The Hyppo

I will never live this one down. You see, one time I was walking around downtown St. Augustine with the lovely Mrs. Finding Florida and she said something along the lines of "We should go to this place called the Hyppo, they have gourmet popsicles." Now, I don't know about you, but the word popsicle conjures up images of simple flavored sticks of ice. What, were they using POM juice to flavor their ice or something? Suffice to say, I was not receptive to the plan. Fast forward to me actually doing some research on the place and I soon realized how mistaken I had been to blow it off.

The Hyppo does not make your typical popsicle, not by a long stretch. Think of these as more like the most amazing smoothies you can think of, only frozen onto a stick. Apparently they're fashioned after paletas, which are Latin American ice pops made from fresh fruit and spices and can be either cream based or water based. So perhaps it's only our culture that suffers from the prevalence of horrible popsicles.

There are a wide variety of flavors that rage from mild: Straight-Up Strawberry, Peach, and Coconut Coconut (a personal favorite that combines coconut milk and coconut pieces) to wild: Mexican Hot Chocolate (cocoa, cinnamon, and cayenne), Mango Habanero, and another personal favorite, the Elvis Presley (bananas, peanut butter, and honey). The flavors can change daily so don't get your heart too set on getting a particular one before you arrive but, with such variety, there's bound to be something for everyone.

The Hyppo's main store is located in St. Augustine on the road where they got their name: Hypolita Street (in the store front formerly occupied by Claude's Chocolates, who moved over next to the Casa Monica). For the overheated shoppers in Jacksonville, they have a cart that hangs out in various places at the St. John's Town Center. Don't make the same mistake I made and dismiss this place out of hand because of any preconceived notions but do be warned: eating popsicles from the Hyppo may be habit-forming.




The Hyppo

The Hyppo (Historic St. Augustine)
15 Hypolita St.
St. Augustine, FL 32084

The Hyppo Cart (St. Johns Town Center)
4663 River City Drive (approx.)
Jacksonville, FL 32246

The Back 40 Urban Cafe

Many great restaurants are hidden in plain sight, some are just plain hidden. Without performing a search on Urbanspoon, I would never have heard about St. Augustine's Back 40 Urban Cafe, nor would I have noticed it at all on the remote chance I happened to drive by. Not only is it located on Old Dixie Highway, a small road running parallel to US 1 at a point where most of the traffic is limited to residents of the area, but the restaurant looks like a house... because it was a house.

Despite its old Southern charm, the small wooden cottage is easy to ignore and one is liable to question their judgment when approaching the porch. But once inside, doubts and concerns all quickly evaporated. The layout of the restaurant retains the structure of a house. When business is slow you can choose from an array of empty rooms, each with their own individual color schemes and ambiance. The atmosphere and tone are warm and welcoming, truly engendering an at-home level of comfort. For such a small place, the menu is relatively large and varied with an emphasis on fresh, healthy food and leaning towards Southern and Southwestern inspired cuisine.

Forever unable to resist the allure of fish tacos, I ordered the Ollie Tacos (lightly seasoned mahi topped with shredded cheese lettuce, salsa, cilantro and cilantro white sauce). I've eaten many a fish taco at restaurants across the globe and I must say that these were truly some of the most delicious I've ever had. The meat had a perfect flavor and consistency, the accompanying vegetables were crisp and fresh, and the sides were delightful in their own right. The Vegetarian 3 Bean Chili was far better balanced in flavor than many others I've tasted; neither weak nor overly spiced with a good consistency. Not being able to see even the smallest amount of food go to waste, I cleaned up what was left of the amazing Shrimp Curry Salad; best dressing ever, and that's coming from someone who routinely refuses salad dressings all together.

There's an incredible number of options to choose from for such a low-key place and, if our meal is anything to go by, the more well known places around town have something to be afraid of. There are a handful of truly superb restaurants in St. Augustine and the Back 40 Urban Cafe is the unknown champion among them. Delightful food made with fresh ingredients and served in an intriguing old house with a unique atmosphere. A real hidden gem and yet another reminder that there are some incredible places to eat and things to do around the area that are just waiting to be found by anybody willing to do a little searching.

The Back 40 Urban Cafe
40 South Dixie Highway
St Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 824-0227

The Bakery by OPUS 39

Where are all the good bakeries? Sure, there's the French Pantry but that's not open on the weekend so what's a person got to do to get a good loaf of bread on a Saturday morning? Well, one option is to head down to St Augustine's recently opened Opus 39 Bakery. Some of you more distinguished and wealthy readers out there may be familiar with the Opus 39 restaurant, one of St. Augustine's most notoriously posh dining establishments. Well, now some of us not-so-rich folk can head out back for a bite to eat at their fantastic little bakery.

I'm assuming that the bakery out back initially started to exclusively supply the restaurant with fresh bread. Be that the case or not, it still serves such a purpose as you can see the staff carrying basket loads of the fresh baked loaves across the courtyard. And what a courtyard it is. There are a very small number of places to sit inside which may prove difficult on a rainy day but on beautifully clear mornings like the one we encountered, the perfect place to be is out in the courtyard.

Beyond the loaves of bread and confections you would expect from a bakery, there is also a small variety of ready-made sandwiches to choose from. Considering the quality and size, the price is fairly reasonable with a half sandwich costing $3. Great coffee as well.

All in all, the Opus 39 Bakery is an amazing place to spend a peaceful morning. And there's always the option of grabbing a loaf or two of bread for the days you can't make it.






Update: Tragically, The Bakery is now closed and Opus 39 itself will be shutting its doors later this week. The strain of the economic downturn has proven too much for the owners and their investor, who recently backed out. The baker has vowed to stay on and bread will still be available for wholesale while they try to find someone else who might be interested in taking control of the Bakery and re-opening the cafe. So perhaps there is still a chance for this amazing, albeit short-lived, addition to downtown St. Augustine.

The loss of Opus 39 is a real blow to the city of St. Augustine. Here's hoping that the Bakery will find new ownership and that the sad news might stir up some new investors to save the restaurant before it's too late. You can read more about this misfortune at First Coast News, The Jacksonville Business Journal, Historic City News, and The St. Augustine Record.

The Bakery by Opus 39
39 Cordova St

St Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 824-0402

J P Henley's

Bars, bars, bars… they're everywhere. A good pub, on the other hand, is a bit harder to find around these parts. I am, of course, eternally grateful for the existence of Kickbacks but sometimes a person needs a change of venue without having to sacrifice quality.

Just down the road in St. Augustine, the pub scene is far more bountiful. There are some great little haunts in the Nation's Oldest City but none captures my heart quite like J P Henley's does. First off, I must admit a slight bit of impartiality as they do have my favorite beer on tap there: the unparalleled Franziskaner Dunkelweizen. Please, if you enjoy a good beer and have never tried a dunkelweizen, do yourself a favor and run out to Total Wine and pick one of these glorious beverages up. Or, better yet, stop by J P Henley's, because if you're not as impressed by the dunkelweizen as I am, there are around fifty other beers on tap and a couple hundred different bottles, almost all of which are good quality craft brews or imports. There's also over a hundred different wines from around the world for all of you oenophiles out there.

But even if you're not in the mood for a drink, Henley's is still great for a bite to eat. Appetizers that exude culture (baked brie: delicious, decadent and dignified), a great selection of fresh salads, and some gourmet sandwiches. To top it all off, Henley's has one of the most relaxing atmospheres around; even when there's a crowd it's still relatively low key. Enjoy, just don't blame me if it turns you off your local sport's bar… ok, blame me, just don't expect any reparations.



J P Henley's
10 Marine Street
St Augustine, FL 32084-4407
(904) 829-3337

Pacific Asian Bistro

Sushi restaurants are everywhere, a common feature along our strip-mall lined streets, whereas a decade ago they were but a rarity. For lover's of raw fish and rice, the abundance of options means you never need to wander for from home for a good meal. And the First Coast region does indeed have its fair share of really good, even great, little sushi joints. But an unfortunate consequence of this surplus of options is that finding an extraordinary sushi restaurant can be quite difficult, particularly with the impetus to skimp on the quality in favor of economy like the rest of the competition.

Once upon a time there was a restaurant called Botan that was conveniently situated on my way home from work. For a great many months, my co-workers and I would frequently stop in and order horrendous amounts of sushi. This, of course, led to us directly interacting with the Sushi chefs whom, as anyone who ever visited Botan in its heyday can attest, were masters of their craft and would surprise us with unique culinary creations that were nowhere to be found on the menu. Sadly, due to differences between the owners, Botan was quite suddenly sold off and became a shell of its former self.

About a year later, Mas, former Botan sushi chef and consummate culinary artist, resurfaced again with a new restaurant: Pacific Asian Bistro. Located down in Palencia Village near the northern edge of St. Augustine, Pacific serves up all the typical Chinese and Japanese influenced fusion dishes we've come to expect from Asian bistros but at a much higher standard. From the familiar hibachi plates to the common Chinese restaurant fare, the names of the menu items are the same but the taste, presentation, and overall quality stretch far beyond what you've come to expect.

Additionally there are a lot of uncommon items. Delectable lamb chops were on offer on our recent visit. These succulent morsels, which even the chef admitted were not up to his standards, were far more delicious than any I've had the pleasure of tasting at some of Jacksonville's better known fine-dining establishments. Another treat was some monkfish liver: a musky, creamy (and slightly controversial) delicacy popular in upscale sushi bars.

But it's really in the sushi department where Pacific delivers unparalleled excellence. Every piece of sashimi, every roll, every gourmet creation is flawless. You will find a lot of the standards here, from simple rolls and sashimi to decadent, sculptured tempura monsters. These are all exceptionally crafted using fresh, flavorful ingredients. There are even some incredibly novel and equally delicious special rolls that are part art, all flavor. But if you want to treat yourself to something extraordinary, take a seat at the sushi bar and ask for a surprise.

The menu at Pacific is a suggestion, a guide for those who need to know exactly what to expect. For the more adventurous, for those with high culinary standards, the real trick is to leave your meal up to the chef. Perhaps you can go as far as suggesting what you like and maybe what you'd prefer to avoid, but trusting Mas with the final decision on what you're going to eat is the best course of action. I can't begin to tell you the names of the items I ate as they don't seem to be on the menu, but every single plate was incredible. You probably won't get exactly what you were expecting and if you'd see the item before you on the menu, chances are that you wouldn't have selected it, but the end result is always more than satisfactory.

At Pacific you will find the best sushi North Florida has to offer and I limit it to this region only because it's where I have the most experience. The prices are a bit higher than most of the other sushi restaurants around but well worth the cost and certainly not as expensive as comparable, upscale establishments. After all, what's a few extra dollars and miles when the food is this extraordinary?


Pacific Asian Bistro
159 Palencia Village Drive
St. Augustine, FL 32095
(904) 808-1818
mas@pacificasianbistro.com

Beachcomber

There are a lot of little restaurants hidden in St. Augustine Beach. Having lived in St. Augustine for a good while, I ought to be ashamed of myself for knowing about a very limited number of them but my penchant for discovering new eateries (and my ability to afford the habit) has only developed over the years since migrating further North. Now that they're so far away, it's a matter of finding an excuse for the trip.

Search for St. Augustine Beach restaurants on Google and the first result is Beachcomber. Strange, considering there are some more well known restaurants on the same list and, prior to our visit, I hadn't even heard of the place. But if any one restaurant embodies the St. Augustine Beach area, it might just be this one.

Beachcomber is a small wooden shack on the beach. Right on the beach… with half of the beach's sand on the floor of the restaurant. Salty water vapor blows in through the wide-open doors and the sunlight reflecting off the sand bathes the interior in a warm, desert glow. And then there's the heat, oppressive and unrelenting. The ceiling fans spin in a vain attempt to provide an illusion of a cool breeze.

Reading some online reviews, a few people said they have good burgers but, having turned up for breakfast, we decided (or perhaps the decision was made for us) to go with the traditional morning fare.

Breakfast burrito, a measuring stick of sorts. I'll admit, it didn't look like much and I was a little disappointed on first glance. But it actually tasted pretty good, far better than its drab appearance implied, perhaps an apt analogy for the place as a whole.

And what breakfast out is complete without coffee? Lots of coffee. Endless coffee.

Nice atmosphere, nice warm light, full bar. Were I actually a journalist and writing about something worthwhile, I could imagine myself stumbling into the place in a Hunter S. Thompson inspired haze with a typewriter tucked under my arm or a dictaphone in hand, filling up on alternating cups of coffee and rum and letting loose a barely coherent stream of consciousness rant about all things insane and unjust in this crazy world of ours. For now I'll just grab a breakfast burrito and relax in the warm, hazy glow.

Beachcomber
2 A St
St Augustine, FL 32080-6902
(904) 471-3744

Deco

A name can do a restaurant a great disservice. Give patrons the wrong impression and they may never stop by to make judgement calls on the things that really matter in the food industry. The name Deco doesn't seem too frightening itself but the "Fine Dining" subtitle, regardless of its veracity, may be enough to drive people away in these unsure economic times.

Thumbing our noses at the economic apocalypse, and being in the neighborhood one day, we decided to venture over to St. Augustine's Deco for what we hoped to be a nice lunch despite fears that we would be confronted by tiny portions garnished with high prices.

The purple and pale green building isn't hard to miss even though its set back a bit from the US 1 in the south of St. Augustine. The lack of windows contributed to my apprehension as I approached and stepping into the dim interior from the harsh Florida sun left me temporarily blind as my eyes adjusted.

The atmosphere is nice and calm. The light trickling in through the end windows, invisible from the outside is just enough to provide a soothing ambiance without making you feel too claustrophobic. I let the menu sit on the table for a few seconds, worried about what I may find inside. And then, the shock...

Everything was more than reasonably priced. No more expensive than your typical restaurant even though there was plenty of atypical food.

I rarely order appetizers but I couldn't resist trying the blackened gator tail and, for those not prepared to eat reptile, we got some hummus. The gator tail, while not something I'd choose to eat often, was surprisingly good. Lean, tough, and tasting not entirely unlike chicken. Being my first foray into reptilian flesh, I had no idea what to expect but, all in all, it was fairly indistinguishable from its feathered cousins.

For my main course I ordered a crab, spinach, onion, mushroom, and swiss cheese omelet. Being a lucky chap, both the gator tail and my omelet came with jalapeno grits. Since I'm from the Southern Hemisphere and not the Southern US, I haven't had a long relationship with grits and avoided them for years based on visual prejudice. A few good restaurants have been offering cheddar and or jalapeno grits as of late and, even as a carbophobe, I find them irresistibly delicious. These were no exception. The saltiness of the wild crab in the omelet made for a strange juxtaposition with eggs but it too was delicious and quite large, again breaking the preconceived notion that "fine dining" meant small portions.

We all left satisfied, stuffed, and carrying left overs. I felt the total price was reasonable and justified, even after the gluttony induced disorientation had worn off. So don't pay attention to the "Fine Dining" subtitle when deciding whether or not to venture into that strange green and purple building. While it may actually be fine dining, you won't find yourself paying exorbitant prices.


Deco
980 Santa Maria Blvd.
St. Augustine, FL 32086
(904) 797-5505

Cafe 11

I am a creature of habit. Given the choice between: A. a restaurant I know and love and B. an interesting new place I have yet to try, I invariably choose A. Which, of course, is one of the main reasons we decided to start this blog; repetition is a catalyst for boredom. Unfortunately, in our quest to find new and interesting places to go to in the area, I think we have managed to over look some of the places we formerly visited quite regularly, one such place being Cafe 11.

Located on A1A in St. Augustine Beach, Cafe 11 is a favorite amongst locals and tourists alike. They offer a wide range of items for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as a weekend brunch. Every time I've been, and that has been many a time, I've spent at least five minutes perusing the vast menu, even though I have always ordered the same thing. No, really... I've been to Cafe 11 more times then I can count. And in all of those visits, I have never ordered anything except the Chicken Tomella sandwich. This is not to say that I don't find the other dishes appetizing; it's quite easy to find something else that I might order, if I were not completely and hopelessly in love with the Chicken Tomella. It really is that good.

Cafe 11 not only serves great food, but also regularly hosts bands from all over the country. I've seen some of my favorite bands play there over the years and love the intimate setting which is greatly enhanced by the low stage.

Whether you're just out for a quick bite to eat, a pint of beer with some friends, or a night of live music, I'd highly recommend a visit to Cafe 11. And if you, too, become highly addicted to the Chicken Tomella Sandwich, don't say I didn't warn you.

Gypsy Cab Company

With its strange name and gaudy green and purple exterior, St. Augustine's Gypsy Cab Company could easily be mistaken for a gimmick. But on the contrary, Gypsy Cab Company is one of the area's best and most iconic restaurants.

The food, like that found at many good restaurants these days, is hard to pin down with a few simple descriptors or ethnic references. There is no single culinary style employed nor could one aptly call it "fusion" as their self-labeled "Urban Cuisine" incorporates elements from many flavors of the culinary arts until the end result is something wholly unique.

The signature Gypsy Chicken dish is a good place to start. Based solely on appearance, one might assume it came from the Applebee's recipe book. But as we all should know, looks can be deceiving. The chicken is lightly breaded and cooked to perfection and the sauce is flavorful and entirely unlike the viscous, syrupy mess slathered upon the food at its big-chain counterparts. My fondest memory at Gypsy Cab involved a blackened salmon burrito. It was absolutely delicious, far exceeding any other fish burrito I've had since and, apart from the tortilla, there was very little resemblance to typical Mexican cuisine. The menu also changes regularly. Alas, the blackened salmon burrito is no more but it's never hard to pick a winning dish when dining here.

Next door is the Gypsy Bar & Grill. There's a full bar and a menu sporting way-better-than-usual bar food. On Friday and Saturday (and some Thursday) nights it becomes the Gypsy Comedy Club where you can attend performances by touring comedians and laugh until your beer comes back up. Visit the Gypsy Comedy Club website for the schedule and pricing information.

Not wanting to be outdone, the main restaurant sometimes hosts Dinner and a Movie-Monday Night where $25 will get you a buffet dinner, a movie, one non-alcoholic beverage, and a $5 donation to the St. Johns Cultural Council. The schedule is erratic and I don't think there's a calendar anywhere online so either call or visit the St. Johns Cultural Council website to find out about upcoming events. The next Dinner and a Movie night is April 27, 2009 and will feature the film The Village Barbershop.

There's a lot to do at the Gypsy Cab Company and the adjacent Gypsy Bar & Grill but the great food is the only motivation I need to keep going back. It's definitely worth it, particularly when prices are often lower than comparable mid-tier restaurants.

Gypsy Cab Company
Gypsy Cab Company
828 Anastasia Blvd.
St Augustine, FL 32080
904-824-8244

The Present Moment Cafe

Living in Jacksonville must be rather hard if you're a vegan or vegetarian. Long ago I was forced to abandon my vegetarianism, mostly due to the fact that I was training to be a cage fighter, but I have always since tried to eat a healthy and balanced diet. The wonderful individual who introduced me to TacoLu, a vegetarian herself, once again came through with a winning suggestion: The Present Moment Cafe in St. Augustine.

The Present Moment Cafe hit the downtown St. Augustine scene in late 2006. It was opened by Yvette and Nathan Schindler who have studied under some renowned raw food chefs and put their education to use in serving "live, vegan, organic and unprocessed food" to similarly dedicated or simply curious customers alike.

So what exactly is this Raw Food movement all about? Going further beyond the vegetarian and vegan ideals of cutting out meat and other animal products from one's grocery list, raw food proponents (for the most part) advocate the consumption of "live" foods that are un-cooked and un-processed. There are some within the community that include raw meats, eggs, and milk in their diet but the most popular approach to the raw food lifestyle is a vegan diet consisting primarily of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and sprouts. There is plenty of information online about the raw food diet and its potential health benefits but, as always, I recommend taking a good dose of skepticism before delving too deeply.

But back to the Present Moment. We were greeted by a friendly waitress armed with a decanter of water. Looking closely I noticed a slice of cucumber and and a slice of lemon floating within the room-temperature fluid that brought to mind my cucumber lemon zest martini at Orsay. Very refreshing indeed, I think I shall have to commandeer that trick for my own personal uses.

Despite the fact that some may consider the prohibition of cooked food a limiting factor, the menu here is large and varied, boasting far more than the salads and smoothies us culinarily-unimaginative folk might expect. You can order hamburgers, burritos, tacos, chili, pasta, sushi and more... well, in name at least. There's certainly a resemblance in the appearance, texture, and even taste of these dishes but the ingredients are purely plant based and, of course, uncooked. But let me assure you, the absence of the defining meat or processed starches from these dishes is anything but a drawback. Additionally, the ingredients are organic and often locally grown meaning that the meals on this seasonal menu are as fresh as can be.

We ordered the "Viva Burrito" (dehydrated tortilla filled with pine nut-chili and walnut pate, guacamole, coconut sour cream and jalapeno vinaigrette) and the "No-Bean Chili" which were, for lack of a better word, amazing; fulfilling, wholesome, and inhabiting a level of unparalleled deliciousness. The chili bore all of the best aspects of its namesake without the oily, sloppiness that is often an unwelcome addition. The burrito consisted of a tasty, grainy tortilla of sorts packed with a smattering of fresh veggies, seeds, grains, topped with a coconut based sour cream analogue and served with a side of fresh salad greens. I would gladly abandon cooked food if I could eat meals like this every day.

Although we don't typically indulge in a post-meal sweet, the dessert menu here was simply too enticing and intriguing to pass up. We settled on a their version of a mocha, the "Cacaocha" (I know, it's not raw, they do make some exceptions), and the "Warm Live Pecan Apple Cobbler" that was served with homemade cashew-vanilla ice cream. The delightful flavor and absence of post-dessert self-disgust is still fresh in my mind. Oh, and upon being told that the pansy was also edible, I promptly ate that as well. So we left stuffed and, as an added bonus, the cost didn't exceed what you would encounter at establishments serving food of a far inferior quality.

In addition to offering amazing food, there is also a small store where you can buy raw-food literature, ingredients, and healthy pre-made treats. Occasionally they hold classes or play host to guest speakers. A list of upcoming events can be found at their website. I'd love to go to the Uncooking Class on Sunday, March 1 so I might have to scrounge up the $55 fee and see if there are any open slots. Any excuse to go back and indulge in some more of that amazing food.

The Present Moment Cafe
224 W King St
St Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 827-4499
MON - SAT: 7am - 9pm

The Old City House Inn and Restaurant

A word of advice, although it doesn't seem to be the norm with most places these days, some restaurants don't serve from their dinner menu during lunch. To avoid any major disappointment, make sure you clear this up before planning your visit.

We had never been to the Old City House in St. Augustine but it is one of the restaurants we considered for our post-wedding lunch. We ended up choosing La Pentola for the occasion and it was amazing but we've wanted to try the Old City House ever since.

Located next to the Casa Monica in a cute little building, the Old City House is both a bed and breakfast and a restaurant. As alluded to before, the lunch and dinner menus are only served during distinctly alloted times so, despite my excitment, the ostrich medallions on the dinner menu were not to be mine during our lunch time visit. After a little part of me had died, I ordered the fish of the day (Escolar) and Kateri got a chicken sandwich (most of the lunch menu consists of sandwiches).

I'm not one of those people that goes to restaurants and complains about everything in hopes of getting something or everything free for enduring the immense hassle of being waited on and fed at a less-than-regal standard. Despite only a few patrons, the chorus here was strong but, while given ample reason to do so, I kept quiet. One waiter was buzzing from table to table only to get shouted at while our waiter disappeared for lengths of time, presumably dealing with other facets of the bed and breakfast. My fish was delicious, very juicy with an almost steak like initial flavor but I wasn't going to eat the plastic straw wrapper that somehow ended up on top of my brussels sprouts. Kateri was far less satisfied with her lackluster sandwich that wasn't even made right according to the description on the menu. Maybe they were just having a bad day... a really bad day.

Overall, The Old City House is a cute little restaurant with some good food but I would recommend avoiding the lunch. We'll have to try the dinner at some point to see if the later hours bring improved service and cooking along with the better menu items.

Old City House Inn and Restaurant
115 Cordova Street
St. Augustine, Florida 32084
904-826-0184

Habana Village Cafe

Last Saturday we found ourselves in St. Augustine around dinner time and had a solutions to our hunger problem in mind. However, add the post-graduation activities of Flagler College students and their family members to the typical Saturday evening chaos of downtown St. Augustine and you get outrageous wait times at all of the local restaurants. By chance we happened upon the Habana Village Cafe and noticed it was rather large on the inside and yet only a few tables were occupied. Not knowing what to expect yet suffering from intense starvation dementia, we wandered inside towards our unexpected culinary fate.

We ordered one glass of white sangria and one glass of red to pass the time until our grilled chicken arrived (which came out surprisingly fast). The sangrias, while not the best I've had (Sangrias in downtown St. Augustine makes some great varieties) were pleasantly balanced, the white being the superior of the two.

Neither of us had any prior experience with Cuban food so we didn't know what to expect beyond knowing what kinds of items would be included. Much to our delight, the food was amazing. Everything from the rice and beans to the fried plantain and the grilled chicken itself was bursting with flavor and lacked the unpleasant greasiness of some similar cuisines. A band started playing some good Cuban music in another room towards the end of our meal which rounded out the experience quite well. Overall a great experience and definitely a place we'll have to visit again.

Whilst performing a quick search to see if they had a website, I found a review of sorts where someone was complaining that the service was horrid and the staff rude. Our experience couldn't have been further from that of this individual as I found all of the staff we dealt with to be courteous, patient, and well mannered despite our unsophisticated attire and my penchant for photographing the sangria.

Habana Village Cafe
1 King Street #103
St. Augustine, FL 32084
904-827-1700