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| Seagrove Market |
And behold, an angel touched him
and said to Elijah,
“Arise and eat.”
And he looked,
and behold,
there was at his head a cake
baked on hot stones
and a jar of water.
And he ate and drank and lay down again.
I Kings 19:5-6
Restaurants abound in the 30A and surrounding areas.
Eating out on a budget is not an easy task as prices are high.
Keep in mind tip jars when accounting for potential costs.
When traveling with the children, the majority of our meals are prepared in our kitchenette. They can have their favorite foods and do not miss sitting through a table service meal. And it does not break the bank.
Just a reminder that lunch menus are easier on the wallet and the gut, especially weekday specials.
This is the only visit of many to 30A that we have ever been diligent in planning ahead and tracking expenses. (Notepad on smart phone.) Definitely room for improvement in multiple areas, but our eating out budget was spot on.
Since the majority of our meals are counter service or takeout, we generally split entrees or large sandwiches and provide our own sides. Reduces the bill, but also keeps us from oinking out and my husband from gout attacks.
When ordering table service, we try to order two entrees or one entree and an appetizer since restaurants are not generally pleased when customers split meals. Table service greatly increases costs as well as overall consumption, so we do not eat table service meals very often.
Some favorites...
~ Pizza by the Sea @ WaterColor ~
One favorite eatery from which we can squeeze one or two leftover meals is Pizza by the Sea. It is entirely kid and dog friendly, and they have weekday lunch specials. Read more details on that here.
~ Subway @ Seagrove ~
If we are not mistaken, Subway is currently the one and only fast food chain restaurant on 30A.
Located in SeaGrove, it is easily accessible to Seaside and WaterColor.
Subway is not a favorite for two of our three bambinos, but a big hit with the gout-induced vegetarian in the family. On honeymoon vacations, my husband and I will split a footlong veggie with all the trimmings. Half for lunch. Half for dinner. Taking it with us to the beach with our chips and ice packed smoothie or fresh fruit from "home".
Another option is to enjoy eating in front of the Subway where live music is performed in the evening on certain days of the week.
As a side note, do not miss the beauty behind the Subway. Tiny but beautiful pond and walkway.
Enjoying cozy date-like atmospheres that serve veggies and coffee and encourage long stays, Panera is a treat not terribly far from 30A.
A whole sandwich with chips, a bowl of soup with a baguette, a mug of coffee, and a 99 cent dessert comes out to $15. We share it all, and it is delicious.
Due to the crowds, it is one place we will break the lunch habit and have a late dinner. If lunch is preferable, avoid Saturday lunch hour at Panera. Insanity hits on that check-in/check-out day.
~ SeaGrove Market @ Seagrove ~
A bike ride from Seaside and WaterColor, SeaGrove Market is a local, delicious joint. Eat in or take out.
Keeping with our frugality this trip, we ordered one huge weekday grouper sandwich to share and an order of hush puppies. We brought our own fresh fruit.
Taking it to my favorite spot in the fully shaded courtyard of Seaside, we had a romantic lunch amidst the beauty of lush greenery and twisted tree branches.
See pic @ top.
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| Donut Hole - East & West of 30A |
~ Donut Hole @ Highway 98 ~
Strategically located at the end of 30A on either end, Donut Hole promises delicacies of fried, sugary crowd pleasers. Arrive early to choose from a wide melt-in-your-mouth variety.
NOTE: Donut Hole was open only seasonally last we checked!
Splurge..
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| View from Bud 'n Alley's in Seaside |
The closer to the beach, the breezier and cooler along with incredible views!
Our big splurge on our last trip was lunch at the Bud 'n Alley's pavilion in Seaside.
Located above the dunes, with a view of the beach, outdoor covered or uncovered seating is a available.
We ordered a grilled mahi mahi sandwich, a veggie eggplant sandwich, and a serving of sweet potato fries. Instead of chips that normally come with sandwiches, the waiter kindly offered side salads. After tax and tip, the total was ~$45.
Big splurge for us. Having planned ahead and estimated costs on this trip, we accounted for the expense by giving up some other take out meals.
~ Breakfast/Snack @ Meltdown - Seaside ~
They gave our dogs BACON. Have we mentioned the dog friendliness of this area? Lots of sweet folks on 30A. (BTW, we don't generally feed our dogs bacon, but who can resist such warm hospitality?)
The grilled biscuits with various toppings like Gouda cheese and ham are $5 (+tip +tax), and they are simply delish. Not quick to prepare, but worth the wait if you have time.
Why was this a splurge since the total was only $7 for two to spilt a biscuit? Normally, finances go toward lunch yumminess. We do not mind eating breakfast at "home", and we love eating out for lunch. (Dinners are usually less heavy to loosen the belts.)
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