Eating out with kids changes what "a great restaurant" means. The food still has to be good, but so does everything around it. Can you get a table without a ninety-minute wait? Is there something on the menu for the picky eater? Will anyone mind if a four-year-old gets a little loud? And is there room to wiggle, preferably outside?

Amelia Island does this well. The island's casual side is just as strong as its fine dining, and plenty of the best local spots are places where families fit right in. The seven below are all restaurants in our Amelia Island restaurant guide, grouped by time of day, so you can plan breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert without leaving the island.

Breakfast

1. Beach Diner

Beach Diner on South 8th Street is family-owned and serves breakfast and lunch only. Kids get chocolate chip pancakes. Adults get the dishes you won't find on a chain menu, like the shrimp and crab omelette or fish and grits. It's the easiest way to start a beach day.

2. T-Ray's Burger Station

T-Ray's is a local favorite in a converted downtown gas station, cooking breakfast, lunch, and hand-formed burgers to order. Kids love the setting as much as the food. Plan around the hours: weekdays 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Lunch and dinner downtown

3. Timoti's Seafood Shak

Timoti's on North 3rd Street is the downtown seafood spot families end up at again and again. Fish tacos and shrimp baskets suit kids who are new to seafood, the creative plates keep the adults interested, and it's gluten-free friendly. Service is quick, which matters with small kids.

4. Arte Pizza

Arte Pizza is one block off Centre Street on North 3rd. It makes Neapolitan-style pizza from old recipes tied to one of Naples' most famous pizzerias. It's the rare pizza night where the adults are just as happy as the kids.

On the beach

5. Sandbar Amelia Island

At Sandbar on Atlantic Avenue, the picnic tables sit right on the sand. Kids can dig while the food comes out. The menu covers coastal dishes, wood-fired pizza, and seafood, so everyone finds something.

Dinner with a show

6. Fancy Sushi Japanese Grill & Sushi Bar

Fancy Sushi on Sadler Road has a full sushi menu and a hibachi grill. For kids, hibachi is dinner and entertainment at once. For adults, it means fresh sushi and sashimi without anyone getting restless. Birthdays and big groups work especially well here.

Dessert

7. Fernandina's Fantastic Fudge

Fernandina's Fantastic Fudge sits on the corner of Centre and Third. It makes fresh fudge in-house every day, along with ice cream, candy, and caramel apples. Walking down Centre Street after dinner and ending here is a family tradition for a lot of visitors.

Tips for eating out with kids on the island

  • Eat early. Getting in by 5 or 5:30 p.m. beats the dinner rush almost everywhere, especially downtown in spring and summer.
  • Go outside when you can. Patios, decks, and tables on the sand give kids room to move, and nobody minds a little noise.
  • Plan around breakfast spot hours. Several of the best breakfast places close early in the afternoon, and some keep shorter weekend hours.
  • Big groups should call ahead. For a family reunion or multi-family trip, a quick call earns a better table than walking in with twelve people.

For date nights and special occasions when the kids stay home, see our guide to dining in Fernandina Beach.

If you're staying in a vacation rental or second home, our concierge service can book tables for big groups, line up reservations for the busy weeks, and stock the kitchen before you arrive. That way the first breakfast is ready at home and everyone heads to the beach that much sooner.