St George Island’s Blue Parrot Cafe: a bird with a different feather
The small island of St. George, which lies off the coast of Apalachicola, is a place that native Floridians would consider “Old Florida”. Except for the more modern looking beach houses that have sprung up on the island, the vibe remains very relaxed and even if you’re just visiting, the locals make you feel right at home.
Just an hour and fifteen minutes from the capital city of Tallahassee, St. George Island has long been a weekend retreat away from the city’s politics and traffic. The island has a state park with cooking and picnic facilities, as well as public beaches that are within walking distance of anywhere you stay on the island (basically across the street). The island has a bed and breakfast type hotel, the St. George Inn and a more traditional hotel, the Buccaneer, and dozens of private houses that can be rented for a fairly reasonable price.
Some time ago, in August, a relative from California stayed with me for a week. I decided to take him to St. George so he could experience warm waters where one could swim without a wetsuit. We lowered the convertible on a Sunday afternoon so we could hang out on the beach and then have dinner so he could eat Apalachicola seafood before he went home.
Even on a warm August afternoon, the state park’s beaches were nearly empty. It was almost like being on your own private beach, except for the few crabs that kept appearing on the shore at our feet. We hung out on the beach, got some sun and watched the porpoises chase each other in the gulf before packing up to go in search of food. Since St. George has several restaurants to choose from, we drove around looking at the menus a bit before choosing to dine at the Blue Parrot.
The Blue Parrot not only had two outside decks, but the marquee promised an outdoor concert and happy hour. That was pretty much all we needed to know. We were seated at a table on the upper deck that overlooked the lower deck and tiki bar below. He also looked out over the water and the setting sun. It was a beautiful sight and the breeze blowing off the gulf made sitting outside in the August heat quite comfortable.
The menu was packed with regular seafood fare, from the famous Apalachicola oysters to favorites like crab-stuffed flounder. The menu also included land lubber surf and turf options. I thought I’d try the stuffed flounder and steal a couple of shrimp from my partner’s plate when he wasn’t looking. When the food came, it tasted even better than it looked on the menu. The crab stuffing had just enough spice to bring out the flavor of the flounder without overpowering it or making the flavor too spicy. The fried shrimp my cousin ordered was lightly battered and fried and tasted amazing.
I don’t usually enjoy a lot of fried foods, but I couldn’t help but try some of the shrimp as they tasted so good. With our seafood cravings satisfied, we decided to head downstairs and grab a drink at the tiki bar (which is the only one on the island) and watch the band get ready for the outdoor concert on the beach.
Once the sun sank below the gulf waves, tiki torches were lit and the band began strumming their guitars and singing along. The music ranged from contemporary and classic rock to island music and a bit of country for variety. Bar patrons danced on the beach near the stage and sang along to all their favorite hits, old and new. The atmosphere was light and fun and the perfect way to end a great day at the beach. The band finished their final set with an engaging rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” as the bar and restaurant began to close for the night. Since we had an hour to travel back to the city, my cousin and I decided to go too.
As we drove back over the bridge to the mainland, the sea breeze still dancing in my nostrils, I couldn’t understand why I haven’t spent more time there since I love the atmosphere so much. At that time I promised that next summer I would spend more time on the beautiful island that was right in my own backyard.
See you on the way!