I love the Beachcomber Restaurant for lots of reasons, but I think my favorite aspect is its consistency. Here is St Augustine Beach we have a lot of tourism and with that comes a lot of employee turnover so sometimes dining can be iffy, but not at the Beachcomber. I love that we’ve been coming here for years and it’s always good and the vibe is always just right for having a great meal at the beach.
There aren’t many places here in St Augustine that you can have a meal on the sand, let alone a good one, so if you need a beach dinner to complete your time here, add the Beachcomber Restaurant to your plan. I’ve got the whole scoop on the restaurant feel, the Beachcomber menus, our favorite things to eat and what else is around this great St Augustine Beach dining spot.
Beachcomber Menu
The menu at the Beachcomber is VERY Florida. What that means is that you’ve got a selection of seafood, Southern food, Caribbean food and beach food. Fish sandwiches, wraps, Cuban sandwiches, po’boys and more make it an easy choice for people with diverse tastes. If you’re looking for something that’s more of a plated dinner, you can find full fish dinners, fried plates and Southern cooking.
Menu Highlights at the Beachcomber St Augustine Beach
Yes, you can get gator tail and conch fritters at the Beachcomber. And you can get blackened fish. I think these are two items that are quintessential Florida foods. My kids love the gator tail, but I’ve never been a fan (from anywhere). The conch fritters are pretty good and rival some of the popular conch fritters you’ll find in the Florida Keys. We really like the ORIGINAL wings too, if you’re looking for the best wings at the beach.
If you’re not familiar with the three Florida styles of fish, they are grilled, fried or blackened. My favorite is blackened, and there are a few items on the Beachcomber menu that have blackened fish. When you get fish that’s blackened, it’s not that it’s getting charred, but that there are smokey blackened seasonings on it. It really is the best way to have fish in Florida.
The last Beachcomber menu item that I wanted to call out is the Minorcan clam chowder. There are several places in town that offer Minorcan chowder or things with datil pepper seasonings, but when it comes to chowders, the Beachcomber has the best Minorcan chowder. I’d give the second place award (in my opinion) to Meehan’s Irish Pub & Seafood House on the waterfront. Both are good, but I like the Beachcomber’s version just a bit more. Maybe it’s the atmosphere at the beach.
Kids Menu
Our kids eat lots of different things, but they do love the standards like burgers and grilled cheese too. At the Beachcomber there are the standards as well as a nice shrimp dinner and hotdogs (we rarely see hotdogs on menus). The wonderful and inclusive twist to the Kids Menu is actually the option to order either a Doggie Chicken or Doggie Burger. They know that some peoples’ kids are their dogs and they make them feel welcome at the Beachcomber.
Dietary Requirement Options
Beside the veggie burger and Greek salad, there’s nothing specifically called out on the Beachcomber menu as being vegetarian or gluten free, but you can always ask your server. Simple adjustments can make some of the salads fully vegetarian and while the kitchen cannot guarantee zero cross contamination of gluten, there are options for de-glutenizing a few offerings.
Beachcomber Cocktails
There’s a full bar at the Beachcomber with both a standard drink menu and a signature cocktails menu. You can order whatever beachy drink you’re in the mood for, or get something from their special signature cocktail menu.
My two favorite cocktails at the Beachcomber are:
- Don’t Tart With Me – Grapefruit Hibiscus Tequila, lemon and grapefruit juice with club soda
- The Cocktail Formerly Known As… – Reposado tequila, Mure (blackberry liqueur), agave and lemon
There is also a mocktail menu at the Beachcomber, so if you’re in the mood for something tasty and interesting but don’t want alcohol, you’ll be set!
Need to Know for the Beachcomber St Augustine Beach
Due to its popularity and limited seating, if you arrive for a meal at the Beachcomber and your whole party is not there yet, you will not be seated. They are very specific about this. We are a family of four and if our kids are still parking their bikes at the bike rack, they will not even seat us outside next to the bike rack until the kids are standing beside us. This goes for dining parties with a straggler or two as well. If there are six of you and somebody will be joining you halfway through your meal, it’s better to say that there are only 5 of you. They have never made an exception for us when we’ve dined as either a small or large party.
If you’re waiting to be seated, you are welcome to step inside to grab a drink while you wait. There is a waiting area directly next to the restaurant, a sandy area with Adirondack chairs, or you can walk over to the beach. You’ll get a notification on your phone when they are ready to seat you.
Seating Arrangements at the Beachcomber
There is both indoor and outdoor seating. Most of the seating is outdoors on the patio, with some additional seating on the sand. The outdoor seating is primarily picnic tables with just a few booths. It is mostly all under cover, with the outside edges being under sail shades vs a roof. If you’re having dinner at the Beachcomber St Augustine Beach and the sun is getting low, about a third of the outdoor seating is NOT in the shade despite the umbrellas and sail shades. For lunch, you’re all set with shady seating, but not as the sun sets.
Beachcomber St Augustine Beach Operating Info
Address – 2 A Street, St Augustine Beach FL 32080, located at the end of A Street directly at the drive-on beach ramp
Phone – 904-364-1938
Hours – 11:00 am to 9:00 pm Sunday – Thursday, Friday & Saturday open until 10:00 pm
Accessibility – there is accessible seating outside, as most of the restaurant is outside. Inside is either bar or high top seating.
Plus Size Seating – there is outdoor seating that can accommodate plus size guests, as it is primarily picnic tables.
Dress Code/Suggestions – You’re dining ON the beach, so beachwear or normal clothes are both fine. You do need a shirt though, and shoes are required inside (and the bathroom is inside).
Pets – Bringing a dog to the Beachcomber is welcome! There are dog bowls and most of the dining is outside, so it’s very dog friendly. They even have menu items for dogs!
Parking – If you don’t have to drive to the Beachcomber, don’t, as parking is very limited. The restaurant is located right where visitors can drive onto St Augustine Beach, so there is vehicle traffic to access the beach until 5:00 pm each day. There is parking though, and there is an attendant who will direct you for parking and exiting properly. There is a bike rack directly next to the restaurant as well.
Restaurants and Attractions Nearby
The Beachcomber is located in a unique spot as it’s a live-in neighborhood, but there are also beach businesses on A Street. On the same block as the restaurant, you’ll find several other dining options and a beach gear rental shop:
- Stir It Up – Sandwiches and smoothies, open for breakfast and lunch, closes at 6:00 pm
- Mango Mango’s – Florida / Caribbean food, open for lunch and dinner, 11:00 am to 10:00 pm, closes at 9:00 pm on Sundays
- Jack’s BBQ and Brewery – outdoor bar with attached brewery, Florida food, 11:00 am to 2:00 am
- Zaba’s – coffee and breakfast bites, 7:30 am to 3:00 pm
- Pit Surf Shop – surfboard and beach gear rentals and sales, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
There is also public beach parking at the intersection of A Street and A1A Beach Blvd.
St Augustine Beach is also where you’ll find the St Augustine Beach fishing pier and oceanfront park, the Wednesday farmers market, and several other restaurants that offer live music (from 11th Street north). When you visit, take time to explore the neighborhood, but please do keep in mind that this is a residential area and to be respectful of our home. We’re happy to welcome you, but you don’t need to be loud about all the fun you’re having. 🙂
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