Cortesse’s Bistro & Flamingo Room Piano Bar

I can't say enough good things about this place. The food is unique with a wonderful, ripe taste to the sauces. They grow their own vegetables on-site and you can taste the freshness in the food. The place is large with multiple bars and a piano player who performs nightly at 6 pm. The atmosphere is very comfortable right down to the music playing. This isn't just a place to eat it is a place to make good memories. I will definitely return.

The food was delicious, and the cocktails were amazing! We got the Oysters Rockefeller, Chicken Marsala for dinner and had the Feeling Fresh for drinks!
The ambiance is perfect, so cozy, cute and romantic! 😍 The live music was wonderful!
Would definitely be back! ❤ Oh, don’t forget the in house bread!

This little gem is now our favorite restaurant in all of St. Augustine!! Simply the best food, service, and atmosphere! My mom and I went here several times during our 10 day stay because we just could not get enough. The owner, Mr. G, treated us like VIP and there is this beautiful sense of mutual respect and camaraderie between him and his staff. They all treated us like family. We even met the chef! The Chilean Sea Bass was our favorite dish, it is a must try!! The bartenders are absolute pros and made top notch drinks. We highly recommend this place and cannot wait to come back. We miss it already. Thank you, Mr. G, for your wonderful hospitality and great company!! You made our stay in St. Augustine so much more memorable ❤

1/11/2024

Had a lovely dinner on the patio. The staff was super friendly and the food was great. We liked it so much that we will go back on Valentine's Day, during the same trip. I didn't think $$ is the right rating, we spent close to $200 for two of us, so it should probably be $$$. But again, we enjoyed everything and I think it is the right caliber of food to justify the extra spend. This is a family run operation, we even got to meet Uncle Izzy, the chef... So nice.

Our servers Ben and Striker were absolutely wonderful to us. The owner even checked in on us to make sure everything was going well. We felt safe, welcomed, and the food was to DIE FOR. The reviews talking about the portions and overvalue clearly dont go out to eat at more upscale restaurants. The food is more expensive, but that would be the case with any higher-class dishes/service. The entire restaurant is strikingly beautiful and makes you want to stay for hours. This place deserves 5 stars, 4.2 doesnt do it justice.

ATMOSPHERE:
Beautiful outdoor setting. Comfortable for a nice date night. We sat indoors because it was a humid day. It got a little warm at my table, but the humidity was high this day, so it was okay. They also had a fan running, so it didn't get too bad. Just be prepared depending on the season of year.

SERVICE: Remy was our server, and he was absolutely amazing. He knew every detail about the menu items we asked about. He was very welcoming and attentive.

FOOD:
For starters, we ordered the Calamari and Caesar Salad for starters. The calamari was lightly breaded and paired with a tomato basil sauce. The calamari was fresh, but it could've used a little salt n pepper. The Caesar salad was AMAZING. It was a whole romaine heart lightly grilled with a drizzle of dressing and topped with patmesan cheese and light croutons. Run to get that salad.. don't walk...

For our etree, we had the Chicken Parm and Veal Marsala. The chicken parm was nice, but it was slightly on the dry side. Still good enough to eat and enjoy. The Veal Marsala was paired with rosemary mashed potatoes. The potatoes were nicely whipped and had a nice flavor. The portion of the Veal could've been a little bigger since it was thin, but it was still good.

For dessert, we had the Limoncella cake, and it was so good. It was the perfect ending to our meal. It was light and airy, with just the right amount of sweetness.

OVERALL:

The food was great, the atmosphere was beautiful, and the service made you feel right at home from the time you enter the door. We will definitely return to try the other menu items. You can tell the chef knows his way around a kitchen.

The pesto gnocchi with chicken was the best food I've ever had. The vibes are very nice outside with the garden or you can sit inside with a live musician playing the piano and singing after like 8pm. The plates are a little small so you may want an appetizer, but with chicken added to my pasta it was very filling. It is perfect for a date night and to have a small venue to interact with the musician. We got to have song requests and it was wonderful. It is my new favorite restaurant

I only intended to meet a friend for one drink here and then head farther into town for food. BUT we didn't want our experience to end, so we stayed the rest of our night! Brandon was a knowledgable, witty, and excellent bartender, the food was fresh and tasty, and the live music by Katie Fair was fabulous! I will definitely be back next time I'm in town.

We had lunch here and was seated outside as it was a lovely day. The restaurant was not very busy which was great. The service by Diego, our server, was fantastic. Our food came out very quickly.
I had the beet salad with added salmon - it was excellent!

If I can I would give 10 stars to this amazing Mediterranean style restaurant. It’s cozy and classy ( not many restaurants in St. Augustine have white table cloth and soft piano music ) , and the food is delicious. I have to mention, portions are just the right amount ( I even had to take some in a box to go ) , prices are equivalent to the quality of the place. The staff and the owner, Mister G, are polite, professional and always smiling. I noticed they have a secluded space for private special events. If you need a romantic atmosphere- that’s the place in town !
It’s a gem , which I enjoyed so much. I had escargot , beet salad and flounder piccata with asparagus risotto. I can’t wait to return when the martini bar is open ( under remodeling now) and weather little cooler so I can seat at the beautiful garden
I almost forgot , there is a plenty of free parking in-front of the restaurant, not like other places where you have to pay $10-$20 or park faraway and walk to get to the restaurant.

An evening to remember. The food was all around great. Our waiter, Striker, was attentive and quite helpful.

The mussels were exactly as described, the chicken piccata was unlike any other piccata I’ve had; delicate and buttery.

The bread seemed as if it came directly out of the oven when it arrived.

Even the salad and pasta were good.

Overall, a wonderful experience.

We will be returning.

Beautiful place to enjoy lunch or dinner with your loved ones. Besides the delicious meals made freshly by the talented executive chef Zlate, you will feel for a moment that you are seated in a luxurious restaurant in Italy or Spain. Time will stop, and you'll start appreciating the artistic beauty around. I would give 10 stars to this place. Excellent food and exceptional service.

I actually would be given it 5 stars in all, but I am very strict it about sea food dishes, and my calamari was too hard for my unrefined paladar but could be perfect for an expertise paladar. Although I totally recommend 👌. We were 3 people's, 2 adults and 1 kid. Total paid $120 include the tips, not too much if you want to get a special night with a gourmet dinner.

Yum! Delicious and wonderful environment for an intimate dinner or a big group. Food selections fabulous—fresh, wild seafood, generous portions , amazing beef and chicken options and one stellar bar team with some pretty fabulous cocktails! Piano played almost every night in the bar! I never get tired of here!

10 out of 10!!! Would rate 100 out of 10 if I could!! Absolute BEST snapper and Chilean sea bass in NE Florida, maybe beyond. Amazing experience Remy the bartender was cool and knowledgeable and really welcoming to serve us even at 10 pm on a Sunday. The food was OUTSTANDING. The live piano was amazing and I got to hear Edwin play and he plays on Sundays so we will be back every other Sunday for date night until I try the Whole menu!!😁🙌
Vibe was great, really you have to give it a try!!

What a FIND!!! Felt like we were at a 5 star restaurant. The main thing this place has going for it that's UNIQUE is the VIBRANCY & ALIVENESS!! We loved the service and everyone we met!! The live music just made it a friendly place.

My eggplant parm was great - not too much breading. I would go JUST for the fresh bread and real butter!! Caesar salad was also fantasic with a mustard dressing.

My husband loved the Dover Sole Special. We both loved the lemoncello cake with fresh zest.

I'm a foodie, very picky. We'll be coming back for the live jazz on Tuesdays!!

If anyone gives this place anything less than 5 stars, you're out of your mind!! Best atmosphere, service, & food that I've experienced in St Augustine for years! I have worked in service f/b industry most of my life. I have desired such a exquisite place to dine for so long. I can hardly put into words the hospitality and decadent food/surroundings at this place. Kudos to Mr. G, Z, & S!!! I will work with you anytime you need help in your beautiful place. Did not intend to turn this into an application to serve, but if you need reference please call Tom Delaney @ Delaney's Bistro, Saint Simons Island, GA. Love love love!! -Regina

So excited this restaurant is back open again and better than ever! Had one of the best meals ever, pork osso buco and eggplant rollatini. Beautiful, romantic dinner in the courtyard with very attentive service. The piano player in the bar afterwards was fantastic and played a wide range of requests.

If you're looking at this, just go. It is absolutely delicious and delightful!! The service was spot on, our drinks never went empty. The food was cooked perfectly, I will be dreaming of the sauce on my pasta. The warm bread and oil was super yummy. The first place we ate in St. Augustine and it will be hard to top. The outside patio at night was cozy and cute. We loved everything about it. Would definitely go again, and again.

The food tasted amazing. Please remember this place exhibited quality over quantity. It was cozy , kind of romantic in the front area with a bartop on the left side with live music from a man and his baby grand . Also, there was an open airy area in the back of the restaurant. There were fountains and tropical plants in the back room. This place was unique. The food and service were good. We will return. Thanks