Consistently Delicious since 1995! www.cafethirtya.com
Café Thirty-A
3899 E. Co. Hwy. 30A, Seagrove · 850.231.2166 Open Daily At 5
| By Matthew Keith
A Casual, Fine-Dining Delight
C
afé Thirty-A’s beach chic décor and contemporary, eclectic menu have been delighting diners along Scenic Highway 30A in Seagrove Beach for more than 20 years. The casual fine-dining restaurant, which was designed by architect Phillip Spann, opened on Memorial Day weekend in 1995 and seats about 280 diners between its main dining room and party room on the first floor and upstairs bar area. When owner Harriet Crommelin – who previously called Birmingham, Ala., home – decided to open a restaurant along the Gulf of Mexico, she knew she wanted to be near the town of Seaside. “When we opened, there was Bud and Alley’s, Criolla’s and us,” she recalls. “Rosemary Beach, and a lot of the things on that side of 30A, were not there yet.” Needless to say, development along 30A has picked up a bit since the mid-90s. The menu at Café Thirty-A spans all flavor profiles and palettes. Take the Small Plates & Starters menu, featuring the ever-popular Grilled Georgia Quail with creamy grits and sage fritter; poached lobster; beef carpaccio; or the tuna poke with cucumber noodles, avocado, Aji Amarillo, toasted peanuts and cilantro. From the
62
2017 Food & Wine Guide • 30AFoodandwine.com
entrees, there is an ever-changing variety of fresh fish, steaks, venison, duck and wood-fired oven pizzas. Crommelin is no stranger to the restaurant business, having operated the well-known Kat & Harri’s in Montgomery for many years. She says a few of the menu items at Café Thirty-A – such as the quail and grits, and the tuna – came along for the ride from Alabama to the Gulf Coast. “These are things that will never leave the menu,” she says, although the menu does change on an almost-daily basis depending on the availability of fresh seafood and produce. The wine list at Café Thirty-A is quite impressive and allows diners to find the perfect bottle to complement their meal, whether they prefer a Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley or a bold Merlot from Sonoma County. Café Thirty-A also showcases an expansive list of reserve wines, as well as half bottle options. Café Thirty-A’s bar boasts a wide selection of spirits for the cocktail lover. Every Tuesday and Thursday is ‘Tini Night in the bar area, where guests can enjoy $5 martinis. There’s something for everyone, whether you are a fan of the classic cosmopolitan, an appletini aficionado or Continued on page 64 2017 Food & Wine Guide • 30AFoodandwine.com
63