Our day in St. Augustine concluded with a fabulous dinner!
We made sure to give ourselves an hour to meander around St. Augustine and spend some time in the cute shops in between our mini golf/ IMAX adventure and our dinner reservation.
For some reason St. Augustine reminds me of a smaller version of Savannah, Georgia. I love the quaint shops and casual, relaxed atmosphere. There are plenty of places to go to buy souvenirs, but my favorite shops to check out are the less-touristy places, like The Ancient Olive.
We popped into this place on a whim and it ended up being a fantastic find!
The Ancient Olive is an olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting room.
At first I thought it might be kind of weird to sample little sips of different kinds of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, but after one taste, I was hooked.
The flavors that were infused into the oil and vinegar totally changed the taste, so it was fun to sample the different varieties. We loved talking with the two men working at the shop because they gave us a bunch of different ideas for creative ways you can use the vinegar and olive oil. For example, they said that the basil olive oil is fantastic drizzled over creamy vanilla ice cream and suggested adding a few drops of the cranberry pear balsamic vinegar to a martini. Florida friends, The Ancient Olive can also be found in Winter Park and Delray Beach. It’s definitely worth a visit!
Eventually it was time for us to make our way over to the Casa Monica Hotel for dinner.
Double date!
Though I’ve never stayed at the Casa Monica Hotel before, I’ve heard the most wonderful things about it. A former coworker of mine held her wedding reception at the hotel and her pictures were absolutely stunning. The hotel was built in 1888 and restored in 1999 and you can feel the history from the moment you walk into the lobby.
We had plans to dine at 95 Cordova, a romantic restaurant located behind the Cobalt Lounge inside the hotel.
The restaurant was decorated with beautiful, rich silk curtains and antique furniture and we knew right away we were in for a special night! Late last week, we were actually invited to enjoy a complimentary dinner at the restaurant and felt very grateful for the opportunity. What a treat!
Once we were greeted by our friendly waiter, we ordered drinks.
I was in a wine kind of mood and ordered a glass of Gundlach Bundschu Mountain Cuvee, a smooth red wine blend that I absolutely adored.
When it came time to order, I selected the strawberry arugula salad to start and it was a great choice.
The vinaigrette dressing was nice and light and the goat cheese stole the show! It was a perfect appetizer salad because it didn’t sit heavy in my stomach, but managed to take the edge off my hunger.
For my entrée, I opted for the coriander crusted sea scallops and was absolutely thrilled with my meal.
My scallops were served atop whipped black beans and topped with roasted corn salsa, citrus chili aioli and cilantro oil. The corn salsa was incredibly fresh and the texture of the corn paired perfectly with the smooth black beans and succulent scallops. I ate every last bite. Not one little kernel of corn remained on my plate!
Everyone else raved about their meals as well!
At the urging of our waiter, Ryan ordered the filet with crab and shrimp ragout and couldn’t stop talking about it!
I ended up helping Ryan finish his meal and loved stirring the ragout into the mashed potatoes (served underneath the green beans). Talk about indulgent and delicious!
My sister’s selection was also a winner.
When we were chatting with the folks at The Ancient Olive and told them where we were headed for dinner, they highly recommended the lobster and crab risotto and it’s easy to see why! It was fabulous and we all were happy my sister shared a few bites with us.
Though we were all pretty darn full by this point, our waiter didn’t have to do too much to convince us to order dessert.
The four of us shared the warm apple blossom and agreed that it was the best apple-based dessert we’ve ever had at a restaurant.
I almost always gravitate toward chocolate desserts, but when I read the description of the apple blossom, it called to me! The pastry tasted like a doughnut with a crispy exterior and the buttery caramel sauce made the ice cream melt a bit over the warm apple-filled pastry. It was incredible!
We raved to our waiter about our meal and said it was the perfect conclusion to such a fun day in St. Augustine.
St. Augustine always brings back such wonderful memories of when Ryan and I first started dating and visited the fun city together. Whenever we come back, I cannot help but smile. There’s so much to see and do and it’s the perfect place for a weekend away.
I’ll be back in a bit with a recap of yesterday’s St. Patrick’s Day 10K!
Question of the Morning
- If you were going to recommend a city or a town for someone to visit for a fun weekend away, where would you tell them to go?
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I love both your’s and your sister’s outfits for dinner.. So cute! You girls always look gorgeous though!
One of my favorite towns to visit for a weekend getaway is Denver. I am just in love with the whole city and there are just so many restaurants and shops to visit. I am going to Hilton Head in April for a long weekend away and I can’t wait. I went when I was a kid, but I am excited to go back again and really look around! 🙂
i <3 colorado! i'll be in denver in august for my best friend's wedding. i can't wait. such a gorgeous place. i hope you have fun on your april vacation to hilton head!
Where is that dress from! Super cute!
thanks! i bought it at a cut above boutique in ocala: http://www.shopacutabove.com/ (everything is under $50.)
We recently drive through Annapolis looking at houses and that town was adorable! Quaint with cute shops and near so much! Definitely want to explore there!
If you do, Annapolis Ice Cream ( the one on Main St. with penguins in the window) has the best ice cream! They make it themselves and it’s yummy!!
Girl–I’d go just about anywhere at this point….do you babysit??;-) e
I’d probably go..hmmm….St. Louis is driving distance–maybe there or Little Rock to Clinton museum. e
I’ve been to the Clinton museum…it’s pretty cool and there are several fun places to eat just down the street from it. Also used to live in St. Louis, so I have lots of ideas for there as well. Hope you find that babysitter! 😉
So happy to have found your blog! May I ask what AR town you are from? e
Glad you liked my blog. 🙂 I lived all of my childhood in Little Rock and surrounding areas. Graduated from the U of A as well. Go Hogs! Are you from AR?
This looks like so much fun! I love that blue dress also, I am a sucked for long sleeve dresses. When it comes to a weekend vacay I am all about a hiking trip!
In a few of the pictures I had to do a double take to check to see if it was you or your sister. You guys look so much alike! Both gorgeous ladies. 🙂
I’d tell them to go to Colorado Springs, specifically Manitou Springs, which is where I’m heading right now!
Austin, Texas my husband and I honeymooned there and it was A friendly place lots of things going on there, everyone is really into organic living and healthy life styles, I can’t wait to go back.
LOVE your blue dress! I ordered one identical from Blue Door Boutique and it has been my go-to dress for everything! I loved it so much I went ahead and ordered a black one too. St. Augustine looks adorable. Asheville, NC is the perfect little weekend getaway. A very cute mountain town with a ton to do.
I have it in pink, too! So glad you like it! It’s just so comfy!
St. Augustines a great little city and looks so pretty around Christmas time. When I lived in Texas we went on a few weekend getaways to Austin and Wimberley and I would def recommend either of those.
oh my gosh this dinner sounds amazing!! The whole day sounds fantastic! I now want to try to recreate your scallop dish at home but I am sure it wont amount to the deliciousness of your dish!
if you try to recreate it & like it, let me know! i’d love to try your variation!
Aren’t you two couples adorable! Looks like you guys had a great evening out. All of the food looks delicious too!
I also wanted to add that the Riverwalk in San Antonio would make SUCH a fun weekend away as a couple or with friends! It’s beautiful with tons of great restaurants and entertainment!
Sounds like such a great way to end the weekend! Good times.
I’d go with Boulder! Then they could come visit me and I’d show them around the new town I’m still learning about 🙂
Of course I have to recommend Charleston, SC. Everytime I am out running I am blessed to be from such a great city. It’s gorgeous, historic, and fun.
Super cute double date pictures!
I love visiting Charleston, SC or Hilton Head, SC. 🙂
I love the blue color on you, it suits your complexion and hair color so well!
Sounds like a great way to end off the weekend!!
Um, I’d recommend Victoria in Canada 😉 It can be sometimes fun. No, but really I’d say some place…hmm actually this is tougher than I though, there are so many great places! I always hear amazing things about Charleston though!
I agree! Victoria is beautiful and would be a great weekend place.
Wow the food looks amazing! I would recommend Charleston, SC for a weekend getaway, its such a pretty town any time of year.
i want to go to charleston!!! i’ve heard the best things about it!
I love strawberries and goat cheese together. That salad sounds amazing!
That all looks delicious! What a cute, romantic little place!
Did you end up getting any olive oil or balsamic? We have a couple of those stores in mn and I love them!!!!! I make an amazing balsamic dressing with garlic olive oil 18 yr aged balsamic and pomegranate balsamic!!!!!
yes! we bought two different bottles. the cranberry pear balsamic vinegar was my favorite!
What a cute town and stunning restaurant! I love you and your sister’s outfits! I’m so ready for sunshine and warm weather!
Your blue dress is gorgeous!
That apple blossom dessert looks to die for! Yum :).
Drool! Your dinner sounds amazing! I like chocolate desserts too, but sometimes I am in the mood for a nice slice of hot apple pie. 🙂
I’ve never thought of olive oil on ice cream! That must be an interesting combo!
looks super fun and delicious!! i LOVE scallops!!
Looks like a wonderful time!
Id kill for that apple blossom!!!
You and leslie are both dressed so cute!
sounds like a fun weekend!
Id tell people to go to Guerneville which is about an hour and half north of where I live (San Francisco.) Its a great spot because you can go wine tasting, hiking in red wood forrests and float or sunbathe on the beautiful big river that goes through it. I think its a perfect weekend 🙂
Not sure if I would like olive oil on ice cream… Eek! I love going to Atlanta on the weekends! So much shopping and fun things to do! Would you mind doing a fashion post on yours and your sister’s outfits? I love them!
I would love to visit St. Augustine! Especially since you related it to Savannah. I love that city!
I live in Salt Lake so we go to Park City, Utah for our weekend getaways. If you ever have the budget, it’s fantastic any time of year, but I recommend Fall if you don’t ski and Winter if you do!
Love your blue dress!! Where’s it from?
Wow, that entire meal looks amazing. If I were to recommend a city, I’d probably say either Austin or San Francisco. They’re both such fun, quirky cities!
We love St. Louis! We are huge Cardinals fans, but we just love the city so much! There’s great shopping, really cute stores, and some amazing restaurants on “The Hill”! Zia’s is our favorite and it has the most amazing seafood ravioli!
I love Zia’s! But I don’t recommend driving an SUV through the hill. Those streets are tiny. 🙂
I’ve only been to St. Augustine once, but I loved it and definitely want to go back. We did more of the history part of the town, but there’s obviously so much more to do there!
Being from New England makes me sort of biased, but I love the Cape. In the summer, there is a lot of hustle and bustle due to EVERYONE venturing over the bridges to bask in the rays, or relax on the gorgeous beaches; but my favorite time of year is the late spring/early fall. The crowds have subsided and there is ample time to visit quaint shops, restaurants and bakeries. Not to mention, it is warm enough to relax on the beaches for a few hours without having to fight for a spot etc. I love Falmouth in particular and the quaint village of Woods Hole.
Looks like a delicious dinner, especially the dessert! I usually gravitate towards chocolate too, but it’s fun to mix things up and try something different now and then!
You and your sister look so much alike! Both beautiful 🙂 I’m glad you had such a great weekend with some awesome food!
I would recommend Nashville! It’s one of my favorite cities and only a couple hour if that, away!
So, anybody else think that girls mostly dress for other girls? Had my birthday this weekend and I think we all got dresses up…for one another!! 🙂
My dad loves to find little random cities and towns so I have one that really stuck out to me.
Helen, GA–> It’s like a littler German town with German restaurants and writings all over the city. It’s super cute and we had a fun weekend there. Definitely a place for anyone who would like to try some German food. It was awesome.
Your dress is adorable – great color on you! Love your sis’s outfit, too.
I love visiting Chicago! PS. I love your dress!
You guys are too cute! All of that food looks delicious! If I was recommending a weekend get away, I would suggest Charleston, SC. It’s gorgeous and there’s so much to do! So glad you had such a great weekend!
I’m so obsessed with your dress!
I adore your little blue dress!!! So cute.
My hubby and I are actually in La Jolla (near san Diego) for a weekend get away. Gorgeous beach town, tiny shops, pretty resteraunts. If you ver make it out here, you should stop by here for a day. It’s perfect 🙂
I have never been to Savannah, but LOVE Charleston. That would be my recommendation.
The Kidless Kronicles
I’ll tell you where to go! 😉
Big city weekend: Chicago
Quiet romantic weekend: Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Fun weekend with kids: Branson, Missouri
Crazy weekend: New Orleans, Louisiana
That restaurant looks amazing!! I’m glad y’all had such a great time 😀 this is kind of silly but I would recommend my college town Missoula! You can hike the M, shop on the “hip strip” downtown, eat at some awesome loc restaurants (Biga Pizza is one of the best!) and in the summer the best thing to do is take a walk down the river path that leads you to the Big Dipper the local hot spot for home made ice cream (yellow cake ice cream with chocolate an sprinkles is the best! Or white mint Oreo!) haha goodness I just love Missoula 🙂 I should drop out and be a tour guide. Happy Monday Julie!!
I love your outfit! Looking at all of these pictures is making me excited for the summer 🙂
What cute couples!! Sounds like a lovely day and date 🙂