The Story Behind the Surfing Deer

The Surfing Deer is one of the newest of Ann and George Hartley’s restaurants located in Seagrove Beach. Many may remember V Seagrove which was the previous restaurant on the corner of 30A and 395. Living in this area for years, I always planned to go to V as it reminded me of something you would find on the Miami strip. Floor to ceiling windows so you can see right in, huge chandeliers, and modern décor made it stand out. When I finally made it, it had become the Surfing Deer. But I wasn’t disappointed in the least.

The Name: When you tell someone you’re going to the Surfing Deer, most likely they’ll ask you to repeat yourself. Not your average restaurant name but we found out the great story behind it. Cube McGee is somewhat of a Seagrove Beach legend who was well-known in the area when it was just a few houses and sand dunes in the forties. He would play on the beach early in the morning each day with his pet deer named Bambi. The Hartleys wanted to keep that legend alive and bring back the core of 30A, a place to make lasting memories. Some lucky ones have been able to spot deer themselves down at the beach early in the mornings. 

The Menu: Happy hour is each evening from 5-7pm with an impressive menu of Calamari, Bacon Gnocchi & Cheese, and the popular Brisket Burger at prices you can’t beat. For drinks, try a Tennessee Apple Mule, a Seagrove Sour, or have the bartender surprise you! The dinner menu boasts everything from Havana Grouper and Sesame Seared Salmon to Caramelized Sea Scallops and Chargrilled Lamb. There are vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options available as well. When we asked what was popular, the waiter almost named everything on the menu so it was hard to decide as everything looked amazing. We went with the Brisket which beat every burger in town, hands down. 

The Atmosphere: The restaurant is definitely upscale where you could go for a nice date or catch happy hour at the bar for a more casual experience. The staff was extremely friendly and couldn’t say better things about the Hartleys and how great they were to work for. They treat their employees like family and you can tell everyone there really enjoyed their job. Our bartender had great reviews on every menu item and was happy to talk about the history of the restaurant. 

The 30A area continues to grow and we love each addition. The Surfing Deer is in an ideal location near 30A vacation rentals and right across from the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. You can catch a beautiful sunset and follow it with an amazing dinner. Next time you’re in town, make room in your schedule to stop by. You won’t regret it!

Published on Thursday, December 21, 2017