Hilton Garden Inn is clean
My family stops in St. Augustine every year on our return from Disney. We stay at the Hilton Garden Inn near the beach, not very close to the Historic section of town though. My wife is very picky when it comes to the cleaniless of the hotel's that we stay in, so you won't get any surprises when it comes to cleaniless of the room.
It's not right on the beach but it is right across the street from the beach. If you want a room with a balcony right on the Beach this would also not be what you wanted.
As for the price, it is very reasonable, we actually always get one of those Florida hotel magazines that are at rest stops and get the room for $69/ night in the summer (I think, maybe it's $79). We have always been able to use those books and have stayed there for 4 straight years for atleast 2 nights each time.
I can't give too much input on resturants because we try to eat at small local places and always try something new each time, so I don't remember any of the names. I do remember a seafood place near the historic section that hangs over the inlet and you can feed the fish or seagulls your leftovers (they have little openings to open and hang you hand out to feed them).
