Description: Himself and Yours Truly patronized Cap’s on the Water during a recent family gathering in St. Augustine. Our party included a total of six people—three ‘mature’ couples wishing to be seated at one table. As such, we sometimes presented a logistical challenge for the restaurants we patronized. For Cap’s, this was no problem. Housed in a sprawling structure, the restaurant has an even more sprawling waterfront terrace complex. Not only was our hostess able to seat us immediately, the table she offered had ample room for our numbers and our comfort—and it had an excellent waterside location under the stars.
Service was prompt, with iced water and a generous basket of bread and butter being served shortly after we were seated. Orders for drinks and starters were taken in a timely manner, as were orders for our entrees. The pace was neither rushed nor unduly delayed—just a nice balance that allowed for a relaxed meal with opportunities for pleasant talk table. Our server was unfailingly polite and good humored. She and other members of the wait staff kept our water and tea glasses full, our bread basket replaced as needed, and the beer and wine flowing for those so inclined.
The menu at Caps is heavy on seafood, but beef, chicken, and pasta dishes are also offered. Starters include oysters on the half shell, lobster fritters, and even ‘gator tail. For my meal, I decided to go light with the pesto Caesar salad—which turned out to be huge and not nearly as low calorie as I had anticipated. It consisted of three towers of romaine lettuce filled to overflowing with cheeses, bread cubes, and other appropriate salad goodies. Himself took oysters on the half shell as a starter (I’m not a fan of raw oysters). For an entrée he chose vanilla grouper, which was prepared with a horseradish-laced crust and a vanilla rum sauce, all nestled in a bed of fried spinach. He ordered mashed potatoes as a side.
Other members of our group ordered pear ravioli and parmesan crab cakes as starters. Entrees included ribeye steak, linguini with a roasted tomato basil sauce, the seafood combo plate, and honey glazed salmon. Everyone agreed that the food was well prepared, attractively presented, and tasty. Finally, we ordered coffees and the artisan cheese tray (gouda, blue, and brie) with fig bread and nuts to share as a dessert.
I would characterize Cap’s prices as moderate. Starters, soups, and salads ranged from $6.99 to $12.99, with oysters and other fresh-catch items keyed to market price. Entrees ranged from $10.99 to $24.99. Our cheese plate was $12.99. With drinks and tips, our meals at Cap’s averaged about $50 per person—not particularly cheap, but certainly not extravagant.
The setting for our meal was a large wooden terrace with its posts sunk into the sandy beach just a few feet from the waters of the Intracoastal Waterway. Steps lead off the decking to the narrow beach, and there is even a pier allowing boaters to access the restaurant from the water. The decking is built around the trucks of several trees, which means that most of the terrace is shaded—either by the trees or by canopies. Our table was right at the rail, which meant that our view was toward the mainland was unobstructed. We watched as the sun turned the western horizon crimson, as egrets played and fished in the water, and as the stars came out in the night sky. Lighting on the terrace was provided by electric lights mounted on posts that were also fitted with outdoor heaters, which helped to fend off the chill air of evening. All told it was a gracious setting, and a thoroughly satisfying evening. Not only did we leave Cap’s happily overstuffed, we left with spirits and humors lifted. One can hardly ask more from a restaurant.
© BawBaw/LovesTravel
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