A Restaurant to Call Home

Ambrosia Brings Elegance to Watersound Town Center

Story courtesy of Ambrosia | Photography by Michael Booini, Boo Media

Ambrosia Prime Seafood & Steaks, located within the new Watersound Town Center, has established itself as one of the best spots for fine dining in South Walton, Florida. It celebrated its one-year mark last August, and customers are returning for the top-notch guest experience and culinary offerings, as evidenced by hundreds of glowing testimonials on Google, Yelp, and Open Table. Owner and restaurateur Russ Graham says that’s what it’s all about.

“The guest experience at Ambrosia is our number one priority,” says Graham. “When training our service staff, we borrow the philosophy from Ken Blanchard’s book Raving Fans, which is celebrated as a revolutionary approach to customer service. We have a ‘Charlie Point Award’ program with our service staff that is presented to a qualifying employee each month. We believe deeply in the approach and have received positive reviews from hundreds of our customers. It works, and it provides consistency for our guest experience.”

Much like the approach to customer service, the menu and interiors at Ambrosia are equally important. Beautifully designed by local interior designer Paige Whitten, the restaurant features a warm and welcoming elegant dining room and private dining room, an energetic coastal-meets-classic aesthetic with leather booths, smaller tables, beautiful portraits, and a large seagrass sculpture inspired by the seafood offerings on the menu. A complement to the dining room is the dimly lit New York speakeasy-style bar that features mahogany wood, copper ceiling tiles, a marble bar top, and custom tile flooring. Outside, Ambrosia offers a classic patio area for al fresco dining surrounded by beautiful landscaping and large maritime umbrellas, all overlooking The Pavilion at Watersound Town Center.

The bar at Ambrosia features a popular Caymus Happy Hour with an excellent wines-by-the-glass promotion and a thoughtfully curated happy hour menu Monday through Thursday from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Ambrosia’s elegant menu is led by Executive Chef Pablo Catalan, a New York native with Chilean roots and an esteemed culinary career that spanned years in Chile, New York City, and Washington DC before he made his way to Ambrosia this year.

“Chef Pablo is the best of the best. Truly a solid chef,” says Graham. “From sourcing the freshest seafood available to having an in-house butcher for our prime steak offerings, we spare no detail for our customers.”

Among the many special dishes on the menu, one that stands apart is the Grouper & Pearls, a crispy Florida day boat grouper served over a bed of Key Lime “pearls”—a creamy and slightly tangy pearl couscous. The grouper is seasoned and gently fried to create the perfect mix of textures in the dish. Ambrosia sources their grouper daily to ensure the freshest quality is served to their customers. It’s a dish that has been perfected over the years to highlight how fresh and delicious the popular Gulf Coast fish can be. Additional new menu items for 2024 include the Crispy Whole Snapper, Wagyu Bread, Royal Reds, and Prime Steak Rolls.

Ambrosia’s general manager, Kevin Weatherly, is a longtime friend and restaurant colleague of the Graham family who relocated his family to the beach last year. “I get to be a part of building something really special that will be here for years to come and make an impact in developing the team and culture,” says Weatherly.

“From sourcing the freshest seafood available to having an in-house butcher for our prime steak offerings, we spare no detail for our customers.”

Ambrosia regular JW Snell is among many raving fans who are happy to have the restaurant in the neighborhood. “Ambrosia is not the typical vacation restaurant 30-A is known for,” says Snell. “The fine dining side reminds you of South Miami, very modern and exquisite. Enter the bar area, and you’re immediately greeted with the rich smell of fresh leather and the view of a handcrafted wood bar. It’s the only place on 30-A where you don’t feel like you’re at the beach. It feels more like downtown Nashville or Atlanta. The staff always have a smile on their faces and deliver phenomenal customer service. They remember your name when you return; they remember your drink and your favorite meals. The managers are always walking around greeting guests to make sure they have a great experience.”

Graham and his family recently built a home in the area, and he and his wife, Lauren, can be found at the restaurant daily. “The Watersound Town Center is still under construction, and that is something we have been challenged by in terms of visibility for new customers finding us,” says Graham. “But we have a vision for what’s coming once the center is closer to completion. We’re happy to be here and feel thankful to call this place home.”

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Ambrosia is located in the Watersound Town Center at 75 Origins Main Street. It is open Monday through Saturday from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m., Sunday from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., and during Caymus Happy Hour Monday through Thursday from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the bar and on the patio. For more information or to book a reservation, visit Ambrosia30a.com or call (850) 909-0100.

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Get to Know Kevin Weatherly

Say hi to Ambrosia’s general manager on your next visit! Weatherly moved to 30-A from Germantown, Tennessee, and is thrilled to be part of the culinary scene on the Gulf Coast.

VIE: How many years have you worked in the hospitality industry?

Kevin Weatherly: Twenty-six years

VIE: How do you describe Ambrosia to friends?

KW: I describe it as a high-end steak and seafood restaurant that has all the potential to be an iconic spot known for great food and hospitality.

VIE: What sets Ambrosia apart from other restaurants in the area?

KW: The culture, training, passion for being a “yestaurant” for our guests, and amazing food

VIE: What is your favorite dish and drink at Ambrosia right now?

KW: Food: Redfish Pontchartrain (because it was my idea); Drink: Smoked Old Fashioned

VIE: What do you love most about Ambrosia?

KW: I get to be part of building something really special that will be here for years to come and make an impact in developing the team and culture. It’s a breath of fresh air to work with hands-on owners who are willing to give us all the resources we need to be the best. Also, Lauren Graham is a saint!

VIE: Thank you, Kevin!

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