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The attractions on Jekyll Island are diverse, so it’s no surprise that dining options are equally diverse. Here, I share some of my favorites. They are not presented in a specific order, and each has its strengths. It all depends on whether you are looking for fast food while browsing the historic districts of Jekyll Island or looking for a delicious solid meal at the end of the day.

As I walked around, I noticed that there are a few places where you can quickly grab a bite to eat while visiting the historic neighborhood. Doc's Snack Shop is a fast food restaurant where you can order hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken salad sandwiches, grilled cheese and typical fast food. Don't expect good food, but it's fast, delicious, and hot. Please sit on the raised pier and enjoy yourself before continuing to explore the area.

For desserts, just a short walk from the Island Sweets Shoppe. Get some pralines, fudge or ice cream to satisfy your cravings for sweets.

At The Wharf, history and food are blended together. The casual restaurant is located on the pier, which used to be the check-in place for visitors to the exclusive club on the island. This is the only way to get to the island. The wealthy arrived on their own yacht or train, and then took the 100-foot ship, The Jekyll Island, to the island.

The pier is located at the end of the pier and offers magnificent water views. It is part of Jekyll Island Club Resort and serves American Southern cuisine. Seafood is the most prominent menu item, but there are also meat, poultry and vegetables to choose from. My favorite is shrimp and kibble. It is made with fresh Gulf shrimp and Andouille sausage, which is a bit spicy. From Wednesday to Saturday night, they provide you with live music performances. 

Driftwood Bistro is where the locals tell me to go for that special dinner. It's in the villa near Driftwood Beach. Since they have been in business for 12 years, you know they did it right. Even more convincing is that they won the title of Georgia 100 Boards for 2019-2020. They are only open from Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm to 9pm

The style is coastal low country, with the feel of the old Blue Plate Special restaurant. Fried okra, fried green tomatoes, cheese grits and black-eyed peas complement the patties and pan grilled platter. The shrimp dishes here are very special, including Wild Georgia Shrimp and Grits and Wild Georgia Shrimp Cake, which is a different interpretation of the usual crab cakes. For dessert, try their Georgia Bourbon Peach Cobbler. My vegetarians, vegetarians, and gluten intolerant friends will be happy because they have options here. They also have a full bar with some chilled frozen drinks.

Tortuga Jacks is a meeting place for Lower Mexico Beach near the Great Sand Dunes Park. I chose to sit on the pet-friendly deck next to the tiki bar, overlooking the dunes and the Atlantic Ocean. There, I heard some native speakers of Spanish, which heralded authenticity. If the weather is bad, the restaurant inside is comfortable and the bar seems to be well stocked. Of course, margaritas are special here, but they also have a variety of cocktails, beers and wines to choose from.

My favorite is pineapple and pepper wings, but there are many other interesting options. All traditional Mexican dishes are here, including fajitas with chicken, shrimp or beef-or eat them with all three. There are enchiladas and burritos, or, if you don’t like Mexican food, burgers and shrimp. Some unusual aspects caught my attention: sweet plantains and Mexican street corn are not things you can see everywhere.

There is live entertainment on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings in summer. The dresses are casual beachwear and are reasonably priced.

If you want to eat pizza, check out Red Bug Motors Pizza. They are located on Beachview Drive opposite Tortuga Jacks in the Great Sand Dunes Recreation Center. They offer more than just pizzas made from scratch. You will find lasagna, pasta and other Italian delicacies, as well as sandwiches and salads. They serve beer, wine and soft drinks.

Mini golf courses, ordinary golf courses and playgrounds surround the old English pub-style restaurants. There is a cozy fireplace inside, which is suitable for visiting in cool weather.

When I walked into McGarvey's Wee Pub in Beach Village, I felt a little "old country". I wouldn't be surprised to hear someone suddenly sing and take me home, Catherine. It is made of dark wood, very real, several comfortable small rooms, only a large table suitable for a group of people, comfortable booths, dark green and red painted walls, and a well-stocked bar. They filled the ledge above the bar with empty signed Jameson bottles. Customers who finished the last bottle of wine can sign on it. A lot of cute signs are posted. My favorite is in the lady’s room, which depicts a young couple picking flowers on the grass. It says “It’s better to love and lose than to spend the rest of your life with a mental patient.”

In a small corner under the checkers table, there is a miniature Irish pub scene. On a small table are some food, a pint of whiskey and a glass of frothy beer. A small fireplace, a Christmas tree and mini signs complete the whole scene.

The food is typical Irish cuisine: shepherd’s pie, sausages and mashed potatoes, as well as homemade corned beef and cabbage. They make everything from scratch. When you see "Champ" on the menu, it is Irish mashed potatoes. They have many other options. No matter what you do, make room for dessert and let their buttered pecan bread pudding drizzle with caramel and whipped cream, and let them add a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It has won first place in A Taste of Glynn County many times. I almost licked the last crumb in the bowl.

Perhaps the secret to the authenticity of Wee Pub lies in the family of owner Kevin McGarvey from Donegal County in northern Ireland. He regularly returns to Emerald Island.

Jekyll Market in Beach Village is another concept. This is a gourmet grocery store with a restaurant inside. You can stop at The Love Shack and choose a grilled chicken or a simple grilled sandwich. Go back to The Boardwalk Deli and choose a muffin sandwich with french fries or some sliced ​​meat and fresh bread. Have a drink of Joe at Good Day Coffee & Bakery, and finally enjoy a cupcake-sized birthday cake, chocolate toffee bars or Mile High Tower cheesecake at A Sweet Shop Named Sprinkles as dessert. You can also find dozens of other foods on the market. Soft drinks and hard drinks are available here. Take them all to a table outside and dig in. 

Sunrise Grill is just around the corner and is a good place to start your day with a regular bacon and egg breakfast. This is also a pleasant place to end your evening with dinner and Appletini or Godfather cocktails on the beach. Their motto is "From sunrise to sunset".

There are many restaurants on Jekyll Island. It's impossible to try all of them, but these make me very happy. For more holiday planning inspiration, please consider:

Kathleen Walls is a road trip enthusiast, author and publisher of American highways and global highways. In addition, she has written many travel books, including Ghost Journey in Georgia, Finding Ghosts in Florida, People Walking with Ghosts, and Wild Florida series. According to Catherine, “The only thing that is almost as interesting as traveling to new places is to tell everyone about these places with my work.”

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