Georgia's Golden Isles food guide: St. Simons, Jekyll and Brunswick

The Golden Isles are the barrier islands of Georgia's southern coast: St. Simons, Sea Island, Little St. Simons and Jekyll, with Brunswick on the mainland and the fishing town of Darien up the coast. They are quieter than Savannah and more tied to the water, and the food reflects it. Here is how to eat well in the area, what to order, where the shrimp boats dock and how seasons change what is open.

How is the area laid out?

St. Simons Island is the busiest, with a village area near the pier and lighthouse that holds many of the restaurants, plus beaches and live oak-lined roads. Jekyll Island, a state park, has a historic district, a beach and a handful of waterfront restaurants. Sea Island is a private resort community. Brunswick, on the mainland, has a historic downtown and working docks. Darien, thirty minutes north, is a small fishing town on the Altamaha River with a long tradition of shrimping. A causeway connects St. Simons to Brunswick, and Jekyll Island may charge a parking fee, which is worth checking before you go.

Biking is a popular way to get around on St. Simons and Jekyll, with flat paths and shaded roads, and many visitors rent bikes. A ride from the St. Simons village to a lunch spot on the east side is a pleasant half day. Jekyll's historic district has a few restaurants inside restored buildings, and a walking trail circles parts of the island. Carry water and sunscreen, since shade is uneven, and watch for alligators in ponds on Jekyll and in the marshes.

What seafood should you look for?

Georgia's coast produces shrimp, blue crab, oysters, flounder, red drum, grouper and snapper. Wild shrimp are a point of pride, and local shrimp season runs through the warm months. Menus on the islands and in Brunswick and Darien list steamed and peel-and-eat shrimp, crab cakes, Lowcountry boils, shrimp and grits and fried platters. Ask the server whether the shrimp or fish is local, and be aware that some menus use imported seafood.

Fresh seafood is also sold at markets in Brunswick and Darien for cooking at home, and some markets will steam shrimp or crab for you. Ask what came in that morning, bring a cooler with ice and keep seafood cold on the drive. For visitors renting a house on St. Simons, a night of home-cooked shrimp with corn, tomatoes and a salad is easy and cheaper than a restaurant dinner. Check that the market sells Georgia shrimp, and ask how long it has been on ice.

Where can you see the shrimp boats?

Mary Ross Waterfront Park in Brunswick is a good place to watch the working waterfront, and fresh shrimp is sold at local markets. Darien is a small fishing town with a long history as a shrimping port. Excursions on a working shrimp boat are offered between St. Simons and Jekyll. Boats come and go with the tide and the season, so check before you plan around them.

What is Brunswick stew, and is it from here?

Brunswick stew is a thick tomato-based stew of meat and vegetables, usually served alongside barbecue. Brunswick, Georgia claims it with a plaque on a large iron pot dated 1898, but Virginia has an older claim dating to 1828. Whichever state you believe, you can eat it here, usually next to barbecue or as a side. The dispute is explained in the stew guide in this series.

How do seasons change what is open?

Summer is the busiest time, with the beaches full and restaurants crowded. Spring and fall are comfortable, with easier tables. Winter is quiet, and some places reduce hours or close for a few weeks. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and evacuation orders can close the islands. Watch the forecast before a trip, and check the restaurant's social page.

When do you need a reservation?

Summer weekends and holidays require booking for popular restaurants, especially waterfront ones. Many casual places run walk-in lists. Midweek and early dinners are easier. If you are staying on Jekyll, which has few restaurants, book ahead or plan to cook.

How much does it cost, and what about children and allergies?

Waterfront seafood costs more than a counter lunch in Brunswick. Sales tax is added, and the usual tip is 18 to 20 percent. Check the current parking fee for Jekyll Island before you go, and expect paid lots at some beaches.

Beach restaurants are casual and welcome families. Shellfish and fish are major allergens, and fried seafood shares oil. Tell the server at once, and ask about sauces. Vegetarian options are limited in seafood restaurants, so check menus.

Spend a morning on St. Simons, walking the pier. Have lunch in Brunswick, walk the waterfront and drive to Darien in the afternoon. Return for dinner on the island, and book in advance.

Allow time to get around. The islands are connected by causeways and bridges, and traffic builds on summer weekends, so leave early for dinner reservations and expect parking to take a while. Many seafood restaurants keep seasonal hours and close early on weekdays in the off season, so call ahead. Bring bug spray and a hat for outdoor tables, and ask whether the shrimp or fish is local that day. If you plan to buy seafood from a market, ask for it to be iced for the drive home.

How do you keep a food diary for the Golden Isles?

Islands, causeways and a mainland town make for a spread-out trip, and the best shrimp of the week might be in Darien. Mosey is a food app for finding, rating and sharing places to eat, and it rates by the dish, so the peel-and-eat shrimp, the crab cakes and the Brunswick stew each get a score.

Tag a rating with Fresh Seafood or Worth the Trip, keep a list for the trip and share its invite link with the family renting the house next door. Following friends who vacation here every summer gives you their favorites before the first dinner.

Rate your best seafood stop in the Mosey app.

More guides to read next:

• Macon and Augusta food guide: hot dogs, pimento cheese and river towns
• Vidalia onions and Georgia peaches: when to buy them and where to eat
• Georgia boiled peanuts and pecans: what they are, where to buy

More in the US food guides and the ranked lists of places.