Restaurants in Saint Simons

St. Simons Island, recently named the third-best island in the country by AOL Travel, is etched with an elaborate network of scenic biking trails, which visitors can explore on a fleet of rental two-wheelers. A web of leisurely tracks weaves through the southern half of the resort village, winding along the marshlands coast at East Beach. Past the airport, on the southernmost tip of the island, the Victorian-style St. Simons Lighthouse houses exhibits on coast guard history and barrier-island ecosystems. The 104-foot tall tower overlooks spectacular panoramas, its Fresnel lens trading nightly winks with twinkling stars.

The spirit of a traditional Irish public house lives on at McGarvey's Wee Pub. Aside from serving up pot pies and amber brews, there’s a devotion to maintaining a rollicking, lighthearted atmosphere. The occasional sounds of Live music also fills he air on weekends, while a full bar boasts draft beer, premium ESPN and NFL programming plays on the big screens, and the kitchen dishes up onion rings and beer-battered fries. Boisterous crowds often spill over to the awning-covered patio dotted with picnic tables.

The chefs at Ship 2 Shore Seafood & Steaks fry, grill, broil, or blacken fine meals using highest quality ingredients from land and sea. Aquatic hankerings can be sated quickly without eating a child's sandcastle by ordering the mussels appetizer, which chefs free from rocks before sautéing ($8.99). The seafood trio lets diners collate a three-piece dream-squad from options such as shrimp, scallops, oysters, clam strips, and fish ($15.99; $12.99 for seniors), while the 16-ounce T-bone steak delights carnivores with a slab of high-quality certified Angus beef ($19.99). Kids' meals proffer a smattering of shrimp, clam strips, corn dogs, or mac 'n' cheese ($4.99 each) that tots can nosh from the safety of their under-the-table forts, while homemade peanut-butter pies end dinners on a sweet note ($2.99/slice).

Sun filters through bay windows at The Blue Goose, a coffee and wine shop nestled within the painted blue walls of a repurposed home. Upon entering the friendly environs, visitors are greeted with a barrage of smiling faces and the scent of freshly ground Jittery Joe’s and Perc coffee beans. Servers ferry small plates of goat cheese and hummus to tables, pairing the snacks with imported and domestic wine and bottled brews. These gourmet refreshments also feed private parties in The Blue Goose’s backroom and on its outdoor patio, which can accommodate up to 60 guests or one Mothra.

With its ocean-abutting locale and umbrella-shaded beach seating, Sandy Bottoms combines tempting surf 'n' turf with the relaxing backdrop of the Amelia Island seashore. The varied menu siren calls with starters such as quesadillas ($7–$12) and fried Krabby Bites ($8). The eatery’s arsenal of fishy dishes, including mahi-mahi ($14) and the hearty seafood platter with fish, shrimp, scallops, and oysters ($24), diverts mouth while ambidextrous toes construct miniature sand castles under beach-planted tables. With three bars assembling a wealth of beverages, guests can indulge in thirst-quenchers that complement each dish, from the Texican burger and its ensemble of chili, cheese, and jalapenos ($9.50) to a grilled-scallop po' boy ($11).

FernanDeli's chefs pack sandwiches with as much house-made meat as possible, fastening each creation with one extra-long toothpick. Fresh corned beef, pastrami, and turkey tuck into multilayered clubs and subs as well as sandwiches’ second cousins and uncles by marriage—toasted flatbreads, hot dogs, and quarter-pound burgers. A rotating variety of soups pairs well with salads, and catering platters with sub slices, pinwheels, or meats and cheeses complement any occasion, from open houses to preschool class reunions. The deli's foodsmiths take the quality of their sandwiches as seriously as the quality of their customer service, ensuring that a friendly atmosphere prevails in every interaction. Inside the eatery, chalkboards display daily specials while outside, patio chairs and tables furnish excellent perches for bird watchers and traffic-pattern enthusiasts.