Spy
21 Hypolita St, St. Augustine, FL, 32084
Spy Menu
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Address :
21 Hypolita St
St. Augustine, FL, 32084 - Phone (904) 819-5637
- Website https://spyglobalcuisine.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Music : Background
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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D.j. K.
My wife and I had a fantastic experience last night at spy. We had steve as a waiter and he was very helpful and attentive. The environment was very pleasant and enjoyable as well. Really like the fact that they offered different seating arrangements. The sushi and the stir fry tasted great! The presentation was excellent and staff was willing to answer any questions we had. I highly recommend paying them a visit. The only negative comment I can say about the restaurant is the parking (just like any restaurant in downtown St. Augustine). You need to find a public parking which isn't easy in St Augustine. Plan on paying anywhere from $5 on up for parking as well. Plus leave extra time to find parking to make your reservation time at the restaurant.
(5)Doug S.
We stumbled upon this new place while exploring Hypolita Street. We were lured in by the music of the outdoor musician playing on the Spy's outdoor patio. We sat, (and drank) for hours as we listened to the "Pied Piper" and people-watched from this fantastic location. The owner and staff were customer-focused, and participated in our conversations and banter. We sampled some deliciously yummy flavored sake, sangria and ice cold brews. We had already eaten, so I wasn't hungry enough to try any of their delicious menu, but I will be back to sample all their rich offerings. And yes, this is a new establishment, and all the staff is new, but what they (currently) lack in experience, they make up in personality, fun and customer service. That being said, I would rather visit here than sit at another "established" place where the staff treats you badly, (listen Meehan's). The inside dining area is dark and comfy, and perfect for a quiet Sushi tasting with friends, or intimate couples night out.
(4)Kathy P.
Good live music, fantastic atmosphere, and yummy food. While on vacation, spy was a place that was highly recommended for their sushi and they did not disappoint. I ordered the volcano roll and I devoured it in less than 5 minutes. My friends order the st Martin I believe, and we also had orders of gyoza, teriyaki chicken stir fry and spicy tuna roll. In my group of 4 girls, everybody raved about their food. It also helped that the live music was fantastic which made for an even better dinner. The singer sang blues, country, and many varieties of cover songs. I thoroughly enjoyed myself sitting outside in the court yard with the nice breeze, good food, and great music. Overall spy is a place I will be back to when I'm back in town for vacation. It was refreshing and an overall great evening.
(4)Bobby G.
Service started off slow but rebounded. We had the Jinx sushi roll as an appetizer. It tasted pretty good. The only issue I had was the salmon was very scarce. I had the skirt steak with chimichuri sauce and man was it great. The sauce had a spice that really made it awesome. My wife had the Greek Shrimp. I was also fantastic. It comes with white rice however the waitress said that we could have substituted the rice with linguini. To top it off my wife also had a Orange mojito. Again we were very impressed and will be back. FYI I am not easily impressed.
(4)Kiley B.
Horribly slow s service. Very small selection of food and drink. The wine we ordered was 4 dollars more when the bill came than it was on the menu somehow. So watch for different prices on the bill! The only plus was a great live musician name Sam
(2)Amy C.
The patio is very relaxing with great live music. The service was great, the staff is very knowledgable about the menu. The owner is serious about customer service!! He came to our table more than once to make sure things were great. I would recommend!
(4)Ann D.
Came here because Sushi isn't something easy to find in Downtown St. Augustine and they advertised as a sushi restaurant. The wait staff was nice, but VERY inexperienced and had no clue what was going on. Their sushi selection was sparse, and while we tried to order some basic things (salmon maki, rainbow roll) they said they couldn't make them or had trouble with it. And they screwed up what they did have that we ordered. I haven't had the other food here on the sparse menu, so two stars. But I do not recommend coming here if you're hoping for sushi.
(2)Hollee J.
This restaurant has a great location and the live music created a romantic ambiance! The food was good as well! I recommend the house ginger salad--the dressing isn't your typical ginger dressing but it was delicious!!! They add almonds to their salad! Yum! Someone in our group ordered the calamari appetizer and said they were well cooked and not chewy. The downfall with this place was service. The hostess was less than warm and had our party wait 30 minutes just to be seated at one of the 7 open tables they had when we arrived. The hostess seated our 6 top at a table with 4 chairs, set down the menus and went back to her stand. We stood around for a moment before deciding to grab a couple of chairs from the next table. Afterward, the hostess carried two chairs to the other table and gave us the stink eye while she huffed and puffed. The waitress was slow but at least polite. They add 20% gratuity to parties of 6 or more!
(3)Nicole S.
This place is great every time we go. The management is very accommodating since are food was being slow they gave us a free round of drinks. The atmosphere outside is great on weekends and they have live music. Sushi is different and very tasty.. Not your usual rolls. Great place!
(5)Andrea K.
The Spy roll was amazing! Wow what an amazing sushi roll! The music was great and wonderful spot to kick back in St Augstine!
(5)Taylor B.
Visited Spy as a walk-in during my trip to St. Augustine. Walked by the place while roaming the streets, wasn't sure how to get inside at first, as there are no signs that really clearly indicate. We sat at the bar. Ordered a couple over-priced cocktails and the octopussy and dr who roll, that was on a happy hour menu. The food was good, but not later in the night. I was up sick half the night from my sushi roll. I'd be willing to give this place another shot (with caution), based on some other reviews I've read , but for now, I'll be avoiding this place.
(3)Elizabeth M.
The sushi was really good. The atmosphere was really quiet. Nice if you want a very quiet romantic date.
(3)Martha G.
I've visited Spy a few times now and the food and atmosphere just don't disappoint. Their cuisine is described as Global because it has a little bit of everything to offer. I love their sushi and asian inspired menu. On this last trip we had the tuna guacamole as an appetizer. The dish combines the best of traditional Mexican dish with aji tuna and the resulting dish is awesome. For our main meal, we had two sushi rolls; the Firecracker Roll and the Vulcano roll. The Firecracker contained Panko fried Jalapeno, Snow Crab, avocado, topped with spicy tuna, 911 sauce, tempura crunch, habanero masago and scallions. The Volcano had crab tempura, cream cheese wrapped with avocado, and topped with seafood dynamite, thai sweet chilli, sriracha aioli, and masago.They were both awesome, however the Firecracker can be too spicy for some. The atmosphere of the restaruant is great, it has a nice outdoor patio with live music while you eat. We didn't get to enjoy this on this outing due to the rain, however, the entiror did not dissappoint. The first floor is layed out as a sushi bar, but the upstairs has a lounge feel and that's where we decided to rest our tired feet. The next time you visit St. Augustine, put Spy on your list. I believe it will become a quick favorite.
(5)Natasha T.
Can a review been written if the food was never tasted? Atmosphere was awesome which is why we wanted to sit on the outside patio and they had a great singer. We waited for at least 15 minutes before anyone acknowledged us after we were sat. The manager asked us whether anyone had been at the table. He got us drinks and got a server to our table. We placed our order and app order as well - after well over 30 minutes of waiting and no appetizer or waiter in sight we decided to leave - finally caught the waiter and asked him to cash out our drinks and the manager realized what was happening and caught the waiter and comped the drinks and apologized - explained the sushi chef had called out and they were short handed. The manager, hostess and singer were all nice/competent - unfortunately our waiter could not have been more careless!
(3)Robyn H.
Who knows, maybe they really were expecting waves of people to come rolling in? As it looked from the outside, the place was empty though the rest of St Aug was packed. My youngest child requested sushi so we were trying to fulfill his request. When we walked up and inquired about the wait time, the hostess disappeared for about 3 minutes, came back and told us there were no tables. When we asked to be put on the list she said she couldn't because the reservations were all booked. Bye Spy.
(1)Diana S.
The food and service were top-notch, but the atmosphere was not impressive. We had a seafood pasta dish that was stellar. The avocado and tuna app was pretty good, too. Service was great-Kaylee was attentive and polite. Unfortunately, the atmosphere out a damper on our meal. There is a funky smell on both levels and the lighting is dark. It just doesn't fell clean.
(3)Christopher H.
My wife and 2 small children decided to take a drive to St. Augustine FL. We decided to SPY because the aroma of the food caught our attention. There was a 30 minute wait before we were seated. Once we were seated there was an additional 50 minute wait before our food was brought to our table. We were about to walk out then they brought our order out and it was WRONG. Man this was a waste of time. I would not recommend this place to anyone. Disatisfied customer
(1)John P.
Might be better if you don't sit at the sushi bar. Food is ok. Not great but acceptable. The problem is the service and the employees buddies visiting them and goofing around when my food is being prepared. The place is disorganized and plates and glasses were dirty.
(3)Mike W.
My friends Justin, Peter, and I decided on Spy mainly because the foremost restaurants we wished to dine at in Saint Augustine--The Floridian and Catch-27--both had wait-times of over an hour and we really couldn't wait that long to eat. Spy is located right next to Catch-27 so we wound up there: only a few of the patio tables were taken, which wasn't a great sign, and there was no wait, but we still hoped for the best. Come to think about it, in the many times I've visited Saint Augustine, never have I ever seen Spy busy in the least. Maybe that should have told me something. The interior and patio are both very nice: warm, inviting, and certainly ready to provide a good experience as a restaurant. The hostess and waitress both were very friendly and seemed professional and other members of the front-of-house staff were rushing around in the manner you'd expect for a fine dining restaurant. No complaints there. When provided with the menu though, a few disturbing aspects jumped out at us: one, the prices were quite high; two, aside from sushi, the menu also features "global cuisine" which includes fare from India to Greece to Argentina. To pull such off, you'd have to have a chef and kitchen staff totally on top of their game. Still, we ordered beer--Goose Island's 312 Urban Wheat from Chicago, which was seriously amazing--and things were off to a decent start. I ordered sushi, Peter a veggie stir-fry and Justin a Greek shrimp dish. That shrimp dish on the menu actually sounded awesome and I considered ordering it myself. Justin and Peter also ordered small salads, each around $6. When the salads arrived, they got Justin's wrong but quickly remedied this issue. These salads--a ginger-dressing'd asian one for Peter and a Caesar for Justin--were unremarkable and quite small. My sushi came and looked pretty, but alas was seriously on par with Publix sushi--I would be hard pressed to say it was restaurant quality. Certainly, considering each roll cost about two dollars more than most restaurants would ask for the same style rolls, I was very unimpressed. The tuna roll was so bland--and the tuna so without taste at all--that I didn't finish even half of it. The Mexican roll's shrimp tempura was soft and soggy and there was no division of flavors in it as the soggy tempura colored the rest of the rolls with its overwhelming taste. Peter was unimpressed with his dish, also, but the worst state of affairs was Justin's Greek shrimp. The shrimp, which I tasted myself, were rubbery and without flavor. To add insult to injury, the fusion of capers, lemon juice and other flavors made the dish very bitter--not just slightly tart as one would hope, but downright bitter and unappealing. But for a $24 dish, the use of these frozen shrimp (from California, our waitress informed me when I asked) seems patently unjust when there are fresh Mayport shrimp readily available in the local region--and used for many dishes by many other local restaurants. In example, Sunday night I dined at the Ice Plant--a superb restaurant in Saint Augustine--and had their shrimp and grits. This dish feature fresh, local shrimp and it tasted of such. And it was only $16, too. At the end of our meal I complained about the tuna roll, and since it was half-eaten, they left it on the bill but for half-price--a tacky solution I felt but granted, I should have complained once I realized I disliked it. Overall, I was not impressed--not at all--with this restaurant except for the beer and the fact our waitress truly did seem to be doing her best: I suppose that is what the one star was earned for, but the rest of it was not acceptable--especially for prices that exceeded those of fine dining sushi in Orlando or elsewhere in the state. Also, beyond the beer and a decent list of sake, they offer a variety of cocktails at $10 each but made with sake--they do not have a full bar despite the spy/James Bond theme. Weak.
(1)Jordan H.
I've been here a few times with my wife when we come to town. It's our favorite place to go for sushi in St. Augustine. The sushi is good, the edamame is good. We haven't had a roll we didn't like. Only drawbacks to the place is that it's a bit cramped and a little pricey. That still doesn't keep us from coming here at least once during the 2 weeks we are here.
(4)David B.
First I'll tell you this. St. Augustine does not do Asian cuisine..period! There are less then zero places. Find something else besides Asian. Spy try's hard I think..but if you are use to great sushi in a decent size city..you'll be disappointed.
(3)Andy S.
Food is on the level of any cheap Japanese restaurant but with triple the price. Ok at best. Service is absolutely miserable, and when one of my colleagues asked to return her awful dish the manager offered 25% off. And I was charged for the extra sauce after I ate my meal... I mean come on!! It was 12/31 at 7:30. Just so they know when this happened!
(1)Margo M.
The music was awesome and drew us in but that was the best part. The sushi was good but none of the food was amazing. The service with our waiter was bad, he didn't seem to care about anything. The server beside us seemed good though. She was fast and nice and even got their food out before ours even though we were there first.
(3)Mark H.
Holy mother of Japanese fusion joints! So we're walking around St. Augustine like a bunch of tourists, not even hungry, but come across SPY and decide to go in for some sake and finger foods, and it turned out to be one of the better decisions we'd made that day! DUCK EGG ROLLS - a spicy little must-order! Don't be turned away by the gamey flavor duck normally has because this duck didn't have it--at all! QUAIL EGGS - I don't eat these things, but the novia LOVED them and reported back to me that they were delicious. Take her word for it... If you dare. :) VOLCANO ROLL - This is where it's at right here. Chef Keene went and outdone himself with this awesome dish. Crab tempura and cream cheese wrapped in avocado, topped with baked seafood dynamite, sriracha aioli and masago. This was the best dish on the table by far. Awesome wait staff, and our seat was upstairs in an almost closed off living room with couches of sorts. Very V.I.P. feeling. Next time I'm up that way, I will make it a point to drop in.
(4)Paula G.
Nice location in the touristy downtown. We listened to a folksinger named Chelsea sing Ryan Adams and Brighteyes while sipping cocktails in the courtyard. The waiter was attentive without hovering and didn't mind that we wanted to relax for a while before ordering. What really made us appreciate the service is that he ordered a wasabi Bloody Mary drink which he hated (too bitter for his taste). The waiter comped it and brought a mojito instead, one of my husband's favorites. The seaweed salads, duck egg rolls, and nigiri were very good, and the pork tenderloins were tasty. The only thing disturbing was that the place had two decorative fountains and they were both turned off or broken. Bad Feng Shui, but good food. I'd go back.
(4)Micah B.
I get it... It's known for it's sushi. But that is no reason for this establishment to serve other dishes that are simply terrible. Worst chicken marsala I've ever had in my entire life. This is not an overstatement. I expected a lot more from a $22 plate at an establishment that advertises proficiency in global cuisine. So, if you are accompanying friends who enjoy sushi and you aren't in the mood... Eat before you go. To top it off, if you have a big party expect the service to be terrible and the management to stand on observing without helping.
(1)Chandrea O.
Came across this place as we were walking to our B&B Casablanca Inn On The Bay. For an Asian fusion, I was impressed. I mainly ordered the sushi rolls and my husband ordered stir fried. Both of which were very good. We sat outside, which usually does not work out well but it did. We weren't bothered by any bugs, really.
(4)Dan S.
Sushi rolls were fine. That's where it ends. I feel like I was totally ripped off when we were served the $16 yellowtail and jalapeño. These people think they can charge Nobu prices for six postage stamp size pieces of hamachi. They didn't seem to marinade it. In fact it was a but fishy. It was an insult!! We also had the lobstertail rangoon and it was no better than the frozen ones from a Thai restaurant. Maybe worse because it was also a bit fishy. There are only a few comfortable seats. We were upstairs and our buts vibrated along with the dishwasher in the kitchen. Some tables are set up with sofas and small tables. This is great but tough on the back when you stoop over to eat.
(2)Wes L.
Two years ago I loved Spy. Recently I have not been impressed and as of tonight will not be returning ever again. I waited 30 minutes to have a waiter take a drink order. Upon ordering the appetizer and the entrees all at once.. We proceeded to wait another 30 before being brought a "complimentary" defrosted wonton and were ignored when trying to order more drinks. Wound up leaving a $20 on the table and leaving. RIP Spy
(1)Jeff K.
My groomsmen and I set out for a nice dinner on the first night that we were all in town, and we decided on Spy. We sat outside just after dusk, the weather was perfect, and the volume of the live music was just right for the background, allowing us to talk without screaming at each other. The waitress came out and took our order (which was "Give us the best 8 rolls of sushi you have", see photos), and a bit later we got them along with a quick flashlight-lit rundown of which one was which. Everything we had was fresh-tasting and unique. It all disappeared quickly. Our waitress was always attentive, and the manager came out to make sure everything was perfect (it was). It was a great time. I'd skip the nigiri and sashimi though -- not because of any problems with it, but according to the menu it was up around $10 for two pieces -- twice as much as they should be charging.
(4)Richard L.
Drinks were OK and cannot comment on atmosphere since we ate in the bar. Spicy tuna tasted bad like old fish and not fresh, had better sushi at publix. Also ordered 3 different rolls which barely had any fish inside the rolls yet locals at the bar had decent portions. Felt ripped off and taken advantage of as a tourist. Service was good though but would not recommend this place if you are from out of town.
(1)Ana G.
We knew the place was going to be tight from the other reviews, but we had no problem sitting inside. The courtyard was nice, but it was a little chili. I ordered cold saki which had a good flavor, but it was not cold; more like room temp. My husbands miso soup was very good with lots of mushrooms in it. I was disappointed right off the bat when our waiter told us they were out of the duck egg rolls as well as the lobster ran goons. Those were on my list of must orders and it was only 6pm?! The sushi rolls we ended up ordering were good, nothing special though.
(3)Caribbean Wedding E.
I spy outstanding sushi. Cool mood at this spot in the historic district. Offers outdoor seating in their court yard, too.
(5)Andy C.
Tasty place. One of the best in St Augustine. If you want sushi. It's the only place. Really cool atmosphere inside. If you can sit inside upstairs. But outside is cool. The flank steak wad really tasty. The rolls were great. The edemame was spicy. Worth the price.
(5)C M.
Never again.. Used to be great now ridiculously small portions, unprofessional staff and insane prices. I was so disappointed. Looked forward to this all week and left so hungry after spending a fortune I ordered take out when I got home! We were basically the only customers and I can see why... Complained about portion size and the chef and waitress basically said " too bad" and offered no concession
(1)Jennifer G.
Why have I never been here before??? I don't even know where to begin because everything down to the water was was delicious! The staff friendly, helpful and polite, even the owner.. the owner came to everyone's table to see how they were doing and he even answered questions that we had! The water was not your ordinary tap water, we got served their cucumber water so yummy! We had the tuna guacamole for our appetizer and if no one had been around I would have licked the plate clean! For my entree I had the spy roll which was another hit, full of tuna, but instead of rice holding it together it was wrapped in veggies and flash fried. It was sooo good. I ordered a drink called the happy endings, and it as well was very good, it tasted like piña colada only it was a martini! I have nothing bad to say about Spy, and will be back very soon
(5)Jeffrey P.
The food was great and the service was hospitable. You can tell by the wonderful combinations of flavors that the chef loves what he does. One if the owners was actually checking on tables and when he had the chance, was visiting with guests. It was nice to have an owner with a genuine interest in where you are from and why you are visiting the Saint Augustine area. The sake was delicious. We tried several different types and loved them all. I cannot speak for the sushi as it is not something I enjoy but people at the table next to us were commenting on how great it was.
(5)Janet M.
Interesting place with both inside and outside seating. They serve cucumber water which was really refreshing. We tried the calamari salad and it was very different but delicious! We also tried the pot stickers and they were very well flavored. The skins were not overly thick which can sometimes be the case. I had the 007 roll for dinner and it was delicious. I was worried it might be too spicy with the siracha sauce but it was mild. My husband tried the chicken curry. The chicken was cooked perfectly, he just didn't like the sauce. It wasn't like a typical curry sauce. The Martinis were deliciously sweet and strong. Enjoyable dinner!
(4)jeff j.
The sushi was Fantastic Sushi and the sake menu was great. The rolls were nice large rolls with great flavor. The staff was very helpful and fun. Here is a YeeHaw from Austin Texas. See you guys on our next trip
(5)Tara B.
We really enjoyed Spy. We got there very close to closing and they were great at accommodating us. Very cool cucumber water. We enjoyed two different rolls that were big and tasted great! The prices were not bad for the amount of food you got. And we were surprised by the cool light up drink menu. Centrally located we really liked it!
(5)Katie K.
Sushi and sake to boot. Great customer service. We had the firecracker roll and it was hot! They rub the row (fish eggs) with habanero peppers, attention to detail. Traditional and unique rolls. Repeat for sure..
(5)Jeremy B.
We sat outside and the ambiance was perfect. There was an acoustic guitarist who was really good. We had the Firecracker and 007 rolls which were fantastic! The service staff was short handed but they were very apologetic about this and they were attentive to this. I would highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)S W.
My new favorite restaurant in town. I started with an awesome salad, krab slaw in an avocado half, fantastic. I ordered the Spy role, which is krab stuffed tuna, etc with a panko crust, as good of a role as I've ever eaten. Not a crumb waisted. Second experience here this week. The reputation is not spoiled, awesome food. Service was a little backed up and therefore not fast, but worth the wait.
(5)Kristie E.
We stumbled across this little gem while searching for a restaurant for dinner. My boyfriend and I love sushi and the menu sounded interesting so we gave it a shot. Wow, probably the best sushi I have ever had. I didn't want it to end. Seriously. I had the kamikazee roll...a little spicy but I love spicy food anyway and just so freaking amazingly delicious. He had the domino...the meat on it was so tender and flavorful and the roll was so so sooo good. The drinks were cold, the water they serve is cucumber infused (which I loved!), the service was excellent! Everyone was genuinely nice and engaging...made the whole experience that much better. I highly recommend this place. If it wasn't for the fact we live in Miami, we would end up being regulars here.
(5)Tracey G.
Came here for a Bachelorette party with 7 other girls, we were seated in the corner where they had 3 couches and a table for us. I love sitting on couches for dinner! I ordered the lobster rangoon and the 911 roll or something like that. My meal was good, however, it definitely did not reflect the price. I understand they are trying to portray a cute little sushi joint with an awesome ambience but if you're going to charge 10-20$ per roll, make it worth while. I definitely love the environment though.
(3)Gina B.
Great place to avoid the tourist crowds of St Augustine. The terrace is the only place to sit on a beautiful night. Live music and [people-watching made this place a treasure for me. I came back the next night just to hang out. Food was a bit hit and miss, I showed up the night after their chef had moved on to a new place. But the owner definitely knows his stuff so I am sure the food will be back on top by the time I write this review. Seriously, if I get to St. Augustine again, THIS is the place I will hang out.
(4)Desiree B.
Best sushi EVER! Great outdoor seating. A little tight on the inside, but worth it. The owner mingled and interacted with us.
(5)Miss Y.
This restaurant is our favorite in all of St Augustine. The food is absolutely amazing. We prefer to eat the starters and the rolls...the flavors are literally an explosion of wonder in your mouth! The domino and the kamikaze are our 2 favorites. The duck egg rolls are absolutely divine and the best duck I've ever eaten. Every time we go, the service is great! The hosts/esses are welcoming, the waiter was attentive and not overbearing. We have a hard time finding good service in FLorida - it's a lost art form in this area and we were so happy to find some good service at Spy! It's our go to restaurant for out of town guests, birthdays, celebrations, etc. I read some of the other reviews on here that were negative and I am absolutely shocked! We actually preferred this restaurant to Nobu! That's how good it is. Thanks Spy for stepping up the level of service and cuisine in this area!
(5)R L.
Despite not having been here in a long whiles when there were two chefs, I was surprised to see a new chef. Sushi is still the best in this part of Florida area. Excellent menu. Compare ALL the sushi places in Jacksonville and this place is on its own. Prices are higher than other sushi places and well worth it! This is the best Sushi place in all of north east Florida. They even serve cool refreshing cucumber water!
(5)Jonathan K.
Great atmosphere. The service was a little lacking, maybe we just got there early, but there was no hostess outside, had to walk through the seating area to find someone. But the food and the live music were great!
(4)Gloria S.
Returning IF there is room outdoors (indoors is tiny walk in closet like) .... I would make sure I had more cash to burn, time to wait, sit farther from the speakers of the live music. Can be romantic, relaxing, food is good but too many variables that may go against an enjoyable evening out. The limited seating, the bar in the middle, horses and cars going by, slow service. If you hit it right, it can be a perfect night out. Not sure I want to chance it again.
(2)Tyler C.
Delicious drinks, expertly served! The owner and staff were extremely personable and warm. Great vibe, ambience and music (both background and live). Will definitely return. Try the Happy Ending!
(4)Joe G.
We ate at Spy two nights in a row while vacationing in St. Augustine. The sushi was (by far) the best sushi I have ever had. The "No. 4" roll (snow crab wrapped in seared Kobe beef) was unbelievably good, as was the tuna, fatty tuna, white tuna, salmon, king crab, eel, etc. The restaurant has a great vibe, managing to be both trendy and cozy. The entire staff is laid back and genuinely personable. We ate upstairs the first night and downstairs the second, and I have no complaints about either experience. I only wish we had found Spy earlier on in our trip!
(5)Steve W.
Boy oh boy where do I start with this place. This is one of the few restaurants I've been to that actually offended me... not because anybody was rude to me, but because of the extremely mediocre to poor quality of food that they are selling for extremely high prices. It just reeks of arrogance to me. I had this thai curry dish that was an absolute disgrace to thai cuisine. It reminded me of when I was a kid and my dad would basically scrounge up whatever left overs he had in the fridge and make "stir fry". The chicken, which I had to pay extra for, was clearly an after thought. They basically just cooked a boneless chicken breast until it was a piece of leather, chopped it up into chunks, and then just tossed it on top of the dish. Just like dear old dad used to do. It brought back some not-so-fond memories. The sauce was... bizarre. And not in a good way. My lady friend ordered two sushi rolls. She didn't like them at all. I thought that they were OK to be honest. Not bad at all, but nothing special either. They were about like any of the typical rolls you get from any of the typical sushi restaurants that you find on every corner. Except Spy will charge you at least $5 more than any of the other places in town. The sushi we had definitely wasn't anything unique or mind blowing. One reviewer on here said that the sushi at Spy is better than the sushi in Tsukiji market (a famous fish market in Japan). That reviewer is either a fake reviewer (like me), has never been to one of the restaurants in Tsukiji market, or has somehow had all of their tastebuds surgically removed. I have been to Tsukiji market and ate at Sushi Dai. Spy's sushi isn't even in the same galaxy. Even Katsuya in Hollywood can't hold a candle to Sushi Dai. The service at Spy was ungodly slow. Our waitress was clearly new, but thats not why our service was slow. She was doing her best and I tipped her well since its not her fault that the restaurant is terrible. Our service was slow because all of the staff (besides our waitress) were just playing around on their cell phones and socializing. We sat inside right across from the sushi bar so we were privy to all of this. We ate there during an off time. There were maybe two tables outside, we were the only ones inside (which is quite small). So its not like they were busy. There is one positive. The outside seating area is awesome. Also I kinda liked the cucumber water that they served. But there are plenty of good places to eat in St. Augustine with nice outside seating. I'd pass on Spy and go to one of the real restaurants. I immediately regret the decision to write such a long review since I know Yelp will filter it almost immediately. Actually, they might just completely remove this one as its a bit risqué.
(1)Sherman W.
Saturday night dinner with coworkers, and service was on the slow side. No real biggie since we were celebrating the end of work travel (for now), but kind of annoying when it took upwards of 20 minutes between waiter appearances to order or get served drinks / appetizers / entrees. But I'll that up to Saturday night and a slower pace of life in general over here. What really gets me riled up is when I order chirashi sushi at double the "usual" price (~$30 instead of $15), and it comes out poorly. Two things rubbed me entirely the wrong way. First, the rice was wrong. Sushi rice is supposed to have some rice vinegar in there, and the rice in my chirashi was absolutely tasteless. Second, while the fish was fresh, it was thinly sliced and the overall quantity was paltry. This was slightly offset by the chunks of avocado in the chirashi bowl, but that's not what I craved. These two things taken together left me unimpressed and hungry, even after having soup as an appetizer. Overall: Ambiance isn't bad, but the chirashi blows.
(2)Christopher L.
First, Spy has an amazing ambiance. From the saketini bar downstairs to the upstairs lounge, it's something other than the typical history-themed St. Augustine. It would feel more at home in some west-coast city like San Francisco or Seattle; that said, the exterior fits in beautifully with the rest of Hypolita Street. The fountains and outside seating area are one-of-a-kind. Second, the service. When my fiancee and I went back in March, we had a wonderful server. He recommended a great saketini, made that perfect server conversation (somewhere between small talk and giving us a real piece of his mind), nailed our orders, and recommended other great sushi spots throughout the Southeastern US. The only downside to our whole visit was the less-than-speedy service; we were on vacation and enjoyed our prolonged 2-hour dinner, but I can see how impetuous people could be turned off by this. Third, the food. Amazing sushi roll combinations (i.e. Kobe Beef with eel sauce, soft shell crab with scallions, pineapple and shrimp tempura, etc...) that were all executed perfectly, coupled with delicious Japanese favorites (miso soup, edamame). The seasoning on the edamame was particularly good, suggesting an almost smoky flavor. We stayed with the sushi menu for our main course, but the cooked food looked especially good as well. Fourth, the drinks/booze. The saketini is Spy's specialty, and they serve these flavorful drinks in all different varieties from their swanky bar. You can get them mixed with all sorts of fruit, and they have a truly astounding list of sake varieties. I've never been big on sake, but the Oblivion saketini that my better half ordered was really, really tasty. Dank and delicious...Spy also has a beer list with several Japanese favorites (beyond just Sapporo). I tried one of these, and it was quite good, but I can't recall the name. Finally, the price. I probably spent somewhere around $120 for two, and that included several drinks. I felt it was reasonable but not a bargain. To be honest, a tab much higher than that would have felt overpriced. The verdict: It's pricey sushi, but it really is the best. Ambiance is one-of-a-kind, especially for St. Augustine.
(4)Doug R.
Decided to try Spy after the Mumford & Sons concert. But the kitchen was closed. Epic fail. Spy is only selling drinks after the largest concert ever in Sr. Augustine. Went across the street to Casa Maya.
(2)Gabriel M.
Food was OK, but service was HORRIBLE! it started well with a GREAT seaweed salad but after 1 hour of waiting for 2 rolls and the waiter doing nothing about it we talked to the manager, they put a lame excuse of a big party making the kitchen slow... and they gave us a $25 gift certificate that we will never use. :(
(1)Timothy O.
Enjoyed the volcano they specially made for me, with the crab topping. Lobster Rangoon was not what I was hoping for, dumpling was chewy. Maybe it needed to be fried a little longer.
(4)Rachel P.
Excellent sushi. Try the 007 roll-delish! We sat upstairs in a private room with two comfy red sofas (bring a small flashlight to see the menu-it's dark in there). It would be nice to sit outside as well, but we didn't want to wait 45 min. Everyone in our party tried a different speciality roll and all raved about them, so I don't think you can go wrong there. Two of us got sake martinis and didn't really like them. I would prefer a traditional vodka one, but didn't see any on the menu.
(4)Chander G.
Outstanding! We're on vacation in FL and decided to drop by Spy for dinner - lots of good yelp reviews, and they were spot on. I've got a daughter that is particular about her Sushi (she's 6) and a son (1) that we were ill prepared to feed - but Spy really pulled out all the stops for us. First off, when we arrived, we expressed our concern finding food for our son and our waitress went back to the kitchen and came back with all kinds of options - from a bowl of yogurt (not on the menu, but apparently an ingredient in some of their dishes.) to some entrees that would work great for him. For my daughter, they made an incredible seaweed salad avocado roll that she practically inhaled. Finally, for my vegetarian wife, they made a special vegetable tempura dish (also not on the menu.) In short, the staff here went above and beyond to make our experience there extraordinary. Oh, and the food? It's VERY good. The menu is a mix - they have their Sushi and Japanese-style food, but also an eclectic combination of tasty looking "global cuisine" dishes (including things like Tandoori Chicken.) They apparently have a live band on some evenings, and the outdoor seating is comfortable (especially this time of year). Inside they have two floors of seating and tables. I'd definitely recommend this place - they go above and beyond to make things special.
(5)J D.
Best sushi ever. 007 themed sushi rocks the house!
(5)Michelle K.
Snazzy, trendy and upscale sushi restaurant with wonderful outdoor seating. I only wish it wasn't so hot during our last visit. Everything we had was great, but there was only one thing I want to write about...one of the chefs is vegetarian so we asked for him to surprise us with a vegetarian sushi roll. Oh my fried mango amazingness!!!!!!
(4)Ahmed B.
Late night dinner for New years night. Service a little off pace but they were struggling with the NY rush. Ceviche and Sushi was excellent. Ambience was contemporary chic. Didn't have any dinner entrees but did look good from what we could tell based on other diners choices.
(4)Colman B.
Out on a rare "date night" break from the little ones, we braved the rain to finally venture over to Spy and the main question we shared afterwards was "What took us so long?" The service was delightful as the staff, host and owner were all equally attentive and knowledgable. The location is amazing as we would compare it to some of our past off Bourbon Street finds (without the noise and aromas). Sit outside on a weekend night for great people watching; however, be should to wander in to check out the cozy and welcoming bar and loft areas. The food was absolutely impeccable. Impressing my wife who grew up in Japan with sushi in the states is no easy task, and the fact that she can wait to bring her mom for her next visit borders the absurd. Sushi lovers - Definitely try the Hamachi appetizer and the Domino Roll. Props to Chef James for a marvelous meal.
(5)Alison G.
Our innkeeper recommended Spy when we said we were in the mood for seafood. Great recommendation! Her description of the food was "spectacular", and our 007 roll lived up to that praise. The Thai green curry was flavorful, but lacked heat. Our waiter happily delivered a spice blend to help with that. I ordered a prawn and scallop dish with lemongrass sake cream, microgreens and mushrooms that was deliciously subtle. The scallops were cooked perfectly, though the shrimp were a tad overcooked. The samurai mojitos were amazingly smooth and refreshing, and every cocktail I saw delivered to nearby tables looked beautiful. We ate outside in the garden since the weather was cooperative. I can't speak to the ambience inside, but the patio is pleasantly green with umbrellas for shade and several fountains. You can relax and people-watch as you enjoy your meal. Service was friendly and relaxed while being appropriately attentive -- a good balance. I wouldn't hesitate to go back, but I think I'd stick with the sushi next time for the best value.
(4)Brennan H.
Excellent sushi every time I've visited, and especially great selections for those who like spicy sushi. Everything is very fresh, unlike the sometimes room-temp fare at Fusion on the north side of town. The sake selection is dangerously delicious. And it's off the main path enough that it's usually a good bet to find a table, even on a busy night. I recommend the booth upstairs for large parties--feels like a private room. Overall, a far lead for best sushi place in St. Augustine.
(5)Josh J.
Great sushi! Very clean/roomy yet intimate 2 stories. Some of the best saké I have ever tasted. Also great seafood and steaks.
(5)Ophelia B.
Utterly perfect in an imperfect way. I came here with a large group of girl friends from Palm Coast and St. Augustine. The host asked us: "Is this the bachelorette party?" We responded back to him: "NO! This is the divorce party!" Some of my friends in the group happen to be happy and lively divorcees with a great sense of humor. The ambience is slightly metrosexual and yuppie-ish. They serve American cuisine with Asian. My Kentucky girlfriend ordered mash potatoes with a medium rare steak. I thought that was very convenient for people, who don't care to eat sushi or Asian cuisine. The sushi tastes good and is very affordable. I had three different sauces with my sushi: soy, spicy sauce, and ultra spicy broth like sauce. They doctored my Alaska roll and put cream cheese in it for me. Very affordable food. All of the entrees were served with delicate violet orchids. Everything look beautiful. The waitress was great. On the downside, the special of the day was too spicy for some of my friends. Not enough bathrooms. The chair I sat on was uncomfortable. Beautiful memory. Great food. Great friends. Great conversations.
(5)Jake V.
We stopped in for drinks while walking around. The staff was absolutely wonderful! I wish we were hungrier, I'll definitely be back for food. Everything looked amazing, all we had was edamame and some drinks on the patio. It was a very comfortable and inviting atmosphere, a band playing on the patio, they brought water for my dog, it was great! The hostess Carly was wonderful! She took care of us like she was our server, she played with my 4 year old daughter, who followed her around like she was a hostess in training. She is still talking about her the next day. Our actual server was great too, I cant remember her name, only because my daughter hasn't said it. If I make it back to St. Augustine, this will definitely be one of my stops!
(5)Josh T.
If I could give this place zero stars I would.... so it gets 1 star for having "okay" sushi. The service was absolutely some of the worst service I've ever had. At least 3 waitstaff walked by us numerous times before we were even handed menus, and they had acknowledged we were there so it's not like they just "didn't see us." It was later in the evening and if not for that we would have walked out earlier, but we were exhausted from walking around downtown all evening and didn't feel like getting up to go anywhere else, but we literally waited at least 10 minutes before our drink orders were taken, and the place was DEAD at the time, no excuses, I've tried to think of them. We ordered a few rolls and a cup of miso soup each.... the sushi was "ok", nothing spectacular, but nothing to write home about. However, the miso was absolutey horrible, it was more or less water with tofu and seaweed, I'm pretty certain they forgot to put the miso paste into the soup, I've never seen "clear" miso soup and this was, void of any flavor. Needless to say, you can judge by my other reviews that I'm not a complainer, but this place just flat out disappointed.
(1)Hank V.
place has a james bond type theme. sushi is some of the best i've had. try any of their specialty roles.
(5)Christy C.
Very bad experience. Slow service. Half of our party ordered hot food and half sushi. Hot food came out first. Took about an hour. We received drinks and salads quick but by the time the Sushi came the people with the hot food were done. We didn't want the food and told the server. He boxed it up after we told hime not to. The manager only took 10 % off, we double tipped( weren't told gratuity was included) and we paid for food we didn't eat. 2 and 1/2 hours for a salad and drinks for 90 bucks is way too much. Don't go there.
(1)Dan N.
Sushi is sacred to Japan , when white Americans try, this is what you get :P Still an interesting place, and not to be ruled out!
(3)David B.
Had dinner here with a friend. Really relaxing place. Great selection of premium sake. The waiter was extremely knowledgable and helpful. We ordered on of the samplers with a little bit of everything. The food was quite good. You can't go wrong here if you like good Sushi.
(4)Andy L.
It's tough for me to rate sushi places and not be overly critical. I've been lucky enough to enjoy amazing sushi at restaurants ranging from small 10 person restaurants to huge expensive places. It's not rocket science, but the key is fresh fish. I think Spy has hope, but I don't know if I'll go back if I get to choose where we eat. The fish did not taste fresh. That's not to say it had gone bad. We tried all types of rolls, and nothing was amazing. The prices, at least for around here, demand that the sushi is from extremely good to amazing. Another strange thing, we had a party of six and they sat us on couches upstairs. Very strange to enjoy sushi on a couch. Our group is easy going, and no one like it.
(3)Justin H.
Every time I come here I get a spicy tuna or spicy anything. Awesome sushi... Maybe a steak next time. =)
(5)Tyler K.
By far some of the best sushi I have ever had. the only reason I can't dish out 5 stars is because of a long wait for our food and to get a table. But seriously, it is totally worth every second of a 3.5 hour experience. Good Sake list, amazing specialty sushi (all James Bond themed names), our server was perfect.
(4)Jeff W.
I had a really great meal. The Harris Ranch steak was perfect. The staff was friendly and helpful sorting through the sake list. I'm looking forward to going back to try the rolls which looked amazing. My meal and drinks was $80 and I did sample a few things. I'm OK with what I paid for the food that was served. HOWEVER, I really hated that my meal was presented with a plastic knife and a paper napkin. Really silly and frankly a bit insulting given the price of the food. Come on now, this is not a fast food restaurant and you are not inexpensive. Would have been 4 stars at half the price or with proper cutlery and place settings.
(3)Anthony D.
I'm glad I read the other reviews AFTER trying Spy. The sushi was outstandingly phenomenal especially the Dynamite Roll. As an appetizer, the calamari was tantalizing to the taste buds. As a nice touch, they served organic Cucumber water. And amazingly, the service was superb. All in all, the food was fresh and tasty. Definitely a place to return and we will.
(5)Lora M.
This is a great place! Exactly what St. Augustine needs. Very chill atmosphere. We came here around 9 or 10 on a Saturday night and sat outside. I ordered one of their sakitinis -- the blonde bimbo or something along those lines -- and it was SO good (I was a little skeptical on how it could be tasty, since sake is generally kind of blah to me). I would love to come back and try some sushi when I'm a little hungrier, or even something on their menu (all sounded delicious), but we all thought the drinks were good and the atmosphere was great to chill with friends and enjoy some drinks. Recommend it to anyone looking for a nice way to spend a night. :)
(5)Ellen G.
It actually took us a bit to realize the whole "spy" theme at this place. Both the rolls we had were off the more creative "chef specials" menu and all were named after Bond characters. The taste and quality were top notch and I appreciate that they didn't have only the usual assortment of rolls.
(4)Neera A.
Desperate to find decent sushi in North Florida? Try Spy sushi lounge! It's been a challenge to find sushi around here, that doesn't have something deep fried! Spy's sushi, elegantly improves on the traditional base-line sushi formula; with eclectic flavors that compliment, but don't overpower the fish (which is always fresh, with excellent texture and taste). When I eat here, I feel as comfortable as the sushi places I visit in Chicago, Las vegas and the northeast. Also, if you are a sake fan ... Spy has an excellent, thoughtful and wide selection of premium sakes. If you live in Jax or the surrrounding areas; its' worth the drive to Spy.
(5)Neil S.
Great place for st. Augustine. Good sushi, Great vibe. Hope there is enough people looking for a chill sushi place on vacation to keep this place going.
(4)Kim W.
This was a groupon dinner and I'm so glad I got this coupon! It was by far the best sushi I've had in a long time! I wish I lived closer, I would eat here every week! lol! Parking is hard to come by around Saint George st area, but if you happen to get the parking lot across the street you are lucky! Even if you have to park in the other lots, it is still worth the walk. They do have a bar, but they serve sake and sake cocktail drinks. I had the green tea mojito and loved it! Perfect drink on a hot humid day in FL! We started out with Endamame and OMG... they were the best I've ever had. They do a nice spicey seasoning on them which just takes the Endamame to the next level. My sushi was the best I've ever had and actually wished I had ordered more. lol! They have a great deal where you can get a platter for $50, I highly recommend it! The bartender was great, educating us on sake, letting us taste different kinds, and because he did that I found I like coconut lemongrass sake. yummm!! This is a must try if you are living in St Augustine or just visiting.
(5)Jason P.
Best sushi place around. Located in a great spot in downtown St Augustine, nice vibe, great service and even better rolls. If you have been looking for a nice place to have some drinks and eat some raw fish, this is it. Definitely doesn't fit in with the rest of the restaraunts in the area and that is nice, it feel a little more upscale but has a relaxed feel to it. They have a nice wine list and many different sakis. Try the kobe beef/snowcrab rolls, they are awesome.
(5)Victoria V.
Expensive, the sushi was really not all that great. Limited menu and low quality items. Nice ambiance, you really pay for looks here. There are a number of other sushi places in St. Augustine that are much better.
(1)kathie m.
We happened upon Spy and was intrigued by the atmosphere. We showed up around closing time and was welcomed with a smile (still feel bad about showing up so late). The wait staff was extremely knowledgeable about the specials and the full menu and touted the sushi like they were the sushi chef and owner of Spy! We actually had a chance to speak with the owner and found out how he found the chef. If every restaurant owner would take so much care to hire people who know the business, their quality product would be superb, just like Spy! The food was delectable and I will go back again and again! I hope you will take the opportunity to try it out!
(5)Tony M.
The best, freshest sushi within a 300-mile radius of St. Augustine, FL. We live nearby but have travelled all over the world pursuing sushi. We've had sushi at the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo, Shiro's in Seattle, and Blue Ribbon in NYC. Spy can compete with them. Spy also has a top-notch kitchen serving modern world cuisine, but we've yet to try. Perhaps next time. ; )
(5)Eric A.
Finally, great sushi in St. Augustine. I travel often to the west coast and always frequent the top sushi places. The sushi chef at Spy is fantastic and I believe he worked in Laguna Nigel before this if I recall. I will say the service has been slow and I have heard that from several people who have gone. I sit at the sushi bar and the service is fantastic. The guys behind the bar have new rolls every night and will make anything you want. The fish is fresh and the rice is top notch. Go on a weekday for dinner before the rush and you will not be disappointed!!
(5)