Nothing makes me feel like I am on vacation like hanging at the beach. What is even better is enjoying dinner at the beach. Sandbar on Anna Maria Island in Florida offered the perfect beach dining experience.
I got there at the perfect time because the sun was just beginning to set.
I even got to see a lovely beach wedding.
As I sat at my table enjoying the sounds of the crashing waves, my waiter brought over some fresh made focaccia bread.
They served this along with fresh made pesto and olive oil. The oil was light on taste which allowed the herbs in the pesto to shine through.
I ordered a few starters for the table to enjoy. The Backyard Cornbread came out first. This was a classic Southern style cornbread. They served it with a whipped honey butter. The bread was soft and crumbled when cut. The taste was sweet even before I put on the butter.
The cheese grits came out next. These were stone-ground grits that were a little thicker than typical grits that are served with breakfast. The grits were loaded with cheddar and pepper jack cheese. They were cooked in a cast iron skillet so they came out piping hot. The cheese layer on top was nice and crispy. The two different cheeses made the grits extra creamy. The cheeses also blended really well together. The pepper jack did not add any heat.
For my dinner I ordered the American Red Snapper. It can be prepared multiple ways including grilled, blackened, or fried. I went for it grilled.
I could taste the flavor from the grill through out the fish. It was light and flaky. It had a subtle sweet taste.
The snapper was accompanied by some Spanish rice. This rice had a little kick to it from the red and green peppers that were chopped up within.
There were also some fresh grilled vegetables. The cauliflower was my favorite. They still had a crunch to them and the grill taste was wonderful.
By the time I was done with dinner the sun had almost set. It was a beautiful and tranquil scene. My meal at Sandbar was fresh and delicious. You should check them out at www.islanddining.com
Enjoy!
T
