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Sleek but casual (covered-up swimsuits are allowed) and family-friendly, FOOW (which stands for Fish Out of Water) has exceptional food, service, and Gulf views. As the restaurant's name suggests, the menu is heavy on local seafood, and chefs work in an open kitchen creating the Southern specialties infused with international flavors.
34 Goldenrod Cir., Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, 32549, USA
Known For
- Small seasonal menus utilizing mostly local fish, meat, and produce
- Water views from every seat
- Balcony and outdoor bar and patio
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and winter
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Located in a behemoth clapboard building on a prime downtown corner, this charming, old-fashioned, first-come-first-served, lunch-and-dinner spot pleases modern palates in both the white-linen-elegant dining room and on the colorful garden terrace. Later in the evening, the mood shifts, and the place becomes more of a casual lounge with a full bar. If there's not enough of a liquor selection for you, check out options from the wine cellar, which has 3,000 bottles from around the world. Right next door, on Commerce Street, is the Owl Tap Room, with 16 beers on tap and a pub-grub menu of appetizers, burgers, and sandwiches.
15 Ave. D, Apalachicola, Florida, 32320, USA
Known For
- Varied menu, heavy on seafood
- Large wine selection
- Sunday brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Reservations not accepted
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Since 1967, Capt. Anderson’s has been serving local seafood while working to protect the fragile coastal economy. Come early for dinner—not only to watch the boats unload the catch of the day, but also to beat the crowds at this landmark, family-friendly restaurant, which, despite having 725 seats, can still fill up.
5551 N. Lagoon Dr., Panama City Beach, Florida, 32408, USA
Known For
- Views of fishing fleet
- Large selection of fresh seafood and steaks
- Greek specialties
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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Geographically speaking, this trendy spot is in Downtown Pensacola (on leafy Seville Square), but its cuisine is all over the map. Appetizers offer the most variety, with influences from all over the world; main courses are more American in character. You'll also find the fish of the day (blackened, grilled, or tempura-fried) and sushi, which is brought in from a local seafood market. Dine inside under a collection of Southern folk art or outside under café umbrellas and droopy oaks.
300 S. Alcaniz St., Pensacola, Florida, 32501, USA
Known For
- Wide variety of influences, including good sushi
- Locally caught seafood
- Comfy Southern setting both inside and out
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Come one, come all, come hungry, and come at 11 am to witness the calm before the lunch storm. The wide-ranging menu of fish dishes is the bait, and each can be served in a variety of ways—ginger-crusted, grilled, blackened, pecan-crusted, or Pacific-grilled, which puts any dish over the top. Sushi also is on the menu, and be sure to save room for their selection of homemade desserts.
600 S. Barracks St., Pensacola, Florida, 32505, USA
Known For
- "Grits a Ya-Ya" (shrimp and cheese grits)
- Large wine list
- Great water views
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No reservations
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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Chef George and wife Luba want you to feel like family at their chic bistro, where they say “South of France meets The South.” The menu features recipes from their travels, including super coffees and cocktails, as well as standout salads and sandwiches.
6205 N. 9th Ave., Pensacola, Florida, 32504, USA
Known For
- Truffle fries
- Weekend brunch
- Date-night dining
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Jim Shirley, founder of Pensacola's very popular Fish House, has brought his Grits a Ya-Ya to this restaurant on Seaside's town square. The menu emphasizes regional fare, including Gulf seafood and fresh sides such as collards, okra, black-eyed peas, fried green tomatoes, and sweet potatoes. Oysters and po'boys stuffed with shrimp bring a little N'awlins to the beach. Beer and wine and a full liquor bar are here to boot. It can get very busy, so reservations are recommended.
83 Central Sq., Seaside, Florida, 32459, USA
Known For
- Grits a Ya-Ya (blackened shrimp on cheese grits)
- Shrimp po'boys
- Chicken and waffles for breakfast
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The food is as eclectic and comforting as the atmosphere at this locals' favorite, where you can dine alfresco or belly up to the bar and watch the magic happen in the open kitchen. The menu changes daily, but you can always count on a fusion of flavors. Save room for dessert: if you're lucky, pastry chef Sylvia Gould's beehive-shaped baked Alaska or toasted-coconut meringue layer cake will be on the menu.
921 Thomasville Rd., Tallahassee, Florida, 32303, USA
Known For
- Fine food with a casual vibe
- Creative and colorful dishes
- To-die-for desserts
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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Reservations are recommended for this dinner-only, 50-seat bistro that specializes in American comfort food with Creole and Southern accents. It's a short hop from the capitol and is a reliable spot for upscale dining in a down-to-earth setting.
1241 E. Lafayette St., Tallahassee, Florida, 32301, USA
Known For
- Artful presentation
- Pimento cheese fritter appetizer
- Seasonal menus
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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A 25,000-gallon saltwater aquarium provides a dramatic focal point at this popular, upscale restaurant. The menu features steaks and all kinds of seafood, from lobster to Gulf grouper to whatever else is available fresh from the markets each day. The restaurant is busy year-round but especially so in the high season, so arrive early or prepare to wait.
11040 Hutchison Blvd., Panama City Beach, Florida, 32407, USA
Known For
- Happy hour (4–5:30 pm) menu
- Busy year-round
- Beach-chic decor
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Reservations not accepted
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Touting itself as a “Crafty Southern Pub,” Union Public House pairs fresh ingredients with creative ideas, like the Scotch egg starter or the grouper and shrimp corndog; they’ve even been known to put gold flakes on fried chicken. You can also make your own “meat and two” by choosing a meat, two Southern sides, and a sauce.
309 S. Reus St., Pensacola, Florida, 32502, USA
Known For
- Sassy starters
- Savory main dishes
- Handcrafted cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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Closed Permanently
Since 2000 (when the reporters, attorneys, and assorted bigwigs put the restaurant on the map during the presidential election recount), Cypress has endured as one of Tallahassee's most popular special-occasion restaurants. Chef-owner David Gwynn prides himself on his gourmet takes on Southern specialities such as Cypress Oysters & Biscuits and Basil, Ginger & Orange Shrimp & Grits. But much of the menu changes with the seasons and the creative whims of the CIA-trained chef. The restaurant bar features a more casual, but no less creative, menu of tapas and burgers.
320 E. Tennessee St., Tallahassee, Florida, 32301, USA
Known For
- Refined, but casual atmosphere
- Elevated Southern cuisine
- Regional craft beer and spirits
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Closed Permanently
Part of a smart complex in the heart of the political district, this two-story "urban Tuscan villa" (contradiction noted) is the latest of owner Andy Reiss's restaurant incarnations to occupy the same space (the last was Andrew's Second Act). Leaning toward upscale, the food has Italian influences. Offerings include a range of chicken, steak, pasta, and fish dishes such as grouper piccata, pesto salmon, wild-mushroom risotto, chicken marsala, and double-cut pork chops. If you're so inclined, try the specialty $6 martini.
228 S. Adams St., Tallahassee, Florida, 32301, USA
Known For
- Menu of small plates
- Owned by a longtime local fixture
- Popular weekend brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.
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Closed Permanently
Elegant yet unpretentious, this cozy restaurant offers an eclectic mix of Southern fusion food that delights taste buds in small bites and larger plates. You can't go wrong with tuna two ways or the melt-in-your-mouth boneless short ribs served with mashed parsnip and potatoes with a rosemary-Cabernet reduction. There is an extensive wine selection and a specialty martini menu.
115 E. Park Ave., Tallahassee, Florida, 32301, USA
Known For
- Upscale Southern-influenced menu
- Popular Sunday brunch
- Large selection of wines by the glass and martinis
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Closed Permanently
An exterior that looks like an oversized thatch-roof cottage sets the mood for dining in this ersatz-rustic restaurant and tavern. Inside you'll find the dark woods and dim lighting of steak restaurants of the 1970s, which is understandable considering that Boar's Head opened in 1978. From opening day, prime rib has been the number-one people pleaser—with blackened seafood and broiled shrimp with crabmeat stuffing always a close second. Its motto: "Good food, simply prepared."
17290 Front Beach Rd., Panama City Beach, Florida, 32410, USA
Known For
- Prime rib
- Fresh seafood
- Hand-cut steaks
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch
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Closed Permanently
Mixing Florida flavors with South American flair, this colorful bistro in a 1920s-era building serves a menu of reliable, Latin-accented Florida cuisine, especially seafood. The charming setting comes complete with a stamped-tin ceiling and original brick walls. For starters try the creamy black-bean soup or the pleasantly spicy oyster stew; for dinner choose from seafood paella, prosciutto-wrapped salmon with mango-cilantro sauce, or margarita chicken and scallops with a tequila-lime glaze. All entrées come with black beans and rice, fresh vegetables, and fresh-baked focaccia bread, but if you still have room for dessert, try the fried-banana split or the tres leches (cake soaked in three types of milk), a South American favorite.
71 Market St., Apalachicola, Florida, 32320, USA
Known For
- Seafood paella
- Wednesday tapas night
- Tres leches
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.