Before retiring to Amelia Island in 2015, my lunch routine was a salad in a Tupperware box eaten in the teachers’ lounge. Moving in with mom to be her companion and driver, initiated me into Ladies Who Lunch. Over breakfast mom would ask: Where should we go for lunch today? There are myriad options less than ten miles away on the Island. We would head down to Historic Centre Street and wander a bit to work up an appetite before settling in at Joe’s 2nd Street Bistro. There mom would go for the rich house gumbo and a Caesar salad washed down with Jim Beam on the rocks, her signature drink. Being the designated driver, I would order a San Pellegrino to accompany my choice of the ahi tuna martini followed by a crab cake salad. We usually sat at a table on the second tier of the main dining room. There we could relax and plan the next part of the day, which might include a visit to the Book Loft, mom’s favorite place to find a first edition of a mystery novel signed by the author.
Centre Street offers so many diversions; before deciding on where to lunch, we might just browse through the shops and art galleries enjoying the variety of tempting options. If the Marina Seafood Restaurant had their sign: We have soft shell crabs today on the door, our decision was made for us! The Marina’s reputation as the oldest eatery in Fernandina, offers a soft shell crab platter that includes two crabs and plenty of side options.
Some days we might walk all the way down to the harbor and take a table on the porch at Brett’s Waterway Café, watching the boats bobbing at the pier. Sipping Bloody Mary’s and digging into Brett’s fried shrimp platter, we would reminisce about those wonderful and sometimes whacky summers on dad’s boat with “Captain Bill”, at the helm.
Amelia Tavern is another favorite and the patio is a great space for people watching right on Centre Street. Although the craft beer options are wasted on us, since mom prefers Jim Beam, the menu is creative. I mean pastrami spring rolls?! And I can’t resist ceviche. We might share the baby green salad as the portions are quite generous.
Some days we have a late start, find ourselves skipping a big lunch and heading to David’s Libations. The pomegranate martini is a show stopper; the small plates are just enough to serve as an early dinner. Whether we order filet kabobs, grilled lamb chops, crab cake or all of the above plus the half Caesar salad, there is always room for the Brie en Croute for dessert! Sometimes there is a combo playing subtle jazz tunes; the ambiance is sophisticated chic.
Then there were times when we’d fritter away the day just being lazy. Those days usually ended with a trip up the road to mom’s favorite watering hole, Baxter’s. We aim to arrive just at the 5:00 opening in order to snag a seat at the bar. Mom has known Michele since his days as chef at her golf club and he welcomes her warmly. Mike at the bar greets mom with: Hi, Betty. Your usual? Then without even consulting the extensive menu, we order petite fillet. Living the island life is a far cry from lunch in the teachers’ lounge!
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