There’s nothing quite like waking up on a Sunday morning refreshed and ready for the day. Well, that, and having to fill in pieces of the night before for your friend who may have slept through the 80’s dance party in the living room. Admittedly, it is usually me that is sleeping through parties, conversations and more. I am always relieved when it is someone else.
On our pre-brunch dog walk, we encountered friendlier folks, and the day was off to a good start. Brunch at The Reef beachside restaurant followed. A long buffet of made-to-order omelets, salad bar, crab legs, seafood dishes, waffles, biscuits and a carving station were available for our midday mimosa-filled meal. While the food was pretty good, the prime rib was a standout of yumminess. It would be a great place to dine in the winter when you can actually sit outside. On our visit, it was way too hot. However, the beachside location is beautiful.
St. Augustine is not exactly a hotbed of progressiveness, although they did recently get Uber. There are about eight Uber drivers in all of St. Augustine, and our post-brunch Uber guy came straight from church. He told us jokes and didn’t seem the least bit bothered when two of us hopped out at the liquor store to procure more prosecco. (We didn’t have him wait; we walked the rest of the way. You know… exercise.) Once again, the car-sharing service far surpassed that of the local taxi company.
Babka and Latke enjoyed a leisurely afternoon filled with naps, walks, chasing after their cousin Bella (who, incidentally, is not technically a cousin, but don’t tell that to the girls), and relaxing. Our final meal of the trip was at O.C. White’s. Although still brutally hot out, I could not resist sitting in the beautiful outdoor garden, complete with live music. Comedic high point: lovely female singer/guitarist was taking requests. We heard her say several times “Oh, I am sorry, no I don’t know any Justin Beiber.” And she continued on, playing classics and entertaining the crowd.
O.C. White’s is super casual and boasts an extensive menu. We began with an order or coconut shrimp and an order of spinach dip, both delicious. Entreés for the table included parmesan crusted mahi, chicken parmesan over linguine, and burgers. All were tasty, service was good and the ambiance relaxed. Overall, a great end to a fabulous weekend.
I highly recommend St. Augustine for a weekend visit. America’s oldest city has a lot to offer, all at an easy, low-key pace.
