Restaurants in Yulee

In the kitchen at Mark's Prime Steakhouse, cherry and pecan flicker and pop in a wood stove. The smoke penetrates into thick cuts of U.S.D.A. beef and fresh seafood brought in from Mayport in Jacksonville. For filets, strips, or bone-in rib eyes, chefs singe a flavorful crust over each chop's juicy center before plopping it onto a plate sizzling with butter.

Servers with black vests and bow ties escort the prime proteins to diners' tables, where their conversations dance over dinner music by mid-century crooners, and light from the ceiling's stained-glass dome splashes onto dark woods. Nearby, martinis, classic cocktails, and a wine list—which has garnered Wine Spectator's "Award of Excellence" every year since 2004—rest on a vintage bar. Salvaged from the La Concha Inn in Key West, the tiger mahogany bar was built in 1873 during an era when bars were called saloons and bears were called mega-squirrels.

Fodor's points out that Ocean 60's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean affords an unusual opportunity to mix "fine dining and flip-flops." The restaurant's space is split between a formal dining area and martini room, and both sections serve chef and owner Daniel Groshell's menu of fresh seafood and steak, which evolves in step with the changing seasons and tides that ripple through a variety of meal-complementing drinks. In a dining room fringed with a wine bar, local artist Enrique Mora peppers the walls with colorful scenes reminiscent of his Puerto Rican heritage. The martini room envelops guests in an ambiance characterized by local artwork, rich woods, and Bali-inspired décor as they sip martinis culled from a list of more than 30 signature cocktails including a cookie dough martini. From Thursday to Saturday, area musicians add to the atmosphere with lively beats.

In addition to its regular menu, Ocean 60 regularly hosts Global Dinner Destination dinners, during which prix fixe menus map out a culinary tour of international locales, preventing them from having to follow a trail of jerk chicken all the way to Jamaica.

Six days a week you can find owner and chef Sam Hassan doing the same thing he’s done since 1976: crafting homemade italian pastas, pizzas, and sandwiches within Casa Dora’s homey kitchen. Sam’s lifelong dedication to edible hospitality shines through during lunch and dinner, filling the dining room’s wooden tables with cheese-stuffed calzones, hand-tossed pizzas, and well-sauced pastas that pair well with refreshing sips of wine or low-calorie gulps of air.

The aromas of Caribbean jerk spices and sizzling conch fritters waft through the air, luring passing boaters to dock their rides in the complimentary slips at Nippers Beach Grille. After disembarking from their schooners or GPS-equipped sea monsters, customers can either stroll into the open, 9,000-square-foot dining room or onto the massive waterfront deck, both of which boast scenic seaside views. In addition to the watery vistas and salt-filled air, the restaurant spreads a laidback, Caribbean vibe by piping ambient island music from its sound system and stocking its tiki deck with rum-laced cocktails and imported Red Stripe beers.

The menu also reflects this tropical theme, spotlighting Caribbean staples such as jerk-spiced diver scallops and sweet conch fritters, as well as fusion dishes such as grilled cheese layered with sliced guava and mac 'n' cheese studded with jerk chicken.