Hole in the Wall?

[carmen]

Hey all. I am looking for recommendations of places that you would consider
"hole in the wall" joints, between Pensacola and Panama City. That phrase is open to interpretation, generally speaking, small, been around for a long time,
in a building or space that has some historical (in this town that means about 15 years) significance or eccentricity. It could be a place to eat or a place to get your shirts ironed It's a word of mouth kind of place, where the owners are probably on the premises quite a bit. Use your imagination. Thanks!

[Beach Runner]

Red Bar. It's the Florabama of Walton County. Only better.

[chrisv]

Nick's in Basin Bayou.

Ed's in DeFuniak Springs.

[potatovixen]

Bayou Joe's in Panama City on Masalina Bayou. Get the trash burger. Invest in some TUMS.

[SWGB]

Bayou Joe's in Panama City on Masalina Bayou. Get the trash burger. Invest in some TUMS.

Definitely!

There's also Pappy's in St. Andrew's for german food.

[up4golf]

porter's bbq on hwy 20 just east of the mid bay bridge in bluewater bay. say hello to roger

[chrisv]

porter's bbq on hwy 20 just east of the mid bay bridge in bluewater bay. say hello to roger

Roger knows BBQ.

[shakennotstirred]

Boat House in Destin.

[Jennifer Steele]

Dusty's in Panama City Beach.

[Jennifer Steele]

H & M in DeFuniak Springs - the BEST hamburgers and hot dogs in Walton County. One of the two owners is always behind the counter, and their kids work there, too. The place is literally a hole in a wall because the interior is the kitchen/grill and counter seating for six. This is a great landmark run by a great family.

[peapod1980]

H & M in DeFuniak Springs - the BEST hamburgers and hot dogs in Walton County. One of the two owners is always behind the counter, and their kids work there, too. The place is literally a hole in a wall because the interior is the kitchen/grill and counter seating for six. This is a great landmark run by a great family.

Here, here! My kids' all-time favorite restaurant ever, just ask them! Nothing like standing in there, waiting for a free stool and a burger...sigh.

[kurt]

Hey all. I am looking for recommendations of places that you would consider
"hole in the wall" joints, between Pensacola and Panama City. That phrase is open to interpretation, generally speaking, small, been around for a long time,
in a building or space that has some historical (in this town that means about 15 years) significance or eccentricity. It could be a place to eat or a place to get your shirts ironed It's a word of mouth kind of place, where the owners are probably on the premises quite a bit. Use your imagination. Thanks!

I'm curious why?

[JOE who]

Panama City... HUNTS OYSTER BAR!!!!
Panama City Beach... PASTA GRILL

[truluv]

blue orleans in blue mtn.

[rehdrahk]

Papa Joe's Hideaway in Ft Walton Beach

[hnooe]

Panama City... HUNTS OYSTER BAR!!!!
Panama City Beach... PASTA GRILL

EXACTLY ON BOTH COUNTS!!! I was at Pasta Grill and their real Italian pastry shop next door (OMG--the Canoli's) last Saturday.

Am going to Hunt's this Saturday...

[Kase626]

Thomas's Donut Shop and Mike's Diner on Front Beach Road in PCB. Thomas's has great burgers and the BEST curly fries. Mike's is great for breakfast although they have REALLY good burgers too. Same owner, I think.

[SWGB]

The Place that used to be on Grace and is now on Harrison in PC.

[InletBchDweller]

Panama City... HUNTS OYSTER BAR!!!!
Panama City Beach... PASTA GRILL

Thomas's Donut Shop and Mike's Diner on Front Beach Road in PCB. Thomas's has great burgers and the BEST curly fries. Mike's is great for breakfast although they have REALLY good burgers too. Same owner, I think.

I will third the Pasta Grill, Antonio is always a true Italian gentleman....

Mike's and Thomas' are also excellent choices....

[GoodWitch58]

Location of Pasta Grill please...street, landmark, etc.

[hnooe]

Location of Pasta Grill please...street, landmark, etc.

Go to Carillon Beach and take a right onto Front Beach Road..Go east on Front Beach Road about 4.5 miles--on the left just past the Carousel Grocery store.

[soappedaler]

Flamingo Joe's in Panama City Beach. Best burgers, they have a turkey burger with pineapple that is to die for. You get homemade salsa with warm chips as a side.

[carmen]

Thanks for all the feedback. Please keep it coming! I drove to PCB yesterday and saw so many interesting and eccentric places, but haven't lived here long enough to know if they've been around "forever" Any more suggetions in Ft. Walton? And Kurt, this is for a proposed magazine article, since you are curious. Thanks again.

[InletBchDweller]

To me a true hole in the wall is Sunnyside Grill.

It is on the West West end of Front Beach Road, next door to an OLD putt putt place.
They only have so many tables so you may sit next to a stranger...

Breakfast is to die for. My In Laws go eat there every morning when they are here as they are early risers. Be careful with the pancakes, they are HUGE!!

Lunch specials are country cooking and a large assortment of other good things. They even have fried chicken livers which is, to me, a special treat...

I have never been in this place without seeing it full.....

[Franny]

The No Name Lounge! Located at the east side, foot of Hathaway Bride. A true dive and only serves alcohol and popcorn!! A very local eccentric kind of place.

Wish Jolly Rogers was still open!!

[beachmouse]

Ft. Walton- Buffalo's Reef on Eglin Parkway. Doesn't look like much, but great chicken options. Popular with the military crowd. Their super hot wings will make an Air Commando cry.

A little on the new side but worth checking out- Maas coffee on US 98. Tiny, tiny shop (during nice weather, there's a patio out back) that's far better than Starbucks.

For the crafty- Stitchery House on Eglin Pkwy. A very fun place for needlework stash supplies (needlepoint, cross stitch, hardanger, etc.)

[Cali]

Dusty's

[carmen]

Cali and Steeleing.... where in PCB is Dustys located?

Thanks.

[GoodWitch58]

Go to Carillon Beach and take a right onto Front Beach Road..Go east on Front Beach Road about 4.5 miles--on the left just past the Carousel Grocery store.

Wow! How have I missed it all these years? Thanks

[TreeFrog]

Cali and Steeleing.... where in PCB is Dustys located?

Thanks.

On Front Beach Rd., just east of the intersection with 79.

As a non-smoker, this is going to sound odd, but Dusty's just doesn't seem the same now that they outlawed smoking. Some joints should just be a joint, smoke and all.

[InletBchDweller]

The No Name Lounge! Located at the east side, foot of Hathaway Bride. A true dive and only serves alcohol and popcorn!! A very local eccentric kind of place.

Wish Jolly Rogers was still open!!

Franny, how could I have not mentioned this place it was Deb's favorite....

[2bohemians]

Bayou Joe's in Panama City on Masalina Bayou. Get the trash burger. Invest in some TUMS.

Is it still "Dock at Jr's, eat at Joe's" ???

[2bohemians]

Does anyone know if "The Boarding House" down by the courthouse in Panama City is still serving up food .... if memory serves me correct someone else had bought the house it was located in ..... just wondering ... that was some good food o' plenty .....

[SWGB]

Is it still "Dock at Jr's, eat at Joe's" ???

Yes, and you can still pull up a boat.

Does anyone know if "The Boarding House" down by the courthouse in Panama City is still serving up food .... if memory serves me correct someone else had bought the house it was located in ..... just wondering ... that was some good food o' plenty .....

The Boarding House has been closed for years.

[carmen]

Still looking for great places to photograph for this story. Also, searching the internet with no success for the phone number of the cafe in Bruce, Bruce Cafe, I think. Anyone have a clue? Thank you.

[kurt]

Still looking for great places to photograph for this story. Also, searching the internet with no success for the phone number of the cafe in Bruce, Bruce Cafe, I think. Anyone have a clue? Thank you.

internet - that's a good one.

I don't know if this is it but if not they probably know:
Bruce Store 835-2932

[carmen]

actually, I found more than you might imagine from googling the Bruce cafe,
just not the phone number. Thanks for the help.

[jodiFL]

definitely the BOat House in Destin. And if you are feeling REALLY brave check out the Oasis on Mountain Drive. LOL... You can even still smoke in there. And I am pretty sure those ARE bullet holes in the plywood covering the bottom half of the front windows. But I was afraid to ask and it was getting dark so i left.

[crowedaddy]

Theo's Pizza Pub in Miramar Beach......classic record albums serve as the wallpaper and it's almost exclusively locals.

[chrisv]

Theo's Pizza Pub in Miramar Beach......classic record albums serve as the wallpaper and it's almost exclusively locals.

Welcome crowedaddy, and happy birthday last week

[Smiling JOe]

Theo's Pizza Pub in Miramar Beach......classic record albums serve as the wallpaper and it's almost exclusively locals.

Where the heck is Theo's?

[beachmouse]

Theo's is on Scenic 98- kind of in a mini strip mall next to the inevitable t-shirt and bikini shop.

It's too bad that Trader Jon's in Pensacola is no more. It was The Bar for Navy flyboys during its time.

[cp]

I like this thread!

[crowedaddy]

I love it....Theo's is such a "hole-in-the-wall" that it's hard for the locals to find.

I forgot to mention that they have a house band, the "Loco Locals." Great atmosphere.

Thanks Chris. I appreciate the Happy Birthday.

[lisaloebmalone]

Dusty's..... isn't that the place where you can go out back onto the deck and feed the (huge) fish?

Ahhh, great memories at that place....

[kurt]

Theo's is on Scenic 98- kind of in a mini strip mall next to the inevitable t-shirt and bikini shop.

It's too bad that Trader Jon's in Pensacola is no more. It was The Bar for Navy flyboys during its time.

That place was unbelievable.

November 04, 2003
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (edited for briefness)
PENSACOLA, Fla.
Changes in culture and lifestyle have caught up with Trader Jon's, a ramshackle waterfront bar, filled with naval aviation memorabilia, that for a half-century catered to military personnel from raw recruits to generals and admirals.
The famed bar, which also attracted astronauts, politicians, royalty and movie stars, including John Wayne, Bob Hope, Elizabeth Taylor, Prince Andrew and Brooke Shields, will close this weekend, owner Matt Heckemeyer said Tuesday.

Heckemeyer bought the bar from the estate of Martin``Trader Jon'' Weissman, who died in 2000. Weissman opened the bar in 1952 and ran it until he suffered a stroke in 1997. About 10,000 items, including photographs, crash helmets, flight suits, model airplanes and assorted aircraft parts, will be acquired by a law firm that then will donate them to the museum foundation. Blue Angels photographs collected by Weissman over the years will be used in a future display about the Navy precision flying team at the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Pensacola Naval Air Station. The last event at Trader Jon's will be a Blue Angels party Saturday after the Pensacola-based team finishes its season-ending homecoming show. ``It was the social heart of the Pensacola naval aviation community,'' said retired Capt. Bob Stumpf, a former Blue Angels leader. ``It's going to be missed. There's no replacement for it.''

[Franny]

Where the heck is Theo's?

The best pizza in the area! Oh I'm hungry now.

Dusty's..... isn't that the place where you can go out back onto the deck and feed the (huge) fish?

Ahhh, great memories at that place....


And the best oysters...yummm

[ckhagen]

Tradewinds over there in N'ville/Val'p is really a hole in the wall. A couple years ago they doubled the size of the restaurant... to like... 8 tables instead of 4, lol! The owner is almost always cooking, but you nearly MUST have a reservation to get in or you'll be waiting all night for a table. I've been there several times with my in-laws who frequent it and it's good... italian food...

205 Government Ave., Niceville
678-8299
http://www.tradewindsniceville.com/

[Hop]

To me a true hole in the wall is Sunnyside Grill.

It is on the West West end of Front Beach Road, next door to an OLD putt putt place.
They only have so many tables so you may sit next to a stranger...

Breakfast is to die for. My In Laws go eat there every morning when they are here as they are early risers. Be careful with the pancakes, they are HUGE!!

Lunch specials are country cooking and a large assortment of other good things. They even have fried chicken livers which is, to me, a special treat...

I have never been in this place without seeing it full.....

i second that emotion...

[InletBchDweller]

i second that emotion...

had breakfast the other day....yummy!! The loaded hashbrowns are to die for!!!