We all know the best part about going on vacation or exploring a place we’ve never been before is dining in new restaurants and trying the local cuisine. And if you don’t know the area, well we’ve got you covered with the best restaurants on the coast of Georgia that you don’t want to miss!
My wife and I moved to St. Simons Island, GA in the summer of 2021. We lived there for 4 months, and I’ve got to tell you, Georgia has some of the BEST food you will ever have. We tried everything from hole in the walls to the best seafood on the island. Of course, there are always way more restaurants than one can attempt to try, which I’m sure are delicious, but I’ve put together a list of our 10 favorite restaurants within a 30-minute range of the island. If you’d like to see a more extensive list of all the places we’ve tried as well as what to do in Georgia, check out our Explore Georgia page!
*In no particular order*
#1. Palm Coast
One of the reasons I have Palm Coast on this list is because this is the very first restaurant we grabbed lunch at when we got to the island. This local cafe, located on the pier of St. Simons Island, is such a great spot for breakfast, lunch, dessert, or a grab-and-go coffee. The second reason Palm Coast is on this list is obviously because it’s worth it!
Our first taste of Georgia was a Mahi sandwich and potato salad. Wow. So good. We decided to grab it for take-out and walk down to the end of the pier and eat at one of the many picnic tables, under a giant live oak tree, overlooking the ocean. Besides the sandwich, which is making my mouth water as I type this, we had to have an iced coffee anytime we wanted to walk the pier. And maybe that was just an excuse to go in a grab a piece of cake, too.
#2. Sals Neighborhood Pizzeria
Who doesn’t love pizza?? Pizza is a STAPLE anytime we are in a new location. Or honestly, every weekend. And multiple Friday nights you would find us at Sal’s. We loved sitting at the bar of this fun, authentic pizzeria, watching the crew work their magic tossing the pies. Our go-to order is a classic pepperoni and/or margherita. And this pizza was one of the best pizzas we’ve ever had! Add a glass of red wine and cheesecake to the order and it’s a perfect night out. Besides the best pizza in the world, the atmosphere of the restaurant is electric. The busy hustle of the crew and the laughs and conversations of everyone enjoying their meals just make it such a great environment on any day of the week.
#3. Southern Soul BBQ
Once featured on Diners, Drive-In’s, and Dives, lives this incredible food shack, Southern Soul BBQ. For good reason too. Anytime your food shows up on a silver tray, you know it’s about to be the best food you’ve ever had. And honestly, I still dream about the Barbecuban. A classic cubano, swiss, pickles, and mustard, but with BBQ pork, and then pressed to perfection! Get an additional side of mustard and you’re basically in Heaven.
If you don’t want to be in Heaven, then I guess the pulled pork, or brisket, or ribs will probably suffice. Make it a sandwhich, or eat it as is, the BBQ is to die for.
The traditional BBQ sides, potato salad, mac and cheese, fried okra, beans and much more are also no disappointment!
#4. The Half Shell
This brings back so many great memories for us! We had gone to The Half Shell for dinner when we had some friends visiting us, and it was a night to remember! The amount of oysters consumed this night was kind of ridiculous, but we would do it again in a heartbeat. We tried every oyster on the menu, which included, raw oysters, oysters Frederica, lemon and garlic, Cajun, and ceviche. I think just old fashioned raw oysters will win every time, but a close second would have been the lemon and garlic!
An unusually fun thing on their menu was oyster shooters! We had never heard of them and thought maybe they would be oysters with alcohol in the shell, but as you can see below it was an oyster on top of the shooter. I wish we would have ordered more because the Bloody Mary shooters we ordered were very tasty! They also offer The Half Shell (lemon vodka and horseradish), The Blue Neck (Pabst Blue Ribbon, Tabasco, lemon and lime), and South of the Border (Tequila and lime).
You may find a long wait time, seeing as they don’t take reservations, but I promise you it will be worth the wait!
#5. Crabdaddy’s Seafood Grill
Being on an island there are going to be endless seafood restaurant options, but we decided to go to Crabdaddy’s Seafood Grill. Just like any other restaurants on the island they don’t take reservations, so except a long wait, but it’ll be worth it! We ordered shrimp and grits and snow crab. Absolutely delicious! One thing we really wanted before we left was the snow crab and these were so tasty! Be sure to dip the legs into melted butter to really clog your arteries though!
#6. Coastal Kitchen
Coastal Kitchen is a must visit! I know all of these places we are recommending are must-go’s. But really go to Coastal Kitchen and order the duck fries! Anytime we look at a menu and see truffle fries, garlic parmesan fries, or in this case duck fries we always order a plate. However, I think these fries in particular ruined all other fries (not really, fries are life). However, these homemade fries are the perfect crispiness to softness, tossed in shallots and parsley, and then truffle aioli served on the side. What makes them better than others? I don’t know, but they’re the best!!
Also, another favorite of ours on the menu is the dirty oysters. Georgia really does have some of the best oysters we’ve ever had, and the dirty oysters are no exception. They are raw oysters topped with caviar, shallots, sour cream, and hot sauce. Sounds kind of weird, right? Maybe, but you won’t be disappointed!
We had gone to Coastal Kitchen a few times and even though we did not have the Picayune Pasta, my dad did. And he said it might have been the best seafood pasta he’s ever had! So maybe keep that in mind when deciding on what to order here! There are so many great options to choose from, so be sure to add this restaurant to your list on your next visit!
#7. Tortuga Jacks
I could write an entire blog post about this restaurant. Located on Jekyll Island, just down the road from St. Simons, was one of our favorite restaurants! We tend not to go back and repeat restaurants because we want the chance to try as many as we can in the short amount of time in one place. But Tortuga Jacks was the best weekend lunch spot, we just had to go back multiple times. I mean look at this magical place below! Tacos & Tequila. What more could you want? Maybe a Big Boy Burrito, and chips and queso of course.
We actually just stumbled across this place while walking along the bike path our first-time visiting Jekyll Island. You instantly feel transported to Mexico, sitting poolside looking at the ocean with a drink in hand. We had multiple friends and family members visit us while in Georgia and this was a must go to destination with them! It never ceased to amaze us.
#8. Spartina’s Grill
Spartina’s Grill was newly established when we had visited and thank God for it! Wow, such an incredible place to eat at! Lucky for us, it was one minute from where we were living in Darien, GA, so you know many beignets were consumed. We had been multiple times and always tried to order different things on the menu; however, the pan seared diver scallops with dirty risotto, charred corn, in a crawfish butter sauce!! I mean come onnnnn!!! Top 10 best things I have ever eaten, for sure! But honestly, their menu is filled with scrumptious Southern dinner options! The shrimp and grits, crab cakes, Oscar burger, buffalo oysters, and let’s not forget the warm beignets! A warm beignet, topped with your choice of vanilla or chocolate ice cream, and powdered sugar. Definitely worth the calories.
Besides the amazing food, Spartina’s Grill is in such a beautiful spot. The patio overlooked the Darien River and this gorgeous live oak tree, where we heard many weddings were held under. After dinner you can take a nice little stroll down to the dock and enjoy a beautiful sunset.
#9. Skippers Fish Camp
Also located right next to where we were living was Skippers Fish Camp. A perfect place to grab dinner after a long day at the beach! Overlooking the Darien River and a patio perfect to watch the sunset, the only thing to make it better is the peel and eat shrimp! Jumbo shrimp served by the half pound or pound and your choice of regular, spicy, or garlic. You will 100% make a mess because of the amount of sauce the shrimp is covered in, but who doesn’t love to get down and dirty while enjoying the best shrimp you’ll ever have? Other great items on the menu are, of course the oysters, the crab cake, and the sweet potato souffle.
#10. Indigo Coastal Shanty
Located in Brunswick, about 20 minutes from St. Simons is Indigo Coastal Shanty. A charming little hole in the wall built around a beautiful live oak tree. Be sure to sit on the patio and really appreciate the beauty of this tree!
Besides the charm the restaurant offers, it also offers classic Southern dishes with a twist. From fried green tomatoes, sesame crusted catfish, fisherman’s bowl, and my favorite, the Charleston sauté. Local shrimp and ham, fresh vegetables, and gumbo served over creamy grits and fried okra. A perfect dish at a perfect hole in the wall. As you can see to the right, my cousin, Sean, was visiting, so this place means a little extra to us!
Although we tried as many local restaurants as we could in our short time there, we did not make a dent in St. Simons and the surrounding areas. So, if you have visited or live there and have a favorite of your own, please let us know in the comments! One day we will be sure to go back and enjoy the delicious, fresh taste that Georgia has to offer!