Joe's Crab Shack
If you haven't heard of Joe's Crab Shack then you must have been living under a rock. This popular seafood chain has grown to have more than 120 locations in 28 states across the U.S. But, in comparison to many of its sister restaurants, the Jacksonville Beach location has a local feel to it. For one thing it's actually beach-side with the deck overlooking the sand and the waves of the Atlantic. And with a fenced-in play area, this beach shack is also kid-friendly. Patrons can munch on a variety of fresh seafood as well as steak, pasta and burgers, but as the name implies, crab legs ($19-$26) are their specialty. After a great seafood dinner, you might want to take a stroll down to the ocean and enjoy the beautiful view.
Restaurant Hours: Sun-Thurs 11 AM-10 PM and Fri-Sat 11 AM-11 PM
#6 Beach Blvd., 249-616

The Reef
Located on beautiful Vilano Beach in St. Augustine, The Reef is casual oceanfront dining at its best. With huge windows and an outdoor patio, the restaurant provides scenic ocean views no matter where you sit. In fact, the restaurant's menu boasts that “every table has a fine view.” In addition to scenery, The Reef offers fresh seafood, steak, pasta, salad and innovative chef specials. It also has an extensive wine list and features wines from a different country each month. While lunch and dinner are served every day, The Reef is known for its Sunday brunch ($30), which includes omelets, crab legs, homemade waffles, champagne and more. And although the view is always picturesque, it's even more enticing at night. To ensure a quality dining experience, the restaurant's website posts a current moon schedule so you can plan an evening of delicious food under a full moon. It doesn't get much better than that.
4100 Coastal Highway A1A, St. Augustine, 824-8008
[ www.thereefstaugustine.com ]

Cap’s on the Water
Romance and scenic views go hand-in-hand at this waterfront restaurant. Located on the Intracoastal Waterway between Ponte Vedra Beach and St. Augustine, the intimate setting features a wooden dining deck surrounded by a canopy of Spanish moss-covered trees and white cloth-covered tables. Lanterns and nearby lighted docks provide a horizon of twinkling lights along the water, while patrons feast on fresh sea bass ($24), lump crab cakes ($16) and tender filet mignon ($25). The wine menu boasts more than 400 selections, for which they were given the Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence. For a more rustic dining experience, the restaurant also features an oyster bar. Named the Sunset Oyster Bar, this beach shack offers raw, steamed or baked oysters, as well as warm seafood gumbo and a full bar. Although Cap’s does not accept reservations, there are three scenic areas with full-bar service where patrons can wait comfortably for their table.
4325 Myrtle Street, St. Augustine, 824-8794
[ www.capsonthewater.com ]

619 Ocean View
What used to be a members-only dining location for Cabana Beach Club members and guests of the Sawgrass Golf Resort & Spa is now open to the public. Renamed 619 Ocean View, this oceanfront restaurant, which is located in the Cabana Club, features a variety of steak and seafood. Among the many popular seafood dishes are the jasmine-crusted yellow fin tuna with ginger citrus sauce ($27) and pan-seared Florida grouper with tomato and caper butter ($28). This upper-level restaurant overlooks the Atlantic, so patrons can enjoy the view of waves crashing against the shore as they dine. While club members can make reservations any time, non-members must make them 24 hours in advance. So if you want to enjoy this intimate dining experience, don't wait too long.
619 Ponte Vedra Beach Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach, 285-0202
[ www.sawgrassmarriott.com ]

Casa Marina Restaurant
Located inside the Casa Marina Hotel, this salon-inspired restaurant is a favorite of local beach dwellers. The talented chefs serve up fresh seafood and produce daily, as well as a variety of signature tapas. However, the Casa Marina is best known for its 30-yard-long Sunday brunch buffet. From sausage, grits and biscuits to poached salmon, shrimp and pasta salad, there is never a shortage of gourmet delights. The buffet costs $24.95 per person, and includes multiple choices for dessert, as well as two mimosas or glasses of champagne. And whether you choose to dine in the restaurant or out on the patio, you can enjoy a view of the beach and sand dunes while you eat.
691 N. 1st St., Jacksonville Beach, 270-0025
[ www.casamarinahotel.com ]

Clark's Fish Camp Seafood Restaurant
Originally a bait and tackle shop, this rustic restaurant offers a full menu of seafood, steak, chicken and more, seven days a week. What makes this former fish camp special, however, is its unique atmosphere and intriguing decor. The restaurant houses hundreds of stuffed animals, which pay tribute to the taxidermist's artistry. A wide variety of stuffed furry, scaly and feathery creatures are displayed throughout the interior of the restaurant. But if you prefer to dine outside, you can enjoy your meal right on the lake. Among the many menu items are a few dishes for those who are feeling really adventurous. Clark's offers a full list of fried or charred wild animal including ostrich ($7.25), kangaroo ($7.25), antelope ($7.25) and rattlesnake ($8.95). While there's no risk in eating these dangerous creatures, signs throughout the restaurant warn, “Don't feed the gators!”
12903 Hood Landing Rd., Mandarin, 268-3474
[ www.clarksfishcamp.com ]

Saltwater Cowboys
Surf meets turf at this rustic restaurant. Located just south of St. Augustine Beach along the Intracoastal Waterway, Saltwater Cowboys offers a unique combination of platters including seafood, BBQ ribs, chicken and steak. The restaurant is filled with handmade willow twig furniture, while a number of animal horns and skins adorn the walls and rusted tin ceiling. Although there is no dining area outside, patrons can enjoy a drink on the outdoor deck. Along with typical lunch and dinner fare, this former fish camp offers other dishes like gator tail, frog legs and cooter (soft-shell turtle) for those who prefer reptiles and amphibians over seafood ($10-$14).
299 Dondaville Rd., St. Augustine, 471-2332

Whitey's Fish Camp
In 1963 the original fish camp was made up of a tackle shop, nine bar stools and a toaster oven and served nothing more than soft drinks, beer and sandwiches. Today, Whitey's Fish Camp & Restaurant contains a full-service bar and kitchen, a dining room and an outside deck. It offers an extensive menu of quality food including catfish ($12.95), gator tail ($16.95) and prime rib eye ($18.95). In addition to great food, Whitey's also provides entertainment with karaoke and trivia on Mondays, Texas Hold Em' on Tuesdays and live music Wednesdays through Sundays. Located along Swimming Pen Creek, patrons can enjoy a beautiful waterfront view no matter what time of day.
2032 County Road 220, Orange Park, 269-4198
[ www.whiteysfishcamp.com ]