2 Best Restaurants in The Panhandle, Florida

Background Illustration for Restaurants

An abundance of seafood is served at coastal restaurants: oysters, crab, shrimp, scallops, and a variety of fish. Of course, that's not all there is on the menu. This part of Florida still impresses diners with old-fashioned comfort foods such as meat loaf, fried chicken, beans and corn bread, okra, and fried green tomatoes. You'll also find small-town seafood shacks where you can dine on local favorites such as deep-fried mullet, cheese grits, coleslaw, and hush puppies. Restaurants, like resorts, vary their operating tactics off-season, so call first if visiting during winter months.

Chanticleer Eatery

$$$

A little off the beaten path, but very much worth looking for, Chanticleer has colorful decor featuring giant rooster paintings, but it's the food that will have you crowing. Most of the items are are homemade—including the bread, soups, and to-die-for cookies—and many of the entrées have a Cajun twist (Creole crab claws, shrimp and grits, jambalaya). The menu also features salads, burgers, steak, and pork chops. Whether you eat inside or outdoors, it's first-come-first-served seating.

55 Clayton La., Santa Rosa Beach, FL, 32459, USA
850-213–9065
Known For
  • Krioyo (cree-yo-yo) pasta
  • Cheerful decor
  • Fresh-baked cookies
Restaurant Details
No reservations

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Felix's Restaurant & Oyster Bar

$$

With its bright, airy atmosphere and seafood-heavy menu, Felix's brings New Orleans directly to Pensacola Beach. A large covered patio overlooks the Santa Rosa Sound. 

400 Quietwater Beach Dr., Pensacola Beach, FL, USA
850-934–4747
Known For
  • Fresh-shucked oysters
  • New Orleans barbecue shrimp
  • Bloody Marys

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