It was supposed to be a weekend trip to North Carolina but at the last minute we decided to go south instead and ended up in the great resort area of Panama City, FL. Sure, the weather wasn't going to be much warmer but I would rather be cold at the beach than cold in the mountains. It led to a wonderful find.
It was way past time for lunch and kinda early for supper but we were hungry. Now when it's too late for breakfast and too early for lunch they call it brunch so we loaded up the Durango in search of some lupper or lunper or lunner or whatever you want to call it. We headed down US 98 East, took the business loop and ended up in the quaint bayside town of St. Andrew, FL. After a quick tour of the marina our eyes fell upon this little yellow house which served as the host for Uncle Ernie's Bayfront Grill and Brew House.
It looked very pleasant and inviting from the outside but the fact that it was a "Brew House" made it all the more appealing. It was but a mere 57 degrees outside but the sun was shining so we took a table out on the "enclosed" deck which offered a wonderful view of the bay. The propane heaters made it nice and toasty.
The restaurant is located in the former home of Ernest (Uncle Ernie) and Jessie Morris. It was built in the late 1800s and is one of the oldest houses in the city. Originally located on Louise Avenue in St. Andrew it was moved to the marina where Uncle Ernie was known to many and made his livelihood. Very homey and relaxing, just wait until you taste their food!
My hubby immediately took advantage of the beer sampler and our friendly waiter, Tim, recommended the spicy bloody Mary which according to the menu is "Bay County's Best." It is served with a souvenir shot glass of homebrew too. It was delicious and "hot" and though I have nothing from the area to compare it to I think it is worthy of the title.
Uncle Ernie's features three beers brewed especially for the restaurant and they are wonderful. My favorite is Miss Jessie's Light Blueberry Ale. It has a nice floral aroma and a nice blueberry taste which does not overwhelm the other beer flavors. They also feature an amber ale and a Belgian-style wheat. Both are properly hopped for their respective styles and are a great accompaniment to the seafood fare the restaurant features.
We started with Uncle Ernie's chicken nachos which paired well with the Bloody Marys. The plate was literally heaped full. Even though it was just an appetizer the serving was big enough that 2 adults could make a nice lunch out of it.
Our waiter also dropped off a basket of tomato basil bread which was lovely. It had a nice dense bite to it without being overly chewy.
The salad was fresh and crisp with black olives and parmesan on top. The house vinaigrette was well-balanced.
I ordered up fried shrimp. Fried shrimp can be hit or miss at some places. I can't stand it when I order this and get handed a basket of shrimp-flavored fried breading. Uncle Ernie's, however, did not disappoint. My plate was smothered with 14 large shrimp with a light tempura coating. They were perfectly fried.
Hubby got the Grouper Imperial which consisted of a grilled grouper filet, shrimp and sea scallops topped with Crab Imperial sauce. The filet was moist and smoky and the sauce was superb.
Tim asked if anyone had room for dessert. Of course, we didn't, but it didn't stop me from asking if they had Key lime pie -- my favorite!
"We make our Key lime pie here at the restaurant and it is the absolute best!" Tim gushed.
Well, those who know me know full well, that I am a Key lime pie connoisseur. I am not big on sweets but I do have a major weakness for this tangy, tasty, treat. I know Key lime pie! If you serve me a slice, it had better be yellow and not green, because if it is not yellow then it is not a true Key lime pie.
My stomach said "no" but my tongue said "yes" and I'm glad that it did.
It may sound like a cliché but I do have to say that Uncle Ernie's offering truly was the absolute best Key lime pie I have ever tasted. First of all, they served up a huge wedge. Secondly, the tart part of the pie was nearly three inches high. The pie was nearly as dense as cheesecake yet incredibly moist and creamy. Sweet and sour flavors were perfectly balanced. Instead of eating the shrimp I wish I would have ordered two slices of the pie and a pint of the blueberry ale. On my next trip I might just do this.
