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Dining Options

We combined hotel dining with dining out at various restaurants on the Island. We had two excellent meals at the Ritz-Carlton in the moderately priced Café 4750. The wait staff was super accommodating to our culinary whims. When we devoured the fresh, warm rolls and butter, they were quickly replenished, this time accompanied by delicious hummus. Although she felt a bit embarrassed to order from the kids menu, Maddy wanted to try the macaroni and cheese that this menu offered. Not only did our waitress oblige this request, she thoughtfully put Maddy's lemonade in a proper glass, as opposed to the plastic cup that usually accompanies the kids' meal. These small, thoughtful touches permeated our stay at the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island. 

The hotel is home to Salt, one of the mostly highly rated restaurants in the Southeast. We didn't dine there, as it seemed a bit out of our price range for the four of us, but we plan to in the future. I chatted with several staff members about Salt, and mentioned my interest in cooking. The staff arranged for my husband and I to tour the kitchen during the off hours between lunch and dinner. The restaurant has gorgeous ocean views and uses an eclectic variety of over 30 different salts from around the globe in its cooking. Combine this with mind-boggling views of the ocean and the name Salt makes total sense.

|Well-respected Chef De Cuisine Richard Gras had stepped out, but the enthusiastic sous-chef, Rick Laughlin, was kind enough to interrupt his busy routine to show us around the kitchen. He had us sample microgreens that are a prominent part of the menu. These vegetables are grown on a farm in Ohio and flown in frequently. They were intensely flavored, as their small size ensures that each bite packs a deep punch. We noticed a table in a private dining area that is actually in the kitchen but separated by a glass partition. It is here each night that a few lucky guests dine on a customized feast while viewing the inner workings of the kitchen. This unique "A Seat in The Kitchen" dining experience provides a rare view of the inner workings of a top rated restaurant.

Exploring Fernandina Beach

Amelia Island's Fernandina Beach is a charming town, about a 10-minute drive from the hotel. We enjoyed strolling its pedestrian friendly streets in the evening. Our favorite restaurant in the town was the packed Arté Pizza, with an authentic wood fired oven. Located just off Centre Street on Third Street, it was well worth the 45-minute wait for a table. The pizza, pasta and salad were terrific and very reasonably priced. We saved room for rich ice cream at the also crowded Fernandina's Fantastic Fudge on Centre Street, and bought some yummy salt-water taffy to bring home.

We also had a great time at The Surf, a local restaurant and watering hole that features live music. Only a few minutes drive from the Ritz-Carlton, on South Fletcher Avenue, it felt a world away. We chowed down on wraps, burgers and fresh blackened fish sandwiches in a casual atmosphere. We dined outdoors on plastic tables that feature a roll of paper towels in the center for wiping sticky hands. It was fun and delicious, and had the laid back feel that we had been looking for.

Many of the guests that we met during our stay were repeat visitors, some whom return year after year. An overwhelming number of guests were families, who sang the praises of The Ritz-Kids programs.  One has come to expect great service at a Ritz-Carlton property. But the staff at the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island went way beyond the call of duty to ensure us a wonderful, luxurious, yet always comfortable stay. Coupled with the natural, remote beauty of this barrier island, this stunningly appointed hotel provided us with one of our family's best vacations yet. It gave us the right balance of opportunities for family time, coupled with just enough teen oriented fun to keep this most demanding age group satisfied.