Destin Area Restaurants great and avoid...

Summerof79

2,500+ Posts
Heading out in a few weeks to Destin and it's been about 15 years since we stayed there- So far the list is as follows:

The Back Porch -fish sandwich
Pompano Joes
McGuires Irish Pub
Louisiana Langniappe
 
I really like McGuire's. If you want to a nice place spend some cash but eat kickass steak/seafood, go to Ocean Club which is a little further east than SanDestin.
 
Ate at Criollas last time/only I was in Destin 5 years ago. It was very very very good. It is 3 1/2 miles east of Sandestin according to their webpage ( I wasn't exactly sure where I was, just knew I was in Destin)
 
There is a Criolla's in Grayton Beach on 30A. I have heard pretty good reviews of it the last few summers.

There is a great seafood market on the North side of 98 between 30A and 283, east of Destin. They make a great key lime pie as well..
 
I didn't think Fudpuckers was anything special. Probably really fun for kids though-- especially getting to see the gators.

Bistro Bijoux is AWESOME. It's pretty high end though.

Helen Back Pizza has awesome pizza. It's a local hangout. Bar-ish atmosphere -- go while it's light outiside
smile.gif


Publix is a cool grocery store. They carry a good line of organics, and the Publix store brands are very good. I highly reccomend the Publix Animal crackers.
 
Do me a favor and avoid The Twisted Palm, which is maybe a mile west of Fudpuckers. They actually have a good sports bar type set-up with lots of TVs, but we had an awful experience there. Waited nearly and hour after ordering and never did get our food so we walked out. The staff was overwhelmed, except the young guy and girl workers who were pretty much making out next to the entrance.

I think they had just changed ownership, so maybe things have improved, but my advice is don't give them any Longhorn money.
 
Best place to buy shrimp (or any other fish, for that matter) is actually in Pensacola - Joe Patti's Seafood. Hit it on the way down I-10, headed for Destin. Bring an empty ice chest, or empty one on the road, because you will want to buy more than you think.

One more good Destin restaurant to try - Mitchell's Fish Market.

And if you make it all the way to Panama City Beach, try Flamingo Joe's - a hole-in-the-wall place on Thomas Drive, with a great Grouper basket - and half the price of what you will pay at the Back Porch in Destin. Great drinks there, too!
 
thought about driving down to pamana city one evening as a child we used to love the amusement park, assuming it's still there.

Also thanks for the hint on the Pensacola fish market as well if the timing accomodates it that will definitely be a stop. Or I could buy the frozen oriental shrimp from COSTCO... but that takes the adventure away...
 
The amusement park in Panama City has closed - making way for one more condo. But St. Andrews State Park is still a great place to visit.
 
The best restaurant in Destin is the Beach Walk Cafe... better than Marina Cafe, Flamingo Cafe, and Destin Chops. Get a reservation for a table on the beach at Beach Walk Cafe. Bud and Ally's and Flying Fish are both very good. The Red Bar has the best atmosphere and the food is great but you will wait over an hour every weekend night.
 
The Donut Hole also has good breakfast.
I forgot about the Acme Oyster House (same as in New Orleans) in Baytowne Wharf. Good lunch spot.
 
ACME huh? I think the first one's I ate were either there or the Pearl, but the first 5 dozen in a sitting were at ACME when I was 13 or 14 on the way to Pensacola.
 

Weekly Prediction Contest

Predict TEXAS-CLEMSON

CFB Playoffs • First Round at DKR
Sat, Dec 21 • 3:00 PM on TNT/Max
Clemson game and preview thread

Recent Threads

Back
Top