The Conch House: Tiki Hut Heaven

It's not exactly the crow's nest, but these enclaves are just as alluring.

Ready for some waterside dining? Drive out to St. Augustine, then head for Anastasia Island. You'll find the Conch House Marina. This restaurant grows out of the pier and has little tiki huts with tables. Leaning over the edge of the ocean water (Salt Run technically) wood planks make up a large sprawling outdoor dining space.

See the tiki tiki tiki huts?

From Gulls to Gators

It's connected to a marina and bar where live music floats over the water for all the restaurant-goers to hear. It's Florida beach life at its best, as long as you show up on a temperate day. We went on a warm April afternoon with the sun high in the sky. It was a breezy day. One especially bold gust of wind took my hat for a sail, so I had to say goodbye to that Sharks memorabilia cap sooner than planned.

The restaurant has some inside seating, but I didn't get a close look. They also have live gators on the side of the restaurant. About 3.5 to 4 footers. It's a clear wall they cuddle behind so you can get a good look at their little heads. It's definitely a treat for kids to see the gators, and even the adults.

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Yes, those are gators.

ConchHouse Tips:

• Be prepared to wait during busy days with perfect weather.

• Take a minute to visit the gators while you are waiting for a table.

• Make sure your hat is securely fastened.

• Bring a windbreaker on blustery days.

• Try the nachos. I haven't had them, but I can tell they are excellent.

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Take in the View

The Conch House has lodgings that are part of the restaurant as well as slips that you can reserve.

We could see pelicans from our table. They wiggled their beaks, shook their feathers, and then took flight. A party of 12 wearing board shorts and rash guards exited the restaurant and made their way out to the dock. They loaded onto their jet skis, gunned their engines, and disappeared from our view.

Grub for Your Gullet

We ordered a table full of appetizers. They were out of the incredible-sounding nachos featuring chorizo, beef, and pork. Instead, we tried the fish dip with crackers, carrots, and celery. It had a homemade strong fish flavor and wasn't my favorite. I sampled the jerk chick eggroll which was pretty scrumptious.

Because it all looked too yummy to pick, my husband and I split our meals. He had the shrimp tacos which had big pieces of shrimp and lots of flavor. Not crazy spicy, but flavorful. I ordered the fried chicken with goat cheese and pineapple datil pepper sauce. It came with AMAZING green beans and I tried the mash taters which were just ok. The batter on the chicken was sweet, crunchy, and tasty. We would devour our leftovers for dinner later that night.

I sipped some yummy beer and watched the wind whip the ocean water. What a fantastic Saturday afternoon.