by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
I must say, if you’re going to eat in St. Augustine, make every meal special. The last thing you want to do is sit down at some bar with sub-par food when there’s a world of fine cuisine in a historical setting, just waiting to be served to you on fine linens. Not that there aren’t hole-in-the-wall joints worth haunting, but there are some really fine establishments in St. Augustine.
As part of an evening out to the Limelight Theatre, my husband and I opted to eat at the Raintree Restaurant. We parked at the Limelight (no problem finding parking, it was hours before the show) and simply walked the two or three short blocks to the Raintree.
Like many restaurants in St. Augustine, the Raintree has historical charm. It was constructed just after the Civil War and was part of a building boom that gives St. Augustine its Victorian sensibility. In Colonial times the land that the house stood on was kept empty for defense purposes. It became part of the Hernandez Homestead, where oranges were cultivated. The land was purchased by a Confederate war veteran Bernard Masters. He had five daughters and he made sure that each of them had a house once they were old enough to be married. The Raintree was one of the five. It went to Hattie Masters after she married A.J. Collins in 1897. Mr. Collins served as a member of the city Board of Aldermen and was also in the dry goods business.
Eighty-two years later, in 1979, the MacDonald family, consisting of father and mother, Tristan and Alex, son Gaere, and daughter, Lorna, left England in their 45-foot yacht, Intsholo III, bound for the U.S.A. Frustrated by high taxes in Europe, they sought to make a life for themselves here in Florida. They settled in St. Augustine, bought what is now known as the Raintree in 1980 and began the process of renovation and restoration. After nearly a year, they opened the restaurant. Since that time, the Raintree has received international accolades for its food and ambiance.
We entered the Raintree through the garden gates, passing a koi pond and an outdoor patio dining area. From our first steps into the garden, it was easy to tell why the Raintree is often a stop for those with romance on their minds.
The Raintree is certainly large enough to accommodate more than one special event or wedding, with several seating areas to choose from. We were seated in a kind of atrium area, with a view of the gardens.
As to libations and spirits, the Raintree has quite the selection of wines and they’ve got a full bar. A glance at the menu revealed that they offer all the standard high-end choices found in American and Continental restaurants. While the menu isn’t adventurous, the food is well prepared, using fresh and fine ingredients.
One thing that might get your attention is that gratuity is automatically added to your bill, as is standard in Europe. This saves you the trouble of doing the math after one too many glasses of wine. A standard 15% is added to your bill if you have one check. Separate bills require a 17% charge to your server. If you tend to tip more generously, don’t worry, it’s perfectly acceptable to leave a little extra for your server. Even if you pay by credit card, you can add to their tip. Just because tips are primarily automatic doesn’t mean that the service suffers. On the contrary, we found the Raintree to have some of the best wait staff in the First Coast area.
Unless you’re early enough for a dinner special, most of the entrée items run from about $20-30. Each item is meticulously prepared and servers are very knowledgeable about the menu. I enjoyed a beef Wellington, a great cut of filet surrounded by a puff pastry with a savory Bordelaise sauce. The Wellington is a specialty at the Raintree and it’s always on the menu.
The Raintree is also known for its dessert decadence. If you would like a taste of the Raintree elegance, but you don’t have the budget for a full meal, you can just stop into their cocktail room for dessert. Desserts range from about $5-9, so you won’t be breaking the bank. I indulged in their Evil Triple Chocolate Cake, offsetting the sweet decadence with a shot of espresso. If you’re into Victorian elegance to go with an elegant meal or simply a dessert, the Raintree is the place for you.
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EU Critic’s Choice Awards
