RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK
A PERSONAL REVIEW OF RESTAURANTS AROUND THE WORLD

LULU'S WATERFRONT GRILLE
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA

There are two "rival" waterfront restaurants in this area.  The undisputed king is Barbara Jean's.  Both sit right on the busy Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.  While most people would tell you that Barbara Jean's is the best, I think I'd beg to differ.  We've eaten at each place twice now and I think the food is a cut above at LuLu's place.

Semi-Outdoor Dining - Screened In Dining

They have completely outside dining at LuLu's, semi-outdoor dining with a screened in area and inside dining.  We chose the semi-outdoor section and even though it was 87 outside on a Sunday afternoon, it was pleasant with fans blowing inside.  They also have heaters to keep guests warm during the odd cold spot during the winter.

No - That's Not A Vessel Docked - It's A Yacht Passing By On The Intracoastal

There Goes Another One - A Converted Tug Type of Boat

We checked out the menu and ordered some conch fritters to start.  They came fairly quickly and they were delightful with a great semi-sweet dipping sauce.

They listed Mahi Mahi and grouper as the fresh catch of the day.  I love both and ordered grouper blackened.  My wife went with a Caesar salad with grilled salmon.

My grouper was wonderful.  Absolutely fresh!  Not easy to find fresh fish of any sort these days, even in Florida.  And while I can't swear to it, I think this was probably a local grouper and not one yanked out of the sea from foreign shores.  It was cooked perfectly and served with excellent tarter sauce.  It came with a starch (I ordered a house salad instead) and fresh veggies and even the veggies were great.  Fresh baby carrots, broccoli, both zucchini and yellow squash, and onions in a garlic butter sauce.  Exceptional!

My wife's Caesar was wonderful.  She shared a bite and it was the best Caesar dressing I've ever tasted.  And the salmon that came on top was absolutely sensational!  It was  whole slab of perfectly cooked delicious salmon and a large portion, probably 7 or 8 ounces.

We were both very impressed and pleased here and we will back.

Ponte Vedra Beach is just south of Jacksonville along Florida's First Coast.  For more information on LuLu's including directions, click off to their web site right here.