Hungry as a Shark? Take a Bite Out of These Fine Jekyll Island Restaurants and Eateries

It's a good thing there are plenty of Jekyll Island restaurants to choose from.

I like to relax on vacation. Lay back. Read a good book. Veg out. Not my wife, however. Martha hits the ground running. Like she's eager to make up for lost time. By the end of our first day on the island I'm exhausted - and famished.

It's a good thing seafood is one of our family's "Official Food Groups".

We've rated the restaurants for ambiance, cleanliness, service, and food quality. We give each of these items a "Wow!" factor on a scale from one to ten, with ten being outstanding.

With that said, a word about ratings - they're just opinions, formulated during particular visits. The perceived quality of anyone's experience with a particular restaurant at a particular point in time can depend on many factors: season, staffing, management, how busy the restaurant is, type of restaurant, human emotions, etc.

So take our ratings with a grain of salt.

Okay! Y'all hungry? Time to stoke the furnace!

One of our favorite Jekyll Island restaurants - and "watering holes" - is SeaJay's, located on the Intracoastal Waterway at the Jekyll Harbor Marina. It has a friendly "island pub" ambiance, from the rustic sign at the entrance depicting the distances to far off ports-of-call, to the "fish-flavored interior decor" of the main dining room, to the canvas-covered outside deck.

Find a Safe Harbor at SeaJay's

Another perennial favorite, and right on the Atlantic! You can order surf or turf in a nautical themed setting. And check out their outside seating area.

Arggg! Walk the Plank Over to Blackbeard's

What Zachry's lacks in ambiance it makes up in good food - and plenty of it. I've never left hungry from Zachry's. In fact, too often I've left feeling like a stuffed crab.

Gumbo's On at Zachry's

Of all Jekyll Island restaurants, this may be our favorite place for lunch. The Cafe Solterra is located a the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. It's fronted by a wide, shaded covered veranda with ceiling fans and comfortable chairs that are perfect for snoozing. Usually accompanied by a soft, cooling breeze. And the food is fantastic.

Breeze On Over to Cafe Solterra

Some Jekyll Island Restaurants can be a little pricey. Latitude 31 is one such, but the food is good, and so is the view. Latitude 31 is located at the Jekyll Wharf, where you can get a seat with a view of the Intracoastal Waterway.

Ship Out to Latitude 31

An island fixture, the Rah Bar is also on the Jekyll Wharf, and serves oysters, shrimp, and other delectable seafood delicacies. All served up steaming hot at your table on the wharf.

Steam It Up at the Rah Bar

Located inside the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. This is a dining experience well worth having. wonderful chef-prepared cuisine in an elegant setting. Perfect for banquets, also.

Have a Grand Dining Adventure at the Grand Dining Room

Inside the shell of the Crane Cottage is a pearl of a restaurant - the Courtyard at Crane. Eat inside, or enjoy a tasty lunch or dinner outdoors in the Courtyard itself. Best to callahead for reservations at dinner time.

Court Your Appetite at the Courtyard at Crane

You'll find Morgan's inside the golf clubhouse (North side of Capt. Wiley Road). Grab a burger, dog or sandwich while losing golf balls on the 3 adjacent courses (wait, that's what I do!).Good food, reasonably priced.

It's "Tee" Time at Morgan's Grill

Located at the mini-golf course. Serving hot pizza with all the toppings.

Fill Up at Redbug's Pizza

Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Casual dining at the Oceanside Inn and Suites. Eat in or take out.

Chow Down at the Sandbar and Grill

Saydee's is Jekyll Island's newest restaurant and we haven't eaten there yet. They're at Villas by the Sea. Eat inside, or enjoy dining on their outdoor seating area, under the shady live oaks.

Southern Comfort is Spelled F-O-O-D at Saydee's

Catch up on the game and fill that empty belly at Time Out Sports Grill, located at Jekyll Oceanfront Resort. Check out their Tiki Bar.

Take Time for Time Out Sports Grill

Not all Jekyll Island restaurants serve adult beverages. For an after dinner drink, or just to relax and spin a few yarns, Vincent's is the perfect spot. They're tucked away in a cool shady nook at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel.

Sample the Spirits at Vincent's Pub

If you like to gather as a family and spread a blanket for outdoor dining, or pack up an intimate picnic basket for two and find an out-of-the-way place to snuggle with your sweetheart, you'll find the perfect spot on Jekyll Island.

Eat Outdoors at Your Choice of Picnic Areas

Our picks for the best restaurants in Brunswick and St. Simons (about a 30 minute drive from Jekyll Island).

Best Off-Island Family Restaurants Within Easy Driving Distance

Enjoy!

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