Brennan's "School Of Fish" at Windmark Beach [update: closed permanently]

[kurt]

We stopped by Windmark Beach on our way back from Apalachicola and were surprised to see "School Of Fish", the latest offering from the Brennan brothers out of New Orleans was open for business and serving lunch. Everything was excellent as expected and the view of St. Joseph's Bay and Cape San Blas is outstanding. They have outdoor and indoor seating.

I had grilled shrimp and some of the most tasty saffron rice I've ever had. Tootsie had a juicy burger with perfect fries tossed in truffle oil. All the dishes around us looked excellent - grilled fish and steaks, and delectable deserts.

I heard one local comment how appreciative he was to have such a fine restaurant come to the area. Blake Brennan was present and chatting at every table. We met him and mentioned we hadn't made it to Royal B or Commander's Palace (both now in Destin) yet but he said to call him and he'd set it up. Now that's service!

School Of Fish
51 Good Morning Street
Port St. Joe, FL 32456
850-229-1122

[GoodWitch58]

Wow! this looks grayt. Where exactly is it?

[elgordoboy]

Wow! this looks grayt. Where exactly is it?

East of Mexico Beach before you get to Port St. Joe. It is a very, very nice looking development... a bit remote for now.

[cp]

I drove through that developement back in Feb.Didn't stop there was so much construction going on in the business district.

[kurt]

I drove through that developement back in Feb.Didn't stop there was so much construction going on in the business district.

The exteriors are finished. They are working on interiors, and a few businesses are moving in now.

[rapunzel]

It looks fabulous. Are there places to stay in the area yet?

[kurt]

It looks fabulous. Are there places to stay in the area yet?

Plenty in nearby Mexico Beach or Port St. Joe.

As for WindMark Beach itself - http://www.windmarkbeach.com/specialOffer.htm

The WindMark Beach staff will be happy to take you on a complimentary private community tour. We can also recommend other experiences in the area, such as kayaking expeditions, fishing charters and horseback rides.

As a friend of WindMark Beach, you’ll receive a special rate to stay in one of our newly furnished loft homes located in the heart of Village Center. And if you decide to purchase before 6/30/08, we’ll have the Port St. Joe Marina reserve a slip for you to lease ~ a wet slip if you buy a home and a dry slip if you buy a home site.

[SHELLY]

I heard one local comment how appreciative he was to have such a fine restaurant come to the area. Blake Brennan was present and chatting at every table. We met him and mentioned we hadn't made it to Royal B or Commander's Palace (both now in Destin) yet but he said to call him and he'd set it up. Now that's service!

Had the pleasure of meeting Clark at Royal B and watched him interact with his guests and staff throughout the evening--it would help some other local restaurant owners to watch and learn.

Have to give their new place a try. Found this on Youtube:



.

[Teresa]

thanks for the video Shel. excellent.

[Gypsea]

Thanks Kurt! We'll have to take a drive over there and check it out.

[kurt]

SCHOOL OF FISH RESTAURANT, OPERATED BY CLARK AND BLAKE BRENNAN, NOW OPEN AT WINDMARK BEACH

Casual Seaside Venue Serves Up the Flavors of the Gulf Coast

Port St. Joe, FL (July 25, 2008) – The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE) announced today that its School of Fish restaurant, operated by Southern restaurateurs Clark and Blake Brennan, opened July 17th in the 2,020-acre residential and resort community of WindMark Beach. A casual Gulf-front venue featuring local seafood and area produce, School of Fish is the newest addition to the Village Center of WindMark Beach.

“Clark and Blake Brennan are serving up savory food and genuine Southern hospitality,” said Joe Rentfro, vice president and project manager of WindMark Beach. “Dining at School of Fish is a truly singular experience thanks to the brothers’ culinary expertise and the beautiful seaside location of the restaurant.”

Steps away from a stunning 3.5-mile stretch of beach, the restaurant and bar welcomes guests sporting shorts and flip-flops for a leisurely lunch, and casual diners for a relaxing, low-key dinner. Offering indoor and outdoor seating with scenic views of the Gulf of Mexico, the School of Fish menu fittingly features local Gulf Coast seafood with a Creole flair.

Starters range from a hearty corn and shrimp chowder with andouille sausage to Apalachicola oysters with country bacon, herb butter, roasted red peppers and aged Gruyere cheese. Entrees include grilled Gulf of Mexico shrimp with fresh mango and lime, served with island rice; aged strip sirloin steak grilled over an open fire, served with pommes frites and petit beans; and herb-crusted local fish pan fried in virgin olive oil with grilled asparagus and lemon truffle sauce. A separate children’s menu offers kid-friendly fare such as grilled cheese sandwiches and hamburgers.

A tempting array of desserts such as Creole crème caramel, a crème de menthe parfait, and New Orleans bread pudding are also offered.

“School of Fish is a warm, welcoming place for friends and families to enjoy tasty, high quality cuisine without pretense,” said Clark Brennan. “We’re focusing as much on serving the freshest local ingredients available as we are on delivering the finest Southern hospitality.”

“The restaurant’s décor has a rustic coastal feel that ties into the surrounding natural scenery, bringing the outdoors inside,” said Blake Brennan. Touches such as hand-carved butcher block-topped dining tables, cypress tree stump bar stools, driftwood accent pieces and large windows framing picturesque Gulf views make for an inviting atmosphere.

School of Fish is located in the Village Center at WindMark Beach at 51 Good Morning Street, in Port St. Joe, just off of Highway 98 along Florida’s Gulf Coast. For more information or reservations, call 850-229-1122.

WindMark Beach is located on THE Beach, which stretches across the Northwest Florida coastline. Visitors to these white sand beaches and clear emerald waters can go to www.thebeachfla.com and Travelocity.com to book hotel and rental units, as well as airline flights. From August 1 to September 30, 2008 individuals can register to win a luxurious Idea House at WindMark Beach in a sweepstakes from MyHomeIdeas.Com. This prize package is worth $1 million; details are available at myhomeideas.com/myhome/homegiveaway.

[SWGB]

Will definitely have to go that way and try it out. Haven't been over to Windmark since they moved 98.

[kurt]

School Of Fish is now closed permanently.

[passin thru]

As in, closing for a while, or closing for good?

[SHELLY]

School Of Fish is now closed permanently.

Never made it out there, but pretty much thought it would come to this conclusion seeing that they couldn't make a go of their place (Royal B) in Destin and this new place as pretty much out in the boondocks. Nice guys though--wasn't like they weren't trying to please their customers.

.

[kurt]

Closed for good.

[Teresa]

very sad to hear it.

[GoodWitch58]

I thought they just opened.....

[ItzKatzTime]

This makes me sick for them. I so wanted to take a day trip, after we closed, to this restaurant. The pictures you posted Kurt were so wonderful.

"Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today."

J. A. Spender