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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.
Drive, boat, or paddleboard to this waterfront, open-air eatery that serves mainly seafood dishes, as well as a few salads, steaks, and sandwiches. Stay for the live music on the beach, or head over to the Flora-Bama bar if you’re in the mood for a wild night out.
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.
Unless you sit in the water, you can't dine any closer to the Gulf than at this casual beachside bar and grill next to the Gulfarium and at the entrance to the Okaloosa Island Pier. Inside are tons of TVs broadcasting sports events (even in the elevators and bathrooms); outside, a volleyball net tempts diners onto the sands. Snack on nachos and quesadillas, sample fresh-catch dishes such as king crab and prawns, or try the smoked tuna dip, a lightly smoked yellowfin tuna dip served with warm, crisp tortilla strips. Saturday is an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast.
Follow the line to this local-favorite breakfast-and-lunch retreat, one of six locations in Northwest Florida. Morning starts with platters of pancakes, waffles, and French toast with special twists like blackberry grits. More than a dozen styles of omelet include the "Hey Lucy" a Spanish omelet with chorizo, green chilis, onions and avocado. It's crowded for a reason.
At the only traffic light in downtown Apalachicola you'll find a place serving a fish sandwich so massive that it's way too big for its bun. Established in 1903, this restaurant is where locals come for lunches and dinners of blue-crab cakes, seafood gumbo, grouper, or shrimp. The service is ultra casual (think Styrofoam box), and the decor is iconic diner with hints of seaside kitsch.
This simple beach shack near the bridge serves solid, if predictable, sandwiches, wraps, salads, and appetizers, but the pizza is the star of the menu. Try a specialty pie like Shrimp Pesto Pizza, or choose from 16 toppings to build-your-own personal pie. There's beer on tap, and wine is available, too.
The smell of coffee and freshly baked bread fills the air at this café, where breakfast and lunch menus are built around healthful, seasonal produce and naturally leavened bread. Dine in and linger over coffee, or be on your way with pastries and other to-go items that are a cut above. Black Bear has two other locations on the Emerald Coast in Seaside and Grand Boulevard near Sandestin.
At the island's only restaurant on the beach, you'll feel as if you're sneaking in the back door as you climb the side stairs leading to an outdoor deck overlooking the Gulf. The food is hard to beat if you're looking for fresh seafood and a casual atmosphere. Baskets of shrimp, oysters, and crab cakes—fried or char-grilled and served with fries—are more than one person can handle. The place is packed during the summer high season, so service may be a little slow. And if you're in the mood for fun in the sun, Jet Ski rentals are available onsite.
Named for a pet cat and dog, this down-to-earth, beachside restaurant has been a local favorite for Gulf seafood and Southern classics since 1987, when Seaside had only 12 houses. You can also grab a quick bite at the taco and pizza bars, or head for the Roof Deck Bar to settle in with a cocktail and toast the sunset.
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.
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.
Tallahassee has its fair share of popular pizza emporiums, but many put Midtown's Decent Pizza at the top of their favorites list. A couple of Florida State University grads opened this simple pizzeria, which became an instant hit with those on an undergraduate budget: slices and salads start at $5.95 and $4.95, respectively. Choose from 35 toppings for red-sauce, pesto, or white pies. Bring your patience; lunchtime lines are out the door.
Reaching this beloved eatery run by descendants of Destin's original fishing families is a bit of an adventure, but the seafood and the setting—in a shack that juts over the water and has excellent Choctawhatchee Bay views—are well worth the trip along a gravel road and through an industrial area. If you prefer a larger, more traditional restaurant, Dewey Destin's Harborside, which has a longer menu and serves both lunch and dinner, is less than a mile away.
The Emerald Coast's worst-kept secret is the Donut Hole. Lines of customers appear at 6 am for scrumptious baked goods (which tend to sell out) to go. Breakfast, which is served all day, is supplemented by diner foods later on. There are two other Donut Hole locations: the original on Highway 98 in Destin and one inland in Santa Rosa Beach.
George's has a well-deserved reputation for serving elegantly plated food in a casual setting. There's plenty of patio space for outdoor dining as well as an upstairs deck where you can enjoy a beer or wine while waiting to be seated. For ease in ordering, the menus have both lighter "behave" and more indulgent "misbehave" sections. Takes on fresh seafood are the stars, although steak and burgers are on the menu, too.
Constructed of stacked shipping containers that have been painted bright azure, this is a great kid- and dog-friendly place to enjoy mojitos and seasonal seafood. Much of the restaurant is outdoors—the better to soak in the Choctawhatchee Bay views—with lounging couches and a patch of sand; simply order at the counter, and your meal is brought to you. There's another location just over the Alabama border in Orange Beach.
Harbor Docks is a casual place with picnic tables, hibachi grills, and a beautiful view of Destin Harbor. The seafood served here is the best of what's available each day at the neighboring market (the rest gets shipped up north). Peek over the patio railing, and you might see fishermen unloading a catch that could be on someone's plate that very night.
Locals in the know come to this counter-service spot for superb salads, homemade soups, and sandwiches. Opt for a chunky chicken melt, walnut gorgonzola salad, or garden vegetarian sub. The spearmint iced tea is a must-have, as is the chewy Congo Bar for dessert. A second location at 1660 North Monroe Street offers the same menu; a third location has also opened at 1208 Capital Circle SE.
To feast on oysters that "slept in the bay last night," head 18 miles west of Apalachicola to this unique coastal seafood shack. The menu consists primarily of oysters, shrimp, and crab legs served raw, steamed, stuffed, or baked—nothing fried here—but there's also seafood gumbo, burgers, and hot dogs. Beer and other drinks are on the honor system, so grab what you need, and spend time on the porch listening to live music and making friends. Chances are you will have to wait, because this place is that popular.
“Rollin’ in the dough since 1989,” this is the spot to grab a delicious pie on the beach. Its award-winning recipes have been featured in several national culinary magazines, and its family-friendly vibe is loved by locals and visitors alike.
Although this old-school ice-cream parlor and candy shop serves salads, sandwiches, and other savory dishes, it's best known for its extensive menu of sodas, frappes, and egg creams and its generous brunches featuring classic waffles and omelets, as well as a homemade hash that is deliciously different. The ice-cream choices are delectable, and it's hard to take your eyes off the candy makers as they hand-craft the confections. Lofty also sells jigsaw puzzles, toys, and board games, which customers have been known to play while dining.
Paddy's is the place locals will tell you about if they like you. Tucked away on the bayside of St. George, it's got the casual vibe of a beach shack with lots of outdoor seating. Even the indoor bar and tables bring the outside in—dogs and swimsuits are welcome. Raw oysters are king here, but be sure to try one of the chef's creative specials, like Captain Clint's spicy Big Fish SGI: oysters steamed with jalapeño, Parmesan, and Old Bay seasoning.
Prepare for long lines during the summertime at this local favorite. Dig into seafood favorites at one of three dining areas—indoors, outdoors on the covered deck, or at picnic tables downstairs, near the wryly named Under Where Bar, which often has live music. Note: If you do choose to sit downstairs (near the playground, a perk for parents) no grilled dishes are available. Luckily for you, the fried shrimp and fish are some of the best around.
Known locally as “the best backyard on the beach,” this open-air establishment was built from sustainable materials including shipping containers and reclaimed wood from an old Coca-Cola warehouse. Bring the kids, bring the dog, and enjoy this grassy spot on the sound side of the beach.
The food at this beachfront spot is far from fancy, but it’s good and fresh, the beer is cold, and sunsets are celebrated with a cannon blast. It's a good family place for lunch or an early dinner; kids can have burgers and play on the beach while Mom and Dad enjoy grown-up drinks and gumbo, steak, burgers, crab-stuffed shrimp, or fresh grouper.
Although the menu here has a variety of fresh seafood, you should come for the oysters—served raw, baked, or steamed and with or without toppings—and stay for the view. The vibe is casual: place your order when you walk in, and grab a table in the air-conditioned interior or out on the patio; either way, your lunch or dinner will be accompanied by a spectacular Apalachee River basin view.
