I normally do not leave 5 star reviews, because i don't read them thinking the reviewer has some connection to the place. I'm making an exception this time because this place truly deserves it. It has a lot to do with our server, Felicia I believe, who is a big time professional. New York, Chicago, LA, this is the service you can expect- but in FL?? Vilano Beach?? I was shocked. I only wish I could have someone of her caliber when I owned my last place. On to the food- ordered rack of lamb, short rib, shrimp. All were excellent, but wish we had enough room to try the Redfish special which I heard from a neighboring table was excellent. They have a full liquor bar, great wine selection and it's a cozy atmosphere. When you want an elevated dining experience near St Augustine- Add this to your list! read more

Anchor 28 -- Gourmet Lunch at Surprisingly Reasonable Prices! We've dined at Anchor 28 for dinner before, but lunch was a delightful surprise! The prices are remarkably reasonable for the quality of food. The chef's French culinary training shines through in the flavors and presentation. What We Tried: Anchor House Salad with Blackened Mahi -- Fresh greens, crisp vegetables, raspberry vinaigrette, and perfectly seasoned blackened Mahi. Signature Wagyu Burger -- Juicy Wagyu beef topped with onion bacon jam, pimento cheese, and smoky signature sauce on a toasted brioche bun. Steak & Charred Corn Quesadilla -- Grilled bavette steak, charred corn, sautéed peppers and onions, and melted cheese in a crispy tortilla. Maine Lobster Roll -- Tender Maine lobster with drawn butter in a toasted split-top roll. Desserts -- Creme brulee, Dubai chocolate with chocolate ice cream, and cheesecake made for a sweet finish. The food was excellent, and the service was warm, friendly, and attentive. Anchor 28 is a hidden gem for gourmet-quality food at prices that won't break the bank. Definitely worth a visit! read more

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Came for lunch. Stayed for the people. Some restaurants feed you. This one adopts you for the afternoon. We walked in planning a quick lunch. We walked out hours later, full, happy, and somehow friends with the owners. Jamie, one of the owners, was our server, and he set the tone right away. Warm. Funny. Zero rush. Then Dina and Alex came by, and the conversation just never stopped. Big personalities. Real hospitality. You can tell this place is their baby, and they want you to feel at home in it. Now the food. We ordered a lot. No regrets. The burger. Glossy brioche bun, melted cheese sliding down the sides, a giant pickle spear on top like a crown. Hand-cut fries on the side. Messy in the best way. Lobster roll. Big, sweet chunks of lobster piled high, with warm drawn butter for dipping. Simple. Perfect. Shrimp bowl. Grilled shrimp loaded with toasted coconut, a bright green sauce, and pickled onions. Every bite had crunch, tang, and a little sweetness. This one surprised us. Grilled fish. Flaky fillet over herb rice, garlicky green beans, and a charred lemon that made everything pop. Light but satisfying. Quesadilla. Crispy outside, packed inside, with a house salsa we kept going back to. And the bar? Go hungry, but go thirsty too. They made us cocktail after cocktail. Guava. Pineapple. More. Each one fresh, balanced, and dangerously easy to drink. The space has a fun nautical vibe. Anchors, ship wheels, cozy booths. So relaxed that one of us pulled out a sketchbook and started drawing at the table. Bonus points: great location and plenty of parking. No circling the lot, no stress. Great food. Great drinks. Even better people. We'll be back, and next time we're bringing friends. read more

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I truly enjoyed lunch at Anchor 28, and I anticipate that it will be successful in the Vilano Beach area. If you are looking for a delicious seafood dish, you can't go wrong with the shrimp bowl - perfectly seasoned shrimp, fresh rice, and a flavorful mix of vegetables and spices (while I love plantains, they detract from this dish). Service was consistently good throughout, with my iced tea getting refilled regularly. On Sunday afternoon, there were just three customers in the restaurant, so I do hope that the word gets out about this great place. My observation is that they may struggle to brand their identity - another reviewer mentioned "Michelin star" quality, and others talked about this place as if it's a high-end experience. From my perspective, it was an upgraded version of a restaurant you'd anticipate being connected to a Holiday Inn Express. The meal was very good, don't get me wrong, but to set the expectation for a consumer that they're going to be walking into a high-end, Michelin star type restaurant is a mismatch. I recommend that prospective patrons review the menu, see the pictures of a relatively casual dining room / bar area, go enjoy a meal either inside or out, and take a nice walk through the neighborhood - Vilano Beach is coming back! There is plenty of complimentary parking at the Holiday Inn Express, which is motivation to dine in Vilano, rather than struggling to find parking in St Augustine. read more

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My husband and I are always looking for new places to try so today we decided to give this place a try for lunch. It is in Vilano Beach right next to the new Holiday Inn. The decor is really cute for a beachy place. They have indoor, outdoor and bar seating. We opted for indoor seating because it was pretty hot outside. The menu has a handful of breakfast options, a few salads, a few sandwiches, and a few entrees. We both got the hot shrimp bowl. It came with either shrimp or fish, along with coconut jasmine rice, mango salsa, pickled onions, cabbage slaw, crispy plantains, and an avocado crema. It was a bright colorful, hearty and flavorful dish. My only suggestion is to omit the crispy plantains as they had no flavor and were a hard texture. Service was pretty quick. read more

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Vilano Beach is LUCKY to have this new restaurant. The area needed a quality scratch kitchen where hospitality is the norm. Felicia guided our experience and did so with ease and grace. We enjoyed the black and gold pasta and the amazing 48 hour Moroccan inspired short rib. Ah do not sleep on the daily soup special - the chef's creativity shines here too. We had a unique Tom Yum that was like nothing I had experienced. No doubt this is our new normal for Vilano. read more

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Wow! What a hidden gem! Love this place in Vilano Beach. So close to the beach and great restaurant with Gourmet food at the most reasonable prices. We had the chicken quesadillas and lobster roll. It was so fresh and the flavors were mind blowing. The servers were very friendly and the owners are great. The ambience is so well curated and a proper fine dine experience. We also called for the yummy desserts like the pistachio ricotta cake, Dubai chocolate cake and crème brulee all made in house. read more

Anchor 28 - Lobster roll with side salad - Seafood Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

Anchor 28 is a fantastic addition to Vilano Beach! We recently enjoyed a date night here, and everything from the food to the service was exceptional. Chef Mario's French and Moroccan influence really elevates the menu. The Parmesan Herb Crusted Black Grouper, Rack of Lamb, and Burrata & Golden Peach Salad were all beautifully prepared, and the desserts--especially the Dubai Chocolate Gateaux--were unforgettable. A heartfelt thank you to owners Alex, Frank, and Dina, manager Carlo, and our wonderful server Nicky for making us feel so welcome. Their genuine hospitality made the experience even more special. With its inviting coastal atmosphere, indoor and outdoor seating, and outstanding food, Anchor 28 is a locally owned gem that we highly recommend. We can't wait to come back! read more

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The place looks good, its not too big inside, and has a small patio. We had reservations and were seated at our time! Since they are new they only had wine some seltzer. I ordered a salad with steak and my husband the scallops with risotto . The salad was great but the steak needed more flavor. My husband's plate has a lot of mushroom on the risotto, and the flavor was very fishy for me. But overall good. Our server was super friendly and attentive. I'll probably go back again to try more things on the menu! And hopefully they will have handcrafted drinks :) read more

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The Escargot appetizer was excellent - tender, flavorful, great garlic butter sauce, perfect with bread. Really enjoyed it. But the steak and lamb chops were just average. Steak was overcooked and chewy, lacking juices. Lamb chops were a bit gamey and underseasoned. Great for starters, mains were disappointed. read more

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Great new spot at Vilano with a good vibe - excellent food and ambiance! The service was exceptional and although I generally don't gauge a restaurant on a burger alone I can definitely seeing Anchor 28 becoming very popular and successful! read more

Anchor 28 - Burger and fries and a dark beer! - Seafood Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

Our first time to to Anchor 28 and it did not disappoint. We sat at the bar and our server/bartender was Marco. He was very friends, knowledgeable about the menu and was extremely friendly. Our food was served promptly was hot and seasoned perfectly. This is a relatively new restaurant in Vilano beach and is one that should not be missed. The ambiance of the restaurant is very comforting, beachy and elegant at the same time. read more

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Absolutely outstanding 4 July dining experience at the new Anchor 28 restaurant in Vilano Beach. Looking to fit in at Vilano and not be the high-end nor the neighborhood bar ... I think there's a balance here and a need here in the area. Although, I didn't really care for the TV over the bar, as it's facing into the open dining room area and as the bar patrons get louder the less enjoyable the dining experience feels. It's not a reflection of the ambience but definitely alters the atmosphere. Greeted with holiday enthusiasm by Alex (owner) and Nina (designer/hostess) as our party of 8 arrived for our dinner reservation before setting sail for fireworks. Our server, Carlo was excellent - excited about the menu and kept pace with our wants and needs. He explained the importance of the soft menu and the feedback and changes already incorporated. Chef Marco stopped by our table and greeted us and asked about our meal and taste. Not one of the 8 diners had any suggestions or concerns or recommendations - every morsel was delectable. My only "complaint" such as it was ... no beignets! Started with warm bread and herbed butter on the table -- excellent!! The Burrata & Peach salad was blooming with colors - the presentation couldn't be beat ... and delicious ... perhaps a tad more dressing, but that's just a personal preference! The filet hand cut by Chef was cooked to perfection - every one of them arrived as order. I was told that the shrimp, scallops, black ink squid pasta was great! The lamb chops tender and tasty. Dessert, for those who indulged- were quite happy with their finish. I can't wait to return with more friends! read more

Anchor 28 - Burata with peaches - Seafood Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

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Our food was amazing. I got the Lobster Roll and it was as good as, if not better than, lobster rolls that I had in Bar Harbor, Maine. My husband got the Mahi sandwich and it was perfection. The French Fries are everything you want in a fried potato stick. Crispy on the outside and potato-ey on the inside. Everything is made from scratch and you can taste the difference. The service was great. Everyone was very attentive. We got there about 10 minutes before they opened for lunch and we sat at an outside table to wait. A very kind man came out and brought menus so we could look them over and offered us water. Anchor 28 is charming with a really cool vibe. Highly recommend! read more

Anchor 28 - Lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

Wow what an awesome place! The food is unbelievably amazing, probably the best steak (prime Ribeye) we've ever eaten in our lives my wife and I. Alex the owner is such a great person too, he makes rounds and checks in on his guests. We will definitely be back! read more

Great hidden gem! We went for lunch and everything was delicious. I had the Blackened Mahi sandwich with fries. The waiter described the fries as crispy and like mashed potatoes in the inside. Perfect description! My husband had the Shrimp bowl & my father-in-law had the shrimp & peppers quesadillas. Both were amazing! Our waiter was very friendly, provided recommendations, and was very attentive. We sat outside and there was a nice ocean breeze. The inside was very pretty as well. I'm looking forward to coming back and trying dinner! read more

It's new so they have links to work out. They do not have a liquor license yet. FYI. Service was a tad slow. They had a huge party that they took last minute which used up most chairs. So we had reservations for 6. But they had to use 2 patio chairs at an indoor table for us. And there was not same height and kinda awkward. Service was a bit slow and the service we had felt a bit rehearsed. It's a very small restaurant. Decor very nice. Food was hit or miss. Appetizers were nothing special. Bread was good. Their butter was amazing. Salad was fine. Grouper and sides were delicious. Crème brûlée was also wonderful. read more

Having a Michelin-star-level restaurant right in your own backyard is truly unbelievable. Tucked away inside the Holiday Inn Express, Anchor 28 is a delightful hidden gem and a wonderful surprise. The food was exceptionally fresh, beautifully plated, and every dish was thoughtfully prepared. The service was outstanding--thank you, Felicia, for making our evening so enjoyable. The impressive selection of fine wines and handcrafted cocktails perfectly complemented the meal. If you decide to dine at Anchor 28, you'll be rewarded with superb cuisine, impeccable service, and an unforgettable dining experience. You won't be disappointed... and chances are, you'll be back again and again! read more

Service was great and food was delicious. This place has a nice ambiance and good food selection. Love trying something new and this was a very pleasant surprise. Can't wait to return read more

We came for my friend's birthday dinner and had an exceptional experience. They decorated our table with a happy birthday sign and brought out complimentary crème brûlée for dessert. Our waitress was enthusiastic, kind and attentive. The bartender made my friend a special bday drink. We enjoyed our apps and entrees. Some of the best salmon I've had in a long time. The ambiance was lovely as well... sexy date night vibes but still welcoming in that coastal st. Augustine way. Would definitely come again. read more

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What an amazing happy hour date ! Wonderful service by Carlo and the chicken wings are a must!! The calamari; crab cake and Rangoon were fantastic! We can't wait for the dinner menu for my bday! read more

Anchor 28 is a hidden gem in Vilano Beach! Fresh seafood, perfectly cooked steaks, and outstanding service in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. You can truly taste the quality and care that goes into every dish. Highly recommend for brunch or dinner, we'll definitely be back! read more

Anchor 28 - Crusted pistachio rack of lamb - Seafood Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

This restaurant has it! They have the best tasting food(chef is French/Morrocan inspired). We enjoyed the appetizers (filet and prawn, yellowfish tuna seared and avocado, crispy pappas, and coastal crab rangoons!!). The menu is a delight, with the best of choices to serve the most delicate pallet. The service was with out doubt hands down an absolute joy. I recommend this restaurant to all. You are friends they haven't met yet. The atmosphere is a delight as it is very carefully and skillfully decorated to be comfortable yet elegant. I will be back!! read more

Wow - Anchor 28 was amazing! We were a party of 5 and went for dinner. The service was top notch lead by Carlo and Felicia. The food was delicious and we tried filet, grouper, shrimp and black gold pasta - yum!! We will be back - everything was delicious and service was amazing! read more

We did not have a reservation, but highly recommend for Friday and Saturday night. Ate dinner there last night. We had the scallops, calamari and crab rangoon. All was perfectly cooked. Great service. Went back this morning for breakfast. Also very good. You can not go wrong! Going back tonight for the lamb!! read more

Had brunch today at Anchor 28 - It was fantastic, reasonably priced, great staff, and my Eggs Benedict - perfect. The decor is elegant - full liquor license too. Obviously, I am very impressed with everything. You must try it out. It is great to have restaurant of this quality without having to drive across the Vilano bridge or go into St Augustine. I wish them all the luck I the world. https://www.anchor28.com read more

Fantastic food, great service a must try for the beach area. We had the blackened shrimp bowl which was superb. The desert was a Dubai chocolate cake which was to die for! read more

We stopped in for a drink and a snack after spending the week with family. Service was fantastic, location was perfect and the food was delicious. We sat outside and had a nice breeze. Staff even took the time to snap a few pics of me and my wife! Definitely recommend and we will return. read more