Enticing new scents are set to waft across St. Augustine’s ascendant dining scene.
The Old City’s celebrated husband-and-wife culinary couple, Genie and Jeff McNally of The Floridian, are launching a bold new dining concept just as their flagship restaurant prepares to relocate.
Bea’s Fine Foods + All Day Cafe will open Wednesday, August 13, at 9 Anastasia Boulevard, just south of the Bridge of Lions.
While construction continues on The Floridian’s hotly anticipated new home on Old Beach Road, Bea’s is the first of two fresh McNally-led concepts set to delight local palates this year.
The other, Jefe’s Fish Wagon, will debut soon at Hornski’s Brewing Co., serving tropical seafood favorites from a retro-style truck.
But Bea’s takes center stage next month, with a full-service, all-day menu served in a warm, vintage-inspired space that pays homage to Genie’s family and culinary roots.
“I take so much inspiration from my family, so it was natural to honor my grandmothers with a concept that is near and dear to my heart,” says Executive Chef Genie McNally. “Bea’s is a way to play with ideas that have been marinating in my head. Jeff and I have invested lots of time in building relationships with our purveyors, and many times, they just bring me what’s fresh, and I start ideating.”
Those foodie fever dreams will soon spawn an eclectic array of breakfast through supper items including the Frittata du Jour, cast iron pizzas, and globally inspired Southern dishes like Chicken Adobo and Scallops Veracruz.
The all-day aura will stylishly sashay into night with Bea’s Supper Club, offering cozy lighting, small plates, and natural wines.
Bea’s will seat 40 inside, with additional porch dining. The decor features stained glass fixtures salvaged from the iconic Santa Maria restaurant and hand-picked 1970s beach-style furniture and artwork.
Meanwhile, the McNallys are also working on The Floridian’s upcoming location at 485 Old Beach Road, expected to open later this year with a wraparound porch, expanded seating, private dining, and a walk-up drink window.
Reservations for Bea’s open Monday, August 4, at beasalldaycafe.com.
The cafe will be open Wednesday through Monday, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and closed Tuesdays.
