Fresh seafood and much more are available for diners in Historic Downtown St. Marys, Georgia. Steve and I gained firsthand knowledge about four great places.
LOCALS DOCKSIDE
We left North Alabama at 6:00 a.m. and only made a few quick stops for gas, snacks and restroom breaks. By the time we reached St. Marys at 5:00 p.m. and checked into our B & B, we were famished. We weren't looking for anything fancy. We just wanted some good food. Locals Dockside was a great choice. It is popular with the locals, it is right on the water, and the seafood selections are plentiful.
We started by sharing a half pound of Peel & Eat Shrimp and followed that with a Captain Cal Platter with scallops, oysters, and blackened fish.
The atmosphere was friendly. We devoured the meal, and enjoyed walking to the end of the dock located behind the building. Locals Dockside is a short walk to St. Marys Waterfront Park where we found a swing and took in the sights and sounds.
SOUTHERN RIVER WALK
We were at Southern River Walk for lunch. The menu offerings are broad, ranging from calamari and catfish bites to shrimp & grits, tacos, or a $30-dollar ribeye steak. We chose the SRW burger (large!) and sweet potato fries. Both were delicious. We heard rave reviews on the fried salmon sandwich with mac and cheese -- a good choice for our next visit.
This is the kind of place where the locals hang out and visit with their neighbors. It opens at 11:00 a.m. every day of the week and stays open until 2:00 a.m., except on Sunday when it closes at midnight.
Southern River Walk has a large outdoor patio and frequently serves up live music.
CAPTAIN SEAGLES SEAFOOD RESTAURANT & SALOON
Seagles Restaurant is proud of its claim to be the oldest continually operating restaurant in St. Marys. It is located on the ground floor of the Riverview Hotel, directly across the street from St. Marys Waterfront Park and the ferry to Cumberland Island National Seashore, at the corner of Osborne Street and St. Marys Street.
The Bacon Jam Scallops were a fabulous start to our meal. Then we followed that by sharing the blackened fish of the day (redfish) with sides of a loaded baked potato and fried squash. Take note that the photo below is a half portion. Our food was really good.
Seagles is arguably the "fanciest" restaurant in the historic district, but the atmosphere is still relaxed and unpretentious.
MARKET ON THE SQUARE
After a day exploring Cumberland Island National Seashore or just perusing the shops of St. Marys, a cold drink or sweet treat might be just what you need. Market on the Square has fudge, ice cream, candy of all kinds, and bottled drinks, but it also has decor items, jewelry, and souvenirs galore. It's a fun place to browse.
Market on the Square opens every morning at 8:00 a.m. and is a great place to grab a sack lunch, suntan lotion, bug spray, or other necessities before getting on the ferry. Steve and I loved our hand-dipped ice cream cones which cooled us off nicely after a full day of sightseeing.
Other places that we passed but didn't have a chance to try include: Riverside Cafe, Yankee Pie Apizza, Cedar Oak Cafe (which serves 3 meals a day starting with breakfast at 7:30 a.m.), and The Bug & Bean. More great reasons for a return visit.