Amelia Island sets the table for annual Restaurant Week

Nassau County — Amelia Island’s annual Restaurant Week runs through Sunday, January 30. The annual event, now in its 14th year, celebrates the island’s award winning restaurants with special event menus for lunch and dinner.

Originally designed to attract customers into eateries during the winter months, the event has become one of the island’s busiest times of the year.

“Thanks to an exceptional and expanding collection of dining options, Restaurant Week remains one of the most anticipated annual events on Amelia Island,” said Gil Langley, President and CEO of the Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau. “In addition to providing an outstanding dining experience for guests, every meal purchased, and every event ticket sold, is a boost for our local restaurants and their employees, which are vitally important to the local economy.”

Amy Boek, Chief Marketing Officer of the Amelia Island Convention and Visitors Bureau, describes the event as a staple for the restaurants and the community.

“The impact has really grown over the years,” she said. “People get to go out, get a deal on the meal that they are having while supporting the local restaurants.”

Shops in the heart of the Fernandina’s downtown historic district also participate.

“People can get their wine and shop around; it’s a great thing to do while you are waiting for one of your reservations,” continued Boek.

Boek added that the Island has “some amazing places to stay so if you leave a little further away you can stay and make a vacation out of it.”

Garrett Gooch the Executive Chef for the Ritz Carlton admits that he truly enjoys the week as it affords him the freedom to be creative with new dishes.

“Restaurant week has always been a part of my career at the Ritz Carlton,” he said. “It keeps everyone excited.”

Gooch said that while the week attracts those who use Amelia Island as a destination vacation, it also celebrates locals.

“While we give guests an experience that shows them, yes we are the Ritz Carlton, we do cater to our locals,” he explained. “They are the ones we love. They are our family on the Island. They support us and we want to support them.”

Boek suggests that people reserve spots in their favorite eateries as to not miss out.

“It’s a hot commodity to get a seat at anyone of the participating restaurants,” she said. “Planning ahead is always a good thing.”

Participating restaurants include: Amelia Island Tea House, Arte Pizza Wood Fire & Grill, Bantam & Biddy, Bar Zin Bistro and Wine Bar Beech Street Grill, The Boat House, Brett’s Waterway Café, Café Karibo, Cantina Louie, Coast at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, Cucina South, Joe’s 2nd Street Bistro, Kitchen 251, Lagniappe, Le Clos, Marina Restaurant, Pogo’s Kitchen, Salt Life Food Shack, The Salty Pelican Story & Song Bookstore Bistro, The Tavern by AIBC, Tidewater Grill at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island Verandah

The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island will host two special events including the Cayman Reunion, a one-night only dinner at Salt Restaurant and Celebration of the Sea, a closing Dinner at its Coast Restaurant. The Cayman Reunion Dinner pays tribute to Cayman cookouts as it showcases the expansive culinary knowledge and excellence of its talented chefs and sommeliers. The Celebration of the Sea Closing Dinner will feature Chef Action Stations and a buffet of chilled seafood, sushi, shrimp and grits, scallops with pork belly, chicken and waffles and mini-crab cakes, along with an array of dessert specialties.

A complete listing of participating restaurants, menus and special event information can be found at:

AmeliaIsland.com/yummy.

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