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Café Thirty-A b y M a r y We l c h
H arriet Crommelin just “does her own thing. We’re not too trendy.” And that is exactly what her customers at Cafe Thirty-A have liked since 1995. Cafe Thirty-A, located on E. Scenic Highway 30 A in Seagrove Beach, has been pleasing locals and tourists alike with its fresh ingredients, well- cooked food and a wait staff that makes the dining experience feel like you are family. Crommelin didn’t start out in the restaurant business. A native of Montgomery, AL., she worked in real estate and would visit the Emerald Coast on vacation. When the real estate market crashed, she threw her hat in the restaurant business and opened Kat & Harry’s with a friend. “Well, I had no money and no restaurant experience and that was it. Within four years Kat left to go out on her own and I realized I liked to entertain and cook. I liked the restaurant business.” A customer told her about Seaside and she checked it out. “I saw all these lovely people with money. They were well dressed and their children were well behaved. I thought, ‘These are my kind of folks.’” She found some property near Seaside and opened up the restaurant serving “eclectic or New American. A little bit of everything. We change the menu quite often. Of course, we always have a lot of seafood.” Her customers are not only loyal and appreciative of Cafe Thirty-A quality but are quick to sing their praises. One customer noted that the lobster mac-and- cheese provided an “out of body experience,” while another said it was a “pitch perfect dinner.” Among her specialties are Prince Edward Island Mussels, grilled octopus, fish stew, oven roasted will king salmon, smoked pork chop and shrimp, Maine lobster in paradise, and clam puttanesca. She also serves a variety of wood oven fired pizzas. Of course, the latest trend is craft
“Well, the key is to serve good food. We’ve done that from day one, and we just took off. I run the place thinking about how I would like this as a customer. I believe in that and I hope everyone feels that.” Opened in 1995, Cafe Thirty-A has counted on its loyal customers to get it through economic downturns, but not with some adjusting by Crommelin. “Back in ’07 we had to lower our prices and then we started a special menu. We also opened a 5 p.m. rather than 6 because we found people wanted to eat and still enjoy the outdoors at night. We have a buy one, get one free from five to six o’clock. It builds up the place.” She’s learned a few things since opening such as when she screened in the front porch. It seemed like a good idea at the time; but not only was it so hot, it
Sesame Crusted Rare Yellowfin Tuna
attracted yellow flies and just ate up all the waiting diners. “It was bad,” she remembers with a laugh. Instead she went to Plan B; and expanded and enclosed the upstairs deck. Called the Fishbone Bar, it has a funky, casual atmos- phere that can be used year-round, and offers spectacular Gulf views and a full-service bar.
It also can accommodate between 25 to 80 persons for private parties, weddings, and special events. “Best decision I ever made,” she says. Crommelin says she has no plans to change her winning formula. “We’re just going with the flow. There’s a lot of businesses opening near us, which is helping,
Maine Lobster in Paradise
and our local business has been very loyal. I don’t have kids, so my staff and customers really are my family.”
cocktails and Cafe Thirty-A offers a wide variety of alcoholic concoctions, including the James Bond (gin, vodka, millet, and a lemon twist), the Hummingbird (prosecco, St. Germain, club soda, and a lemon twist) and the Seagrove Beach Breeze (Smirnoff cranberry, peach schnapps, cranberry, and orange juice).
“There is nothing better than a good cocktail,” she says. Every Tuesday and Thursday there are $5 ‘tinis at the bar all night. Of course, it’s not one’s every day martini. There is the Berry Blue ‘Tini, the French Kiss, French Martini, and the Strawberry Lemonade ‘Tini (among others).
Café Thirty-A is located at 3899 E. Scenic Highway 30A, Seagrove Beach, FL. 32459. Open daily for dinner at 5 p.m. Call (850) 231-2166 or go to www.cafethirtya.com.
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