By Dylan Bailey
If you haven’t had the chance to stop by The Boat House, I’ll let you know right now that you should. With its name being a direct nod to what was in the lot before the restaurant, it gets a huge mark for the charm alone. And being on one of the side shoots off Centre Street, it has all the atmosphere without the excessive noise.
This was my first time eating here, which I know is almost sacrilegious to say, but while the live music they provided always caught my attention, I never managed to stop in for the food. Well, I can’t say that anymore. The music may have titillated my ears, but the food left a lasting impression.
Stepping up to the nautical-themed building is a treat in and of itself. With the sprawling deck, live music, a charismatic bartender, and the Edison bulbs strung, it’s picturesque. It didn’t take long for me to grab a table and get my order in. The weather was just warm enough, and the breeze picked up enough to keep it comfortable.
The Boat House’s menu isn’t sprawling, with only two sides – one for food and the other for drinks – it’s a focused arrangement of delicacies, which I always appreciate. And as I scanned the appetizers, how could I say no to barbecue pork macaroni and cheese egg rolls? I know that my fifteen-year-old self would have gone bonkers for these.
The barbecue pork macaroni and cheese egg rolls offer an alluring presentation that I wasn’t expecting. With a beautiful, golden crisp to the egg rolls, pulled pork, plus macaroni and cheese, it was a combination that went together perfectly. The crunch from the egg roll and that succulent pulled pork with the cheesiness was disgustingly good. But making it even better was the included tangy, sweet barbecue sauce. Do your inner teenager a favor and try these.
Even though I wanted to eat all of the appetizer, I saved it for later, so I could move on to the entree. And what popped out at me was the Key West grouper. A tropical blend of mangos and pineapples with coconut rice and a fantastic sauce that added to the already crispy, flaky fish. I loved this dish. At $29, it’s steep, but presentation and taste get big thumbs up from me.
Last, but certainly not least, was the warm chocolate brownie sundae. I mean, what is there to say besides: sinfully decadent. A warm brownie, with hot fudge drizzled over a massive scoop of vanilla ice cream – I don’t even want to know what happened to my blood sugar after I devoured this. It doesn’t do anything new, but that’s okay, because it doesn’t change an already tried and true formula.
The Boat House not only brings high quality food but a phenomenal atmosphere and ambience that is a fun spin on dining around Centre Street. Prices are high – my wallet had bruises when I left – but you are given a superb experience with your meal.
The Boat House
Website: https://boathousefernandina.com/
Address: 30 S. Second Street, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
Been there several times, always very good. Last time they had a shrimp and grits appetizer with collards on top. My wife and sister got that and had leftovers. Since they have a seasonal menu, I see the shrimp and grits aren’t there now. Definitely worth a visit.