Ovide

I have heard so many good things about the new restaurant and hotel in Sandestin, so when a special occasion occurred, I made a reservation immediately. My husband and I have a tradition of choosing a different fine dining restaurant to visit on our anniversary. Since I’ve seen Hotel Effie grace the resort from start to finish, it seemed apropos to choose Ovide for this special occasion and I’m so glad we did.

Ovide gives attention to every detail. When making the reservation you’re prompted to make note if it’s for a special occasion. We were greeted by the hostess who wished us a happy anniversary. The bartender and waitress both acknowledged are special occasion numerous times. The staff was extremely friendly and attentive. The atmosphere was plush yet cozy. We sat at a booth across from the bar and enjoyed the lavish surroundings.

The food was absolutely delicious! Bravo Chef Hugh Acheson who managed in one night to make this my absolute favorite restaurant in the area. His resume is quite impressive, winning multiple James Beard Awards, owner of several acclaimed restaurants, Top Chef Masters competitor, and Top Chef judge. Wow! To have this culinary talent in our own town is a foodie’s dream. Now on to the menu.

We ordered two sharable appetizers, prime beef tartare and octopus. The octopus was so tender you could cut it with a butter knife and my husband was in heaven with his beef tartare served with flaky croissant like toast. The main courses arrived. Lobster risotto and pan roasted red snapper with Thai chili emulsion, pigeon peas & rice, and charred Bok Choy. The waitress suggested this Thai, Jamaican fusion dish when she learned I liked spicy foods. It was incredible!

Unlike many fine dining restaurants that leave you hungry when you leave, Ovide’s portions were plenty generous. In fact, we were completely satisfied we opted to take dessert to-go. That too was over the top delicious. Along with our tasty meal we enjoyed signature cocktails from the bar as well as a couple of glasses of wine from an extensive wine menu. The pours were very impressive!

We were especially impressed when the bill came. Of course, since we were celebrating our anniversary, we were prepared to go all out. However, we were pleasantly surprised of the price for this experience. In fact, we decided Ovide is just too good to save for a special celebration. We will definitely be back soon!

Ovide is located in the lobby of Hotel Effie at Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort in Miramar Beach. If you are looking for a fine dining experience for a special occasion or really any occasion, I highly recommend Ovide.