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    Home » Blog » Amelia Island

    Best Restaurants in Amelia Island for Kids

    Published: Mar 25, 2022 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links

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    The best restaurants in Amelia Island for eating with kids have a great atmosphere, lots of kid-friendly menu items, and an awesome vacation vibe for the whole family.

    A photo collage shows several restaurants in Amelia Island.

    During our week in Amelia Island, Florida with the kids for our annual beach trip, we had the opportunity to sample some of the best restaurants in the Fernandina area for vacation dinners.

    We rented an oceanfront condo for the week and took advantage of the kitchen for cooking our own breakfast and a second lighter meal for either lunch or dinner depending on our schedule for the day.

    If you're renting a beach condo too, don't miss my beach house meal plan here.

    The third meal each day was enjoyed at a restaurant because dining out and sampling the local foods is one of our favorite parts of traveling.

    A few restaurants weren't worth mentioning, but the winners were so good I wanted to share our experience with you.

    Jump to:
    • The Surf
    • The Salty Pelican
    • Brett's Water Way Cafe
    • Slider's Seaside Grill
    • More Things to Do in Amelia Island

    The Surf

    A photo collage shows many of the dishes from The Surf in Amelia Island.

    The Surf is a beach motel and restaurant on Fletcher Avenue that was built in 1957.

    It was actually located practically across the street from our beach condo and we drove past it on our way to our adventures for a couple days before giving it a try.

    An outdoor restaurant in Amelia Island.

    We immediately regretted not going sooner! It was by far the very best dining experience we had during our entire week long trip.

    The Surf has an amazing outdoor patio with plenty of shaded seating for sunny days. They host live music and events most weekends.

    The ambiance was a huge hit for all four of us during our visit but the food was downright delectable.

    A BBQ pork sandwich from The Surf in Amelia Island.

    Everything was fresh and perfectly prepared but the winning item from our meal was the "Grilled Cheese" which is actually BBQ pulled pork, fried green tomatoes, cheddar cheese on Texas Toast.

    It was huge and hearty and could absolutely be shared between two people for dinner.

    Check The Surf's Menu Here

    Map It:

    The Surf, Amelia Island
    3199 S Fletcher Ave
    Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
    Phone: (904) 261-5711

    The Salty Pelican

    A photo collage shows many of the dishes from The Salty Pelican in Amelia Island.

    Our second favorite restaurant in Amelia Island to eat with the kids was right in the hub of downtown Fernandina Beach.

    The location for The Salty Pelican is so incredibly convenient. While not directly on the water, it is just across the road from the beach and has outdoor dining with a view.

    It came recommended to us by the folks at the Visitor's Center just across the way on the other side of the restaurant. We were able to walk right over and get the perfect table.

    The outdoor patio at The Salty Pelican in Amelia Island.

    My oldest daughter is currently obsessed with Caesar salads with grilled shrimp on top. It is her favorite dish to order when we go to the beach.

    She reported back that the Caesar salad with seasoned shrimp here was the BEST she has ever had and she still dreams about going back!

    We always try to encourage our kids to try something new when we dine out on vacation. The kids spotted the Gator Bites on the appetizer menu and begged my husband to get them.

    A platter of gator bites with dipping sauce from The Salty Pelican in Amelia Island.

    I was quite shocked they were feeling so adventurous but it was a happy surprise to discover just how much we all ended up loving them. They taste a bit like chicken, but chewier. The "pelican sauce" was just spicy enough and perfect with the gator.

    If you're kids are interested in trying gator while you're in Florida, this might be the perfect spot to go for it.

    If your kids aren't as adventurous as mine were that day, the rest of the menu has tons of options that are super kid-friendly.

    Check The Salty Pelican's Menu Here

    Map It:

    The Salty Pelican, Amelia Island
    12 N Front St.
    Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
    Phone: (904) 277-3811

    Brett's Water Way Cafe

    A photo collage shows many of the foods available at Brett's Waterway Cafe in Amelia Island.

    If you're hoping to get closer to the water for your dining experience, another restaurant with a fantastic location is Brett's Waterway Cafe.

    It is also just across the way from the Visitor's Center and The Salty Pelican, but is located directly on the water with beautiful views.

    We were able to get outdoor seating on the patio for our meal but they do offer indoor dining if you prefer.

    The pier outside of Brett's Waterway Cafe in Amelia Island.

    The premium location does come with a bit of a premium price. The menu items at Brett's ran a little higher than other locations where we dined, so we decided to eat family-style and share a few items.

    We shared an order of fried green tomatoes and peel and eat shrimp as a starter and both were very delicious.

    A platter of peel and eat shrimp with cocktail sauce.

    My husband shared his pulled pork sandwich and fries with one daughter while I split the fish tacos with the other.

    The portions were generous enough for us to all leave completely satisfied and it was a fun way to mix and match a few different items from the menu.

    Map It:

    Brett's Waterway Cafe, Amelia Island
    1 South Front St. 
    Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
    Phone: (904) 261-2660

    Slider's Seaside Grill

    A photo collage shows many food items available at Slider's Seaside Grill in Amelia Island.

    What is a beach vacation without visiting a fun beachside restaurant with live music?

    We ended our vacation with a visit to Slider's Seaside Grill and couldn't believe how popular of a spot it was!

    We arrived at peak traffic time and were unable to get a seat on the crowded outdoor patio but were able to enjoy a spot inside much more quickly.

    To be honest, I think we would have enjoyed ourselves a lot more if we had waited for the outdoor seating. The vacation vibes were just right, inside felt like a bit of a letdown.

    Slider's outdoor patio in Amelia Island.

    By this time in the week, we'd eaten plenty of fish tacos, fish sandwiches, and shrimp of all kinds. The food at Slider's was very much more of the same.

    While not our favorite food-wise, we did enjoy our meal. Service was a bit slow, but they were slammed with visitors at the time.

    The good news is, a little noise from your kids shouldn't be a big deal indoors or out!

    A young girl is about to eat a giant pretzel as big as her head.

    My daughter was simply thrilled when we let her order the giant pretzel appetizer as her dinner item that evening. It was vacation, after all.

    Check Slider's Menu Here

    Map It:

    Sliders Seaside Grill, Amelia Island
    1998 South Fletcher Ave.
    Amelia Island, FL 32034
    Phone: (904) 277-6652

    More Things to Do in Amelia Island

    • 12 Things to Do in Amelia Island with Kids
    • Visit Fort Clinch State Park in Amelia Island
    A photo collage shows a hamburger and outdoor patio in Amelia Island.

    More Visit Amelia Island, Florida

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    Hi, I'm Tiffany! I believe the best memories are made on our family trips. I'm excited to share easy ways to connect with your kids and raise lifelong learners through family travel.

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