was a wonderful surprise.  Not at all what I expected when I ordered a "Wrap" but it was very tasty, fresh and plenty of it.

They also feature Pitas, Pizza, Quesadillas, Nachos, Shakes and Smoothies.

One of your neighbors, Pete Kavanagh who lives in Wildwood has become the new owner and head chef in the place.  I would say DEFINITELY give this place a try.  The food is very good and you will be pleasantly surprised as to the quality and quantity of the meals served here. Rating --****   Very Good Mon - Wed 11am - 3pm         Thurs - sat  11 am - 9pm More on Flavors...Click Here!*

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The place doesn't look like much from the outside but...this place is a jewel.

We went here with a party of 6.  Three couples.  They do take reservations and that is a good thing. Make them.  This is a small Italian restaurant that does get crowded.  This is not your large chain like Carraba's or Olive Garden.  This is your quaint little Italian mom and pop restaurant.  And...they do it well.  Everyone in our Party loved the dishes, the service and the atmosphere.

The salads were fresh and crisp.

 For and appetizer we tried the Fried Calamari $8.95. It was great. Tender and lightly battered, and served with lemon wedges and marinara sauce.

Bob Thornton had the Veal Florentine for $17.95.  He loved it.  What was interesting was you could hear the chef pounding the heck out of  the veal with a hammer in the kitchen. He also had a great bowl of New England Clam Chowder to start off his meal.  Bob's wife Diane and my wife Doris had the Lobster Ravioli from the special board. Another winner!  Sandra Verberne had the Eggplant Parm for $11.95.  She loved this dish as well.  Her husband Jeff had the Shrimp Scampi for $14.95.  Again...a hit!

I like to judge Italian restaurants by their spaghetti, their meatballs and their Italian sausage. So for this first time meal for me, I ordered the spaghetti with meatballs and sausage. $11.95  The sauce was excellent.  Plenty of it and not watery at all. The meatballs were fine and the Italian sausage was great.   I took some home and can't wait to have the leftovers. Spaghetti is so good after sitting a day or two.

I have to go back to try their the Stuffed Pork Chops $17.95. Two double-thick pork chops, butterflied and filled with mozzarella and prosciutto, covered in port wine mushroom demi-glace.  We saw a couple of these dishes being served and they certainly got my attention.

This is a really good place to eat.  Oh yeah...Don't forget dessert menu! Try the Crème Brulee. Our entire table loved this.

The help was very attentive and knowledgeable about their menu. The also offer a full wine list and serve beer and soft drinks as well.

All in all this is one of the better Italian restaurants in our area.  It's located in the Publix parking lot on Race Track Road.

They have no web site but you can Google them and get directions.

For more info, click on the following link...  Russo's Italian Restaurant

Rating --*****   Excellent!

2750 Race Track Road, Jacksonville, Fl  32259  904-287-4111

Dinner hours 4:30 pm  -  10:00 pm

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My wife and I have lived in the King and Bear for two years now and have yet to see a write up on the Caddy Shack.  What's up with that?  No one will give these guys a review? 

Well, I like the place.  We must have gone there twenty times over the past two years and although it has really nothing "Special" on the menu...I like several things and...they are certainly convenient.  Having the Caddy Shack movie as it's theme, the menu is basically burgers, fries and wings.  OK, I know, they have lots of other items too.

My wife, being a vegetarian gets the quesadilla or a tuna sandwich.  You can also ask for a Veggie-Burger.  It's not on the menu but they do have it.

I think they have a great burger. And they have some great wings.  The Spaghetti and the Meatball is also one of my favorites.  For lunch...or after a round of golf I like the Sheboygan's own beer brat.  As you can see there is not much in the way of health food on this menu.  But wait!... they do have some pretty good salads listed... although... I have never tried one.  Oh yeah...the Nacho's will knock your socks off!

Terrible food for a health nut but...what the heck, once in a while...you just feel like a cheeseburger.

Now if they served some macaroni and cheese or a grilled cheese sandwich...Oy!.  You'd never get me out of there...And I'd be another 40 pounds heavier. 

I still like the place!

The large screen TV's are a great plus during the football games and other sports events.  One thing they can improve on is their beer.  Being from the northeast part of the US, I like a cold beer with my burger.  Or my wings.  Or nachos!!  A cold beer preferably in a frosted mug.  The colder the better.  I can't get a cold beer at the Caddy Shack.  Nor can I get a frosted mug.  In fact, at times I get the beer in a plastic cup!  That will never do.  When they come to my table with a draft beer in a plastic cup...Nope...send it back.  Give me and iced tee instead thank you.

Anyway...I still think this is a great place.  Another thing in favor of this place is their deserts.  Try their Belgian Waffle.  It's terrific.  Big enough for two. Sometimes we are coming home from a movie and stop in to Caddy Shack just to split a Belgian Waffle. 

Rating --****

455 S. Legacy Trail  904-940-3673

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This is one of our favorite dining places in the St Augustine area.  Situated on the East side of the Intracoastal Waterway Caps offers an outstanding dining experience, particularly at sunset.

We got here at 5 pm which turned out perfect for sitting outside for the eventual sunset at around 6 pm ( December 26) There is quite a lot of outdoor seating along the waters edge.  Huge oak trees growing up through the decks ads to the atmosphere. The outdoor seating section really makes this place. They have two bar areas with one situate along the waters edge. To start off, we tried the she crab soup.  Whenever we see She Crab Soup on the menu we have to try it.  This was good but Harry's in downtown St Augustine is till the best around.

For entrées', my wife had the Vanilla Grouper as did one of our friends on this trip...Horse Radish crusted grouper over whipped potatoes and fried spinach in a sweet vanilla rum sauce.$21.95  Both thought the dish was excellent.  I had the Chicken Florentine served over fettuccini which was also excellent.  Service was good and the waitress new her dishes well.  Another in our party got the St Augustine Shrimp ...Fifteen fried shrimp garnished with tomato salsa and two sides. $17.95. They loved it!

Plenty of local seafood dishes served here.  They also have an Oyster Bar.

To get there you take the Vilano Bridge and go north on A1A and turn left at the Castle.  go to the end and turn right and Caps is on the left.

Great selection of food, great atmosphere and a view that will knock your socks off. I highly recommend Caps on the Water. They do not take reservations and they do get crowded.  You may see a lot of cars in their parking lot but do not give up.  They have plenty of seating and can handle the crowds.

Rating --*****   Excellent!

Cap's On The Water
4325 Myrtle Street
Saint Augustine FL 32084        Phone: 904-824 -8794

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Rest Review1:                 Carolyn S Sanders
Rest Review date:             7/5/09
Rest Review name of new rest: Cucina Giovanni
Rest Revew city:              St Augustine FL
Rest Review stars:            ***

Rest Review comments:

I had the spaghetti w/meatless sauce.  The sauce was bland that way, but it
was ok for me, I wished I had gotten sauce with meat.  The service was great.
The price for the meal, drink and dessert was around $8.50.  They also gave
me a soda drink to go.  I will go there again to check out to see how their
sauce is w/meat.

Rating --***  Good!
 

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4/2009  Charles Stamm

We came back to this place just to check out some of the negative reviews and the fact that they had a learning phase to get through our first time here.  I am happy to say that this time the food was pretty good. Service was much better as well.  The lasagna was good.  The sauce, I can see some thinking was bland.  To me it was not bland. Although I do not like a very spicy marinara sauce. 

I like Nonna's restaurant but sometimes Nonna's sauce is too spicy for me.  Giovanni's was just fine for me.

I wish they would offer their Pizza in the dining room.  The best thing on the menu is their pizza and they do not offer it on the menu. They make a great pie but only offer a 10" Pizza in the dining room.  Not the same!

All in all I liked this place.  This was a good dining experience for me. Give them another try.

Rating --***  Good!

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Rest Reveiw1:                 Alyssa
Rest Review date:             2/1/2009
Rest Review name of new rest: Cucina Giovanni's
Rest Review city:             St Augustine
Rest Review stars:            *

Rest Review comments:

My fair warning to those wanting delivery from this place! Drove by and saw the "we deliver" sign and were elated. Someone who delivers to the King & Bear...what a concept. Placed our order at 5:30pm with the owner and were told it would be an hour for delivery. It was Sunday night so ok one hour no problem. At 6:30pm we called and were told by the owner our food was leaving the restaurant as we spoke...hmm ok. At 7pm we called again and were overwhelmed by the excuses and that the owner had no idea what was taking so long or where the delivery driver even was. At 7:30pm our food was delivered along with a call from the owner apologizing (for the very first time) for the delays and offering up dining discounts for next time (lol). Food was ok but as expected cold. Much too little much too late! Needless to say we will never be dining with this place again! Bottom line here is if you cannot provide the same service you provide in your restaurant for delivery then you should not offer delivery service.

Rating --*  Bad

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J. wilson  12/25/2008

Rest Review comments:

We arrived at about 5:30 and they were out of lasagna and blue cheese drsg. Service was fair. We found the atmosphere very bland/take out pizza yet prices were those of a little nicer restaurant. 

Rolls were very bland and unimaginative salad. Ziti was pasta with cheese and you couldn't really taste the marinara sauce, very bland. Likewise with the spaghetti.

We were so hoping for a new good restaurant in our area but were very disappointed.

Rating --**  Not Good

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105-101 Nature Walk Parkway St Augustine  Behind McDonalds on RT 210     904-287-0000  

www.nonnascucinaitaliana.com

Special Offer for WGV Residents!  Click Here!       First Friday Special!  Click here!*

Supporter of 2008 & 2009 WGV Holiday Lighting Contest!!

Name:                             Chas
Rest Review date:            10-10-2009

Overall Rating:              *****  Excellent!

Rest Review comments:

Back again to one of our favorite places and they did not disappoint us.  As always, friendly service and great food.  I had the Tortellini Ala Panna and my wife Doris had the stuffed Ziti in the Vodka Sauce.  Both were Excellent. You have to try Nonna's.  It's great.  Chas
 

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Chas Stamm  11-2008

This is one of the better Italiana restaurants in our area.  It is tucked in the strip mall behind the McDonalds on Rt 210 west of I-95

We've been there three times now and have been pleased every time.  The meal starts out with some great bread.  You will be impressed with the bread. This visit my wife, Doris had the Eggplant Parm.  "Excellent!" was her comment.  I had the Chicken Lemone.  "Excellent!" was my comment.  This came with Fettuccini which was also very good.  The meals came with a choice of soup of the day or a salad bar which was also very fresh.

Deserts are all very good as well.  The staff is very attentive and the food all came out prepared well.

Good Quality.  Good Quantity. Nice atmosphere. Very Clean. I would highly recommend this place.

Directions...Click Here!*

Rating --*****   Excellent!

www.nonnascucinaitaliana.com

Special Offer for WGV Residents!  Click Here!

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108 Julington Plaza Drive (east of San Jose/SR 13 about 2.5 miles behind Walgreen's). It opens at 4:00 p.m.   904-230-6744

We arrived early (5:30) but the restaurant was already busy. After we were seated and sat for a while, a waiter asked if we had been served, which was  unsettling, and made us think they were unorganized. But he explained that the restaurant was rated highly in the Jacksonville area (Top 25 in Jacksonville Magazine 2006-2007-2008) and had an extensive wine service. During the evening, the level of service, on a a scale of 1 (irritating aloofness to 10 (suffocating) was a 5.

The food menu contains a variety of appetizers, salads/soups, meat (beef and pork), seafood, and pasta. The prices seemed fairly upscale, with the beef items ranging between $21 and $28.

On the other side of the large menu was the wine list. The wine list was fairly extensive, but in our opinion priced rather highly. For example, a Kendall-Jackson Meritage was priced at $37 and we saw it at Winn-Dixie this week for $12. Also, for a restaurant that advertised itself (per the waiter) as emphasizing wine, it was surprising that the wines did not list the vintage.

They served warm, crunchy bread and olive oil immediately after the waiter noticed us. My wife ordered ice tea and I had a martini "straight up," which was served in a cocktail glass. I asked the waiter why and he replied that his male customers seemed to prefer that and he assumed I did as well.  Later on, I ordered a bottle of beer (they have no beer on tap) and the waiter asked if I wanted a glass, and I said yes. He brought the glass of beer, but they had poured the beer at the bar. I have never encountered that mode of service before.

We had the "Crispy Calamari" appetizer, which was not crispy, but the calamari was good, as were the marinara and pesto dipping sauces. The main problem with the dish, other than the seme-soggy calamari, was that we received three large squid "bodies" among the calamari rings that good fried calamari should consist of.

The salads that are included in the dinner were good. We both had the house salad, consisting mainly of romaine lettuce, slivers of carrots, and chopped tomatoes, celery, and cucumbers. With the dressing of our choice, it was good.

We both had pasta. I had Shrimp and Sausage Rigatoni in pesto sauce and my wife had Mushroom and Spinach Tortellini in Alfredo sauce. Both were very tasty. The one strange thing was that my entree was served in a noticeably cold plate, while my wife's plate was warm.

The dessert selection, which we passed, consisted of about 4 items verbally listed for us by the waiter.

Overall, our experience was uneven. The salad and entrees were good and that is the main reason to go to this restaurant. But other areas were strange (cold entree plate). We will probably return to see if the areas we didn't like were an aberration and to try other entrees to see if they are as good as ours were on this night.

Go to this restaurant for the entrees . Don't go to this restaurant for its wine reputation. Skip paying three times the retail price for wine from a wine list that does not list the vintage as that pricing is unfair to consumers. The restaurant occasionally offers 50% off a second entree through print advertising, although we forgot to take our coupon with us on this day.

Website with menu and directions http://cobblestonesatthecreek.com/index.htm

Rating --***  Good!

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3825 Baymeadows Road  | Jacksonville, FL 32217  | 904-737-9236  

Rating --*****   Excellent!

For Directions Click Here

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115 Cordova Street, St. Augustine, Florida 32084


My husband and I ate here on a Monday evening.  The restaurant had parking available for it's customers (we love) only one other table was in the restaurant when we ate.   Our reservations were at 5:30 PM and we had drinks next door at the Casa Monica hotel.  The court-yard of this Inn is beautiful and the building outside is colorful and clean, located in the heart of downtown.  They have a limited selection of liquor at the bar.  I had the Stuffed Chicken - A tender breast of chicken stuffed with mozzarella and basil, lightly breaded, then baked golden brown.  Served over a Boursin cream sauce, with vegetable and starch du jour.($17.95)My husband had the Seafood Thai Curry - Jumbo shrimp and sea scallops are sautéed with caramelized onions, apples, scallions, and peppers in an authentic red curry coconut sauce.  Served with Jasmine rice.($21.95).  Entrees were served with a small salad and bread.  The food was acceptable and we finished our meals and were satisfied. My favorite was the pesto olive oil served with the bread. I was disappointed in the service and the inside atmosphere. The dinning room tables need a clean wipe and walls were not clean. The paper menu needed replaced.  I thought I was over reacting until another table arrived and had to wiped off the seat to sit down. Our server never asked how our dinners were after serving.  He said he had been working there for 10 years. I think that the food editors of these magazines need to continue to update their lists to determine if the quality of the restaurant can be maintain. This place continues to be rated year after year.  Maybe it was a bad night. Off to another restaurant!    

Rating --**  Not Good

www.oldcityhouse.com

Hours
Breakfast 8:30-10:00 (including Sunday)
Sunday Brunch 10:00-2:30
Lunch (Mon-Sat) 11:30-2:30
Dinner 5:30-9:00 (9:30 Friday and Saturday)

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 46 Avenida Menendez  St. Augustine, FL  32084
(904) 824-7765

This is a New Orleans style of restaurant right down on the water in the old city.  A nice place to go with company.  It is charming.  Sitting outside on the patio day or night is great.  Food is always good.  Daily special are always a good bet.  This day I had a meatloaf dish and my wife had a salmon dinner.  Both were off the special. Our friends had the trout.  All were great tasting, good looking, and all had a New Orleans flavor to them. This place has been here a long time. Try the "she crab" soup.  It is wonderful.

They usually have an acoustical musician on hand for background music as well. For dessert, try the Chocolate Bread Pudding.  For $5 you'll have a wonderful dessert that will comfortably feed four.

It gets a bit crowded so you may want to put your name on a call ahead list.

One of our Favorites!

Rating --*****

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Chas Stamm 9-2007    

This is a little place that does not offer much in the way of outside looks but it has some of the best food in town.  All the locals eat here.  Some come just for the Blue Crab and Corn Chowder.  That is worth the trip alone!    If you are a "Chowder Head" like I am, don't pass this place up.

My wife and I have eaten here three times now and have not been disappointed yet.   This latest time I ordered one of the daily specials...Shrimp and Meatballs over Pasta. $13.95  It was outstanding!  My wife, Doris, being a vegetarian, ordered the Blackened Salmon Raspberry $10.95 over salad.  She says it was the best salmon she ever had. 

The food is great here.  The ambiance could use some work because it is in somewhat of a "dated" strip mall but if you are into some good food, lots of it, with not a lot of frills, try this place.

They are not open on Sunday.  Monday through Saturday!    Casual dress. 

Diner for two with soft drinks came to $32.00    Very Good food!

Rating --****            

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Sherry Auld      January 29, 2008
restaurant pick:               Old City Grill

Fantastic!  The Blue Crab and Corn Chowder is AWESOME!

My husband and I visited after reading the review.  He ordered the Chicken Marsala.   Lots and lots of tender, sweet chicken and he said the sauce was incredible! My lasagna was not your norm, by far.  So full and robust! Portions were very generous, to say the least. 

We received a friendly greeting upon arrival and our waitress did a superb job.  Her recommendations were very helpful and she insisted we sample one of their delicious desserts, chocolate mousse.  It was very light, flavorful and completed our meal.

Being in a strip mall and small in space, should not deter one from this establishment.   Thank goodness they are now OPEN ON SATURDAYS!!!

Rating --*****

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Good Italian food served family style.   Good sized portions.  PLENTY OF FOOD. Four of us had salad and two small sized dinners and it was more food than we could eat. Tortelloni was very good.  Shrimp and Scallops Orso was equally as good.  The Apple Gorgonzola Salad fed all four of us even though we ordered the "Small" portion. Friendly staff which parade you through their maze of party rooms and the kitchen on the way to your table.  It was quite entertaining just to get to your table! They do take reservations.

Rating --****

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September 2007  Nancy Delp:  Very nice place.  I will definitely be back.  Hugh portions!  The Apple Gorgonzola Salad was outstanding.

Rating --****

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Rest Review comments:

This is a very relaxed atmosphere, clean and reasonably priced eatery.  Crab cakes are "Excellent" according to Dee Soman and my wife Dorith Stamm.  The Pasta Alfredo was OK.  The feedback I get about the shrimp was that "Osteens is better." I guess they will have to work on that.   The New England clam chowder was also great. One thing this place has going for it is it is close to WGV.  I guess that's something.

Service was very good both times.   Very attentive and friendly staff.

Rating -- ***

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   October 13, 2007 Alyssa    Shellfish Grille
 
Rest Review comments:

Thought we would try this one for dinner since it is so close. Big mistake! Salads must have been prepared that morning as they were ice cold (in a bad way) and lettuce was starting to brown. Steamed oysters were anything but steamed. Came out in a bucket full of water as though they had been boiled and had absolutely no flavor! Scallops looked nice enough when served but also had no flavor! Hoping this place can turn things around. On a positive note the atmosphere and the service was excellent.

Rating -- *  

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I guess the only thing good I can say about this place was the size of the portions of the food. The service was dreadful. Four of us went dining, three got meals and one had to wait until every one else was finished before getting her meal.  No apologies. and... when the food finally arrived,  it was the wrong dish!  Not what we ordered. Again, not one apology!  Never did get our final order.  Can't say that cleanliness was their strong point either.

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The Wildflower Cafe - by Judy Sieracki   November 2006

4320 A1A South      The Dondanville Beach Entrance      St. Augustine, FL 32080      904.471.2691

Benito's Italian Cafe & Pizzeria    Two Locations

9475 Phillips Highway      Charles Stamm     9/2007

This is one of the better Italian restaurants we have found in the area. I hear their pizza is great but that is a long was to drive to have pizza.  Every time we go there we are swayed away from their pie buy the rest of their great menu.  The ravioli was excellent. Tortelloni was also very good.  The chicken Alla Rosa was great.   Prices are reasonable and service is excellent.  One of these days we will get around to trying their pizza but for now the rest of the menu is just too inviting.

Entrées average... $8.95 through $10.95    (16.95 - 18.95 As of January 2010)

Steaks and surf and turf can get up around $24.00

We have been there many times and have not been disappointed yet.

.....and... they have very good Pizza!  Thin crust and very tasty!      12/2007  Chas

Rating -- ****

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Benito's on CR210

Reviewer Nam   Carol Carnicelli   January -7-2010

Overall Rating:              ****  Very Good!

Rest Review comments:

CR210 location:  It is so good to have Italian food served other than chicken parmigiana or eggplant or baked ziti (although I like all those very much!).  It's the other flavors I miss, like chicken francese and chicken marsala (they serve your choice of chicken or veal for most items).  They have a full menu with lots of delicious choices. They are also currently running a lunch special where you can taste most anything on the menu for $5.95 (dine-in only, not take out) at the CR 210 location, everyday 11 a.m.-3 p.m.  I've eaten at both CR210 and Phillips Hwy. locations; CR210 is closer, but they were both terrific.  One diner at Phillips Hwy said they go there a few times a week, so they just get one dinner and split it. You can easily do that, there is enough food on one dish, e.g., my Chicken Francese had two large chicken breasts over pasta with a salad and garlic rolls (or bread with butter).  They have all the baked dishes and fish dishes. I have not had the chance to check out the appetizers or desserts as yet, but they looked good.  You can go casual or dress up. The dinner special is a great way to try dishes you've not had before! You need to go to the link and read the dish descriptions on their menu, too many choices to list here.  This review is already on it's way to a novel.  Enjoy, I did!
 

Hurricane Grill and Wings on CR210     Alyssa     11/26/2007


Great prices, great island atmosphere, great wings and wow those garlic parm fries. I cannot say enough good things about this place. There are many wing places in St Aug and Jax that have just OK wings so I was thrilled to find this little gem.

They have five categories of wing flavors for any temperature you like. The flavors in each category are outside the norm which is a nice change from the usual teriyaki or bbq.

They have ample outside seating but seating inside is limited so try to avoid rush times. Check them out www.hurricanewings.com

Rating -- *****

Charles Stamm  11-2007

I agree, this is a charming place.  A nice place to have lunch and sit outside.  Help was very friendly and eager to help you with your selection.   Prices were good and the wings were very good but...they could have been larger.  I hate small wings. These were not the largest wings I have had.

Rating -- ****

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Mangia Pizza & Subs     Guy   11/27/07    525  CR 16        St Augustine     824-9411
Philly Cheese Steaks 

Is now called Pepe's Pizza - 2009

I am located in the residences at the WGV

This restaurant was written up in the best of St. Augustine for best Philly cheese steaks.   So I went there to try them out.  Boy I left there with my mouth watering for more it was so good.  + when I went there the place was packed.  The restaurant is located in the shopping center next to the highway patrol on 16, and before village lock and key ( if coming from the I 95 side)
Here is the website  http://www.mangia-pizza.com/    

I also had their pizza and it was good.  My mouth is watering just thinking about my next Philly

By all means give them a try.

Rating -- *****

Dae Lynn Helm  January 2008

We have been eating take out at Mangia since it opened.  We love the pizza and they cook it exactly as requested. I barely can make it home without eating it.  We have also had other dishes and salads and enjoy them, too.  We are from Pittsburgh, PA. 

Rating -- ***

Chas Stamm  January 2008

I had to try this place just because of the reviews from these other people. Very good pizza.  A little heavy on the oregano but a good thin crust, good cheese and pepperoni. I will go back here again.  Their website says they are open on Sundays but don't believe it.  They are closed on Sunday. Very friendly staff. and a good full menu. They have specials each day which look good.  It's in the little strip mall on the right just before the Honda motorcycle dealer on CR16 heading south. Pretty well hid in there. You have to really be looking for their sign.

I liked it as well.

Rating -- ****

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Ruth's Chris Steakhouse  1201 Riverplace Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207     Charles Stamm  11/2007

This has to be one of the best steak houses in the country.  A bit on the pricey side but what isn't these days.  They tell us your steak is broiled at 1,800(degrees) oven and served on a plate heated to 500 degrees.

This is not a place you would go to every day but for that special occasion, and you like steak, this is the place to go. You can not find a better steak.  The petite Fillet and Shrimp was excellent.  The other shrimp dishes were also excellent. The side dishes of potatoes and vegetables were great. In our party of 6 this night, everyone raved about their meals. Additionally, the menu includes select fresh seafood & other meat entrees. They offer a variety of fresh-cooked vegetables, including seven kinds of potatoes, salads, homemade desserts. Order the cheesecake and they bring not a slice but a small cheesecake pie that will feed four.

The service was excellent.  The food is outstanding.  And...the view...well the restaurant is situated right on the river looking at the Jacksonville skyline.  We often frequented the Ruth's Chris Steakhouse back in Jersey, thinking that they had the best steaks I have ever eaten.  This Jacksonville location is equally as good. If you have high standards in steak, you have to try this place.

We went to the Jacksonville location for the view.  There is another location in Ponte Vedra Beach which is a little closer to WGV.

Rating -- *****        Sample Menu  Click Here*

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Scarlett O'Hara's Downtown St. Augustine  Dorith Stamm  12/ 2007

www.scarlettoharas.net   70 Hypolita St  904-824-6535

This is "Local Flavor" at it's best.  Voted "Best Neighborhood Tavern in St. Augustine.  This is a theme restaurant based on the movie Gone with The Wind. If you have some friends coming to visit, as you are showing them the St George Street area, this is a fun spot to take them.  Great sandwiches, appetizers, salads, fried chicken and burgers. 

Atmosphere, good food, reasonable prices and fast courteous service.  What more can you ask for.  Give them a try.  We will be back. 

Rating -- ***

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Collage        Dae Lynn Helm        Jan. 2008      60 Hypolita St. St Augustine     904-829-0055

e-mail - mike@collagestaug.com

Collage (www.collagestaug.com) is located in historic downtown and special occasion restaurant.  It is located near a parking lot. The restaurant is small and wonderfully decorated.

We had a wine steward present and serve the wine.  We had a Warmed Goat Cheese Salad ~ Macadamia Encrusted Goat Cheese, Artichokes, Croutons & Tomatoes in a Browned Butter Cider Vinaigrette. It was served with sour dough bread and a butter pesto.   Yum! The bread was slightly burnt on the bottom. My husband had the clam chowder.   Between courses they served brandy apricot sorbet.  Very French.  For entrees my husband had a Hand Cut USDA Choice N.Y. Strip Steak with Béarnaise Butter~ With A Tarragon Compound Butter.  I had Veal Orleans ~ Scaloppini of Veal Tenderloin Dipped in Egg and Sautéed with Sherry and Demi-Glaze; Finished in a Buerre Blanc with Two Shrimp and an Artichoke.  I had it without the shrimp because I am allergic.  I requested an order of sautéed vegetables because my husband's side was delicious. 

The server quickly offered to bag our wine to go since we did not finish our bottle.   This is a new Florida law.  This restaurant has been a favorite of ours and the food was very good.  But it is very pricey.

Rating -- ***

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La Cocina Restaurant  530 A1A Beach Blvd  Inside the Castillo Real Hotel  904-461-8288

LaCocina is located inside the Castillo Real Hotel in St Augustine across the 312 Bridge  No Web site.

International cuisine with a Latin flair.  

Charles Stamm  February 2008

This is a higher class restaurant with everything you need to have a good time.   Great food. Wonderful ambiance. Excellent service. Moderate prices.  The meals come out as a work of art. They have a wonderful Poached Pear Salad that will start you off on a high note.  And...it gets better. The crab bisque with petite crab cake was one of the best any of us had ever had.  I had the Roasted Fillet Mignon with wild mushroom and cream sauce.  Our friends had the Petite Rack of Lamb with Rosemary Mint Demi-Glaze, Vegetables and Garlic Mashed Potatoes "Out of this World" I think was the term used to describe this one...Chilean Sea Bass with crispy light potato crisps, with a Cilantro Cream Sauce and Lump Crab Meat stuffed mushrooms.  "WOW!"   Was the expression for this one.   Prices were reasonable for the quality of food you got.  $25 for the Fillet Mignon. $5 for the bowl of soup.  $24 for the Chilean Sea Bass.  This is a well hid secret restaurant.

Pat Lanpher      Rest Review date:    2/12/08

Rest Review comments:

We have eaten at this restaurant three times, one of which was a super wine dinner that was by reservation only. Normally, the restaurant does not take reservations. The food is great. The menu consists of appetizers, pizzas, salads, and sandwiches. They also have daily dinner specials. The last time we dined there, we started with the mozzarella bruschetta, which was wonderful. Then we chose from the dinner specials, such as pesto grilled swordfish over toasted coconut basmati, asparagus and pineapple salsa. Also, they have a nice wine list. The service is excellent and enthusiastic. I'd say it was moderately expensive for the dinner specials and reasonable for the standard menu items. Web site is www.biscottis.net. Enjoy.

Rating -- ****

3290 US 1 South  St. Augustine  904-794-1610              Charles Stamm        2/23/2008

This has to be the best Mexican restaurant in St Augustine.  The best I've been to anyway.  I like Mexican food.   This place is a step above the rest.

La Cocina is in a different ballgame from El Pottro and Acapulco. ( Both of whom I like )

This place has great quality, great taste and an excellent staff.  We had a party of 6 and the waitress didn't write anything down... and didn't get anything wrong. We had a lot of questions about the menu and we split the check three ways!  She knew the menu well and all the ingredients of all the dishes and made some great recommendations.

We had some interesting meals from the menu.

The Jose Cuervo Flaming Shrimp Fajitas not only tasted great but they put on quite a show at the table presenting it.

The Vera Cruz-Style Red Snapper was "Excellent."

Same with the Shrimp and Peppers. 

Bob Thornton recommends the Fish Millanaise.

Don't forget to try some of their very good appetizers.  The Queso Fundido was a nice surprise.  I hear the Shrimp and Cactus Salad is outrageous.

All great food.  The service could have been a little faster but tolerable.   Just be patient.  It is worth it. Everyone in our party had a great meal.  If you like Mexican food...this is the best in town.

Chas  <'////><

Rating -- *****

Update...3/25/2008   Chas Stamm...OK  This place has some growing pains...

We went back on a Tuesday night...6:30pm and the place was packed.  Had to wait about 20 minutes for a table for 2.  They were understaffed and the wait really dampened the experience.  Don't know why they were so busy on a Tuesday but the staff did not understand it as well. Maybe Spring Break.  Perhaps the secret is out on this place but they are going to need more tables and some more help.  Food was good but not the same experience as my first time there.  Parking is on the side street.  Chas  <'////><

Rating -- ****

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