The Tasting Room – St. Augustine

$$$

We picked out this restaurant as our last dinner out in St. Augustine. Luckily we did so at the beginning of the week because I'm not sure we would have gotten a table if we had waited any longer to make the reservation.

St. Augustine doesn't have a ton of restaurants that step out from the norm of fried, generic, must I say it – tourist-trap eateries. This gem however, meets every single one of my expectations for an amazing night out. Whether you choose their dimly-lit, warm interior with live music, or their quaint and cozy patio, you're sure to have an exceptional experience. Being from Ottawa with only a small percent of warm patio days, we did opt for dining al fresco.

They have an insanely extensive wine list that could trap you for hours. But I decided that since this was a contemporary Spanish restaurant, the full page of Tempranillo's would be plenty to choose from. We went with the Beronia, Graciano and Mazuelo, 2005 – AMAZING.

Next the food. I love food. I love trying all different kinds of dishes. When faced with tapas, it takes all of me not to order every single dish listed. It's like they're little plates from heaven made specifically for me. These plates were about appetizer size, perfect for our party of four. Yay, more food!

We started off with some complimentary bread and oil for dipping. Then our first order, fresh ricotta and goat cheese terrine with Galician toasts. This dish came highly recommended by our server and oh my god, she was so right. Whipped melt-in-your-mouth cheese with a savoury center of sun-dried tomatoes and pesto.

Next the champinones al Jerez, mushrooms with sherry and garlic. This dish was a textural treat to have on the side but compared to all of the other plates that were served, lacked in flavour. The patatas bravas more than made up for it though. Bursting with flavour, these fried potato wedges with rosemary sea salt and spicy aioli were seriously some of the best potatoes I've ever had in my life. Last on the veg side of things, grilled asparagus cooked to perfection.

Up next, the salt cod fritters with garlic saffron aioli. So delectable I don't think I even stopped for a breath in between bites.

Our last two dishes made for a sinfully delicious end to the evening, pairing oh-so-perfectly with our second bottle of Tempranillo. Albondigas, deliciously tender and juicy lamb meatballs made with Moroccan spices and a lightly creamy, cumin cilantro dressing.

And the highlight of the dinner, paella Valenciana mixta – a combination of chicken, Spanish chorizo, fresh local seafood like clams, mussels, plump shrimp, red and yellow peppers, peas, garlic and regional rice all brought together beautifully with a tomato-saffron broth. YUM!

This meal was the best of our entire trip. And paired with outstanding service really made the entire experience one to remember. Earlier in the week we had stumbled upon their Tasting Room To Go Spanish deli where we indulged in some homemade salads on their patio for lunch. This second location also offers many varieties of meats, fresh baked breads and cheeses to take home, including the infamous ricotta and goat cheese terrine.

Another must-visit when in St. Augustine. Tapas prices range from $5.95 to $12.95, entrées between $16.95 and $33.95. They also do chefs tastings and wine pairings for both lunch and dinner.

The Tasting Room

25 Cuna Street

St. Augustine, Florida

904-810-2400

Tasting Room to Go

39.5 Cordova Street

St. Augustine, Florida

904-808-7202

Ann O’Malley’s – St. Augustine

The only negative thing about going south this time of year is missing the playoffs. When in a small town like St. Augustine, the chances of catching a Montreal game are pretty slim. Yes, I'm a Habs fan. And my husband is a Sabres fan. One full week of what could make history, missed. I'm personally ok with trading sun for hockey. My husband, although hesitant, I believe is too. But imagine getting the best of both worlds?! It would be like a dream. And our dream came true the first day we arrived in St. Augustine.

Driving around, looking for parking, from the corner of my eye caught sight of it – a massive Buffalo Sabres flag hanging outside this quaint little pub. We immediately made a b-line for it after parking the car. John, the owner, assured us we could catch any hockey game inside, Buffalo, obviously taking over the big screen. Being the only bar in the county with the center ice package, this man has cleverly created a niche for all hockey fans.

John and his wife Sherri are the best hosts. We spent only 3 evenings with them and felt like we were home. This spot alone would bring us back to St. Augustine in a second. All hockey fans in the area congregate here. And for you Sabres fans, they've got Blue Light by the bottle (on tap is not far away), and Sunday nights they serve Beef on Weck. Oh, and if you are a Buffalo fan and wearing your colours, your first pint is on the house.

They also have many other great things going on nightly, live entertainment, specials, etc. Being an ex-navy officer, John offers 50% off food and drink for Military, EMT, Firefighter and Law Enforcement personnel on Monday nights.

Their menu, although very small, is made from the heart in front of your eyes. Great selection of yummy sandwiches and chips and my personal favourite, hot dogs with coleslaw – the perfect snack!

Ann O’Malley’s

23 Orange Street

St. Augustine, Florida

904-825-4040