Upon leaving Sarasota, we once again stopped in Apollo Beach to enjoy lunch at another coastal restaurant before bringing our winter getaway to a close. Circles Waterfront Restaurant was established back in 1998. For years it has been serving the community and faithful visitors some of the best surf and turf dishes Florida has to offer. Most everything on their menu is made to order. If the seafood is not local, then it is flown in overnight. Even their beef and chicken are r

Today, we are going to take a quick look at the culinary hot spots that made the cut for our brief visit to Sarasota back in January. When researching restaurants, I was looking for what I am always on the lookout for, a place recognized for its great food, made with quality ingredients, and in a desirable setting. While you wouldn’t normally think of Indian food when visiting a coastal community, this restaurant caught my attention when it revealed a Google rating of 4.9 sta

Apollo Beach is a small, but growing community. Ironically, it is not a beach community, at least in the sense of what you think of in regards to a Florida beach. While there is a few points of sandy beach access to Tampa Bay, Apollo Beach is predominantly known as a residential canal waterfront community. Nestled in the midst, is a newly discovered restaurant fave for me. Finn’s Dockside Bar & Grill checks off most of my boxes when it comes to a dining establishment with gre

Located on Clapboard Creek in Jacksonville, about 10 miles from the beaches of Huguenot Memorial Park and Little Talbot Island State Park, is a laid-back restaurant that serves fresh local seafood and a variety of other casual dining favorites.  Palms Fish Camp is an “Old Florida Cracker” style fish camp that includes indoor and outdoor dining.  With a public boat ramp on the property and floating dock, boaters have a great opportunity to tie up for lunch or dinner.  The rest

After a disappointing visit to Casa Marina Hotel for brunch, I decided to give brunch a try at another popular Jacksonville Beach restaurant.  This time I was headed to Refinery.  This upscale restaurant features an ocean bar, pub, entertainment lounge, and an elegant upstairs dining room.  They serve Euro-American fare.  The ocean bar is their outdoor option giving direct access to the ocean air and view of the beach dunes.  The First Street Pub offers a surprising touch of

Situated just off the intracoastal waterway in St Augustine on the San Sebastion River lies a laid-back seafood restaurant called Grouper Shack.  This eatery sits in a small marina with its own dock allowing for casual boaters to stop in for a quick bite to eat.  It is secluded amidst the marsh grasses and tree line in a peaceful and relaxed setting, yet you can see far and wide if you are there for lunch.  Grouper Shack is an informal dining experience.  You place your order

I love the city of St Augustine.  There is quite the variety of things to see and do there.  With its unique character and the allure of its old-world beauty, it is no wonder this old city is the gem of Northeast Florida.  It is a water lover’s playground with its miles of beaches, intracoastal waterway, rivers, and inlets.  It has a diverse and vibrant food scene that is growing in recognition.  Located in Villano Beach, Cap’s on the Water is one of the many St Augustine hot

For the first time in 10 years, there has not been a single hurricane that has made landfall in the U.S. this season.  Only Tropical Storm Chantal formed out in the Atlantic off the coast of Florida and made landfall in South Carolina back in early July with minimal impacts.  While Florida has been spared so far this year, the east coast has experienced significant beach erosion, flooding, and some structural damages in the last 2 months along many areas such as Jupiter Inlet

The Gulf is a beachy outdoor dining venue.  They have two locations.  One in Fort Walton Beach, FL and the other in Orange Beach, AL. ...

Beachview Breakfast & Grill was our first stop in Fort Walton Beach.  Though the name may be a little misleading, they do serve...

For our final Destin restaurant review, I will share my thoughts on dinner at Azul Mexican Fusion. This restaurant first caught my...

Our next review may seem out of place for a coastal dining destination, but I assure you it is a must-visit dining experience.  McGuire’s...

Next up for review is Fudpucker’s, not to be confused with the chain Fuddrucker’s.  This lunch and dinner establishment claims to be a...

Our next breakfast spotlight in Destin is Ruby Slipper.  The concept for this restaurant is absolutely genius in my opinion.  Have you...

Crackings is a family owned and operated restaurant that began in 1998.  They are a breakfast, brunch, and lunch establishment.  They...