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From coffee shops to comfort food, Mediterranean fare to Thai food, food trucks to fine dining, St. Augustine is a foodie traveler’s dream. Traveling with kids who are picky eaters makes it a little more challenging to savor the clam chowders and escargot appetizers, but it doesn’t mean you can’t get some great eats. This list includes 10 recommended family-friendly St. Augustine restaurants and tips on what to order when you get there, even if you have a picky eater.
This post is sponsored by VISIT FLORIDA.
St. Augustine Restaurants
Going out to eat on vacation can be part relaxing, part cultural experience. If you have a picky eater (or two) like I do, it pays to know ahead of time which restaurants will be able to serve your entire family.
I try not to cater to picky eaters too much at home. But on vacation, it’s a different story. A hungry and tired kid is a cranky kid. I prefer to spare all of us from that condition.
As a coastal city in northeast Florida, St. Augustine has plenty of options for indulging in as much fresh seafood as you would like. Maybe your family prefers to immerse themselves in the rich Spanish heritage of St. Augustine or is simply trying to find familiar bites with fresh ingredients while on a Florida family vacation.
Whatever your dining needs, there are plenty of family-friendly St. Augustine restaurants both in the historic district and beyond that will add flavor to your vacation! Here are my tips for the best restaurants and dining experiences for families in the Oldest City in America and how to handle a picky eater there.
TravelingMom Tip: If you need some inspiration for traveling with your picky eater, read this post about traveling around the world with a daughter who eats ONLY peanut butter.)
St. Augie’s Pizza
113 ½ King St.
St. Augustine
(904) 436-5998
https://staugiespizze.com
Y’all, this one was a gift. The restaurant we had planned on going to had an extremely long wait time. My feelings were summed up as such: long day, need food soon. That was about it.
I remembered seeing a pizza place in our wanderings and thought we’d give it a shot. Don’t let the tiny storefront look fool you – those are the best places.
St. Augie’s Pizza did not disappoint. New York style pizza that you can get by the pie or the slice to let everyone get what they want. There is also a selection of pasta dishes; my picky eater rarely turns down spaghetti as a dinner option.
The teen and I gave our custom pizza slices high marks. You can call ahead for pick up or dine in. And don’t worry about letting kids get dessert – the portion sizes of cheesecake, cannoli and tiramisu are perfect for kids!
Note that this St. Augustine restaurant is closed on Mondays. On-site parking available, though it’s a small lot.
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One Twenty Three Burger House
123 King St.
St. Augustine
(904) 687-2790
https://www.onetwentythreeburgerhouse.com/
Just a couple of doors down from St. Augie’s Pizza, the One Twenty Three Burger House is a great choice for less adventurous eaters. It’s got all you would expect from a “burger house” – in addition to the many burger varieties, it offers wings, sandwiches, salads and pizza. In short, something for everyone, even picky eaters.
The kid’s menu reflects the adult menu, with offerings such as chicken tenders (both grilled and fried are options), cheeseburgers, hot dogs and mac & cheese. Our burgers were fantastic, and both my kids raved about the shakes. On-site parking available.
Aunt Kate’s
612 Euclid Ave.
St. Augustine
(904) 829-1105
https://aunt-kates.com
Aunt Kate’s is in the Vilano Beach area, on the Tolomato River. This seafood restaurant boasts river views and has a sandy area where kids can run around while waiting for a table, or you can walk the pier right next to the restaurant.
The restaurants sells the freshest seafood at reasonable prices in a family-friendly atmosphere. The crab cakes dinner and gator tail appetizer, fried and served with a creamy orange sauce could work for more adventurous eaters, but my kids stuck with the typical kid menu items such as chicken tenders and mac & cheese. Aunt Kate’s also offers a kid-sized portion of BBQ ribs as an option.
TravelingMom Tip: You might want to make reservations for this one, especially on a weekend night. On-site parking available.
Catch-27
40 Charlotte St.
St. Augustine
(904) 217-3542
https://www.catchtwentyseven.com
Catch-27 is tucked away within the historic district of St. Augustine, down a relatively quiet side street. The dining room atmosphere is cozy and the wait staff friendly.
While the kid’s menu isn’t posted online, the restaurant does have one. It’s minimal but serviceable: quesadillas, chicken sandwich, grilled cheese and butter noodles, to which chicken or shrimp can be added.
My teenager and I opted for the Mexican flare and ordered the grilled chicken tacos. The portion was so large that I couldn’t finish mine, but he had no problem polishing his off. (Oh, to be 19!)
Parking is available in nearby public lots.
Columbia Restaurant
98 St. George St.
St. Augustine
(904) 824-3341
https://www.columbiarestaurant.com/
The Columbia chain of restaurants has been in business since 1905. This location on St. George Street is in the heart of the St. Augustine’s historic district. The menu is a colorful and flavor-soaked mix of Cuban and Spanish tapas dishes.
My oldest son devoured his red snapper and my ropa vieja was delicious. (According to the menu, “the name means ‘old clothes’ because the choice beef is shredded, sautéed and simmered with onions, green peppers and tomatoes.” It’s served with platanos and white rice.)
I was worried this eatery might be too exotic for my picky 12-year-old. There wasn’t a kid’s menu listed online but it’s available at the restaurant. It includes a Cuban sandwich, mac & cheese, chicken fingers and steak. Each kid’s meal comes with a drink and the option of fries or fruit.
My son reviewed the kid’s menu, but at 12, he is self-conscious about ordering from it. Considering this, I suggested he try the filet mignon from the adult menu. It was one of the few items that didn’t have some kind of sauce or garnish on it. My heart was happy when he polished off the whole thing! Score one for trying something new.
The atmosphere appears a bit formal (no sleeveless shirts for men, although casual attire is fine) but the wait staff was warm and accommodating.
This is a great option in the historic district. Parking is available for free in the Spanish Street lot behind the restaurant while dining. If you plan to park there and then sight-see after, you will most likely need to pay a parking fee.
St. Augustine Sailing Brunch
3076 Harbor Dr.
St. Augustine
(904) 829-0648
Yes, this one is a splurge. And you might wonder why I’m listing it under family-friendly dining. Y’all, this was a stand-out experience for my kids. Many families book charters to go sailing while they are in St. Augustine – combine it with a fantastic dining experience and you are the family hero!
The brunch sails have a maximum of 6 attendees, so if you have less than that, know that you might be sailing with others. Co-owner Rose Ann Points creates the meal and it is amazing.
Our brunch menu included quiche, tons of fresh fruit and all kinds of homemade breakfast breads and muffins. The menu is subject to change, so check beforehand if you have concerns.
They noticed my picky eater was not touching the quiche and were kind enough to ask his suggestions of items that might be more pleasing to kids. Drinks included orange juice and cranberry juice, coffee, and tea. The adults have the option of mimosas.
When you get onboard, you are given a safety talk and told where you can find lifejackets (kids of a certain age are required to wear them.) If there is rain but no thunder, don’t abandon your plans – there is a covering to the outside table, and you always have the option to eat inside the galley.
An important note for families – there are two bathrooms on board the boat, so no worries about emergencies. After eating, you are free to roam the deck and enjoy the St. Augustine views. My youngest even got the chance to steer the boat for a bit! The experience is three hours, which was just right for me and mine.
There is on-site parking at the docks.
St. Augustine Restaurants Recommended by Locals
Sadly, three days is not enough time to sample all this city has to offer. While I wasn’t able to experience the following St. Augustine restaurants, I’m passing them on as choices that were recommended to me by locals.
St. Augustine Fish Camp
299 Roscoe Blvd. N
Ponte Vedra Beach
(904) 285-3200
The St. Augustine Fish Camp promises local seafood and the menu has a definite “foodie” vibe for most entrees. Fried Gator Tail with Cowgill’s Datil Pepper Aioli, anyone? It definitely wouldn’t have worked for my boys. (Honestly, I had no idea alligator was such a popular dining option!)
The kid’s menu consists of fried shrimp, fried fish, grilled cheese and chicken tenders. All of these are served with fries and a drink. And there’s vanilla ice cream for dessert.
Beaches at Vilano
254 Vilano Road
Vilano Beach
(904) 829-0589
https://www.beachesatvilano.com/
Beaches is, as you would expect, on the water with plenty of outdoor seating. The menu is a traditional mix of salads, burgers and fresh seafood entrees at reasonable prices. Several of the entrees have a Caribbean flair — jerk chicken is a must-try — and there’s a vegetarian-friendly a veggie-stuffed wrap drizzled with blueberry pomegranate dressing and wrapped in a spinach tortilla.
Desserts include the Florida classic, key lime pie, and fried cheesecake, which is described as “silky smooth cheesecake wrapped in thin layers of pastry, lightly fried and rolled in cinnamon sugar.” Yum. It’s served with vanilla ice cream and seasonal fruit.
The kid’s menu offers the standard cheeseburger, chicken tenders, mac & cheese, and fried shrimp. Live music is played on the weekends.
Cap’s on the Water
4325 Myrtle St.
St. Augustine
(904) 824-8794
Another Vilano Beach restaurant that promises the freshest local seafood, Cap’s is on Anastasia Island with plenty of outdoor seating. Cap’s offers dinner every night and is only open for lunch on the weekend.
The menu looks satisfying for the grown up tastes with plenty of seafood, pasta, and meat options. Depending on the season, the fresh catch could b mahi, flounder, grouper, trigger or Chilean sea bass. The menu says it sources yellowfin tuna from Costa Rica, salmon from Chile and scallops from Massachusetts. There are pasta options and a filet mignon from the non-fish-eaters in your group.
The kid’s menu has a great assortment of choices: fried shrimp or fish, chicken tenders, hamburger sliders, pasta, and pizza.
There is on-site parking.
TravelingMom Tip: Cap’s doesn’t take reservations and the restaurant generally won’t take parties larger than 6. If your family is bigger than that, you may want to call ahead and see if an exception can be made.
Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille
46 Avenida Menendez
St. Augustine
(904) 824-7765
This local Florida chain restaurant serves up seafood with a Cajun flair. The bayfront gastropub offers classics such as fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, red beans and rice and jambalaya.
The kid’s menu includes the standards — burgers and chicken tenders — with some unexpected finds such as fresh fish served with veggies and corn dogs.
There is onsite parking.
TravelingMom Tip: Don’t feel like going out? Have DoorDash bring food to your hotel or vacation rental.
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We love going to Columbia House!!!