Favorite restaurants

[Childcare4u]

Most famous, most awards: Criollas $$$$
http://www.graytonbeach.com/criollas

Best bartender, best Italian food: Borago $$$
http://www.graytonbeach.com/borago

Best Thai food: Royal Orchid $$
Best family Italian: Angelina's $$
Best steak: Pandora's $$$
Best seafood: it's funny that we don't have a superb seafood restaurant but many restaurants that do seafood very well. I prefer to buy mine raw and cook it up myself mostly.

Some favorites - Cafe Tango, Bloom's Cafe, Piccolo's Restaurant (aka The Red Bar http://graytonbeach.com/redbar.html), Basmati's, The 3-Thirty-1 http://www.graytonbeach.com/the331, Smiling Fish, Fish Out of Water http://www.graytonbeach.com/fishoutofwater, Luna Del Mar, The Donut Hole.

If I've left anyone off it may be because I haven't eaten at your restaurant and you should call me and invite me before I start writing my reviews.

Yes there is a superb seafood restaurant now!!! Mitchells Fish Market in Grand blvd in Sandestin...its really good!! go check it out!!

[joho]

Gravel Road has stepped up to my number 2 spot for my favorite restaurant in town. Delicious food, reasonably priced, great service. Yummy!

Aren't you a smart man..... have you ever disclosed your #1 ?

[coonass]

blue orleans has catfish,redfish poboy;s like no other

[scooterbug44]

blue orleans has catfish,redfish poboy;s like no other

The scooterbug fave is the rosemary skewered scallops over tasso grits or the grilled shrimp salad.

Blue Orleans should start a thread to announce the bands playing that week/night.

[BambooBay]

thanks for the tip--i've never eaten at Blue Orleans! I'll have to go there and check them out asap.... if anyone thinks of any others that might be under the radar, please let me know! i'm trying to build a list of local favs on my website (www.30A.com) ... i know it's all very subjective and there are a lot of great choices out there, but i really want to make an effort to give the "right people" some much-deserved business.... (just in case it matters to anyone, fyi, my site's a totally non-commercial venture...i do it just for fun)....

[iwishiwasthere]

The scooterbug fave is the rosemary skewered scallops over tasso grits or the grilled shrimp salad.

Blue Orleans should start a thread to announce the bands playing that week/night.

Wonderful! Hope to have it again this vacation!!

[HowellUNC]

Have you ever had Redneck Riviera Shrimp or a Grayton Beach Julep? In the late 60's and early 70's I was a fixture around the old graffiti painted store at Grayton Beach. Alas, after high school (Walton Sr., '72) I wandered off and got lost. Oh, I do visit from time to time. But when I'm not around my beloved beaches in the summer I fix myself some RR Shrimp and a cold GB Julep. Try 'em!

[seacrestkristi]

HowellUNC I'm printin' these grayt soundin' recipes. Thanks.

[seaside2]

HowellUNc,

Maybe I'm stupid or something, but I can't find the GB julep recipe.

I want it, I need it, weekend not too far away, LET ME HAVE IT NOW!!!


please?? LOL

[HowellUNC]

Folks, I am so sorry but I got sooooooo many hits on my (Poor) website that we temporarily got lost - however, we're back up but with new recipes! For those of you who missed it here is the recipe for Grayton Beach Juleps!

May I suggest a . . .
Grayton Beach Julep
3 tsp. instant tea
1 (12 oz.) can frozen orange juice
1 (12 oz.) can frozen lemonade
1-1/2 c. sugar
1 c. water
2 c. whiskey
10-12 Mint Sprigs
Mix all together well. Freeze in two containers.
(One half tonight, the rest tomorrow a.m.)
When ready scoop out slush and fill glass 1/2 full,
top off with 7-Up and a fresh sprig. Very tasty.

Enjoy!

Ken

[seaside2]

GRAYT!!!

[beachmouse]

We went back to Royal Orchid for the first time in a while today. While it's still not quite as good as it was in 2006, and they've raised prices a little bit, the new owners seem to have sorted out the transition problems they had, and the quality level is now back to where it's worth crossing the bridge for, and we're going to put it back on our regular dining rotation.

[Biff]

For Some reason; I am hungry for Blue Crab Claws RIGHT NOW!

[InletBchDweller]

Had some GREAT oysters today at the Captains Table in old St. Andrews in Panama City. They were only $5.50 a dozen and super yummy!!!!

[ItzKatzTime]

For Some reason; I am hungry for Blue Crab Claws RIGHT NOW!

Hi Biff, they have been added to our menu starting a week from now...but if you request them I know the kitchen will fry you up some! They also come with the Sunset Martini Trio....Jumbo boiled shrimp, white lump crab, and fried crab claws!

We also do plates of fried shrimp, oysters, and soft shell crab!

Kat
D&K's Cafe
Grayton Beach

The sunset Martini Trio shown below.

[Jdarg]

Had some GREAT oysters today at the Captains Table in old St. Andrews in Panama City. They were only $5.50 a dozen and super yummy!!!!

I love that place. You went without me. I will yell at you later.

[jordan]

Hurricanes in Seaside is pretty good and fun just sit and people watch.

[Miss Kitty]

Hurricanes in Seaside is pretty good and fun just sit and people watch.

...right behind you Jordan. Ask for directions.

[Jdarg]

OK- heads up - COCO'S IS CLOSING. I asked the owner about a specific date, and he said "day by day". So sad- we love going to Coco's with the kids and other families. We were told that they just aren't making it, and the final straw was all the new chain restaurants going in up around Sandestin. Too much competition for the ever shrinking dining out dollar.

The owner also said he knew of several local INDEPENDENT restaurants that are not doing well and maybe closing right behind him. So if you like to frequent locally owned restaurants, now is the time. Apparently it wasn't the greatest summer and now we are into the off season. I hate to see the day where all we are left with is Applebee's, PF Changs, and Cheeseburger in Hell.

[30A Skunkape]

We do need to start an eat club where we go to the local joints as a group and support them

[Beach House 25]

Just fell in love with the pizza at Enzo. It was wonderful. Like a taste of home.

We are new to the area, and we found a wonderful Pizza place here in Seagrove, Brunos has the best I have had in many years. It was loaded with toppings and the dough was very good as well. I might mention they have a Lunch Buffet as well for under 8 bucks I think, Our grandbabies were here this past week and we filled everyone up for under 20 bucks! The staff were very nice and they took time to entertain the grandbabies as well, Great place in my opinion.

[Beach House 25]

OK- heads up - COCO'S IS CLOSING. I asked the owner about a specific date, and he said "day by day". So sad- we love going to Coco's with the kids and other families. We were told that they just aren't making it, and the final straw was all the new chain restaurants going in up around Sandestin. Too much competition for the ever shrinking dining out dollar.

The owner also said he knew of several local INDEPENDENT restaurants that are not doing well and maybe closing right behind him. So if you like to frequent locally owned restaurants, now is the time. Apparently it wasn't the greatest summer and now we are into the off season. I hate to see the day where all we are left with is Applebee's, PF Changs, and Cheeseburger in Hell.

Thats not good.... I just had supper there Friday night, the best Mexican food around so far. The manger (Owner) was so very nice and was very willing to help with our orders. This is sad. I hope the off season is not the end to this very nice Mexican food provider.

[kurt]

OK- heads up - COCO'S IS CLOSING. I asked the owner about a specific date, and he said "day by day". So sad- we love going to Coco's with the kids and other families. We were told that they just aren't making it, and the final straw was all the new chain restaurants going in up around Sandestin. Too much competition for the ever shrinking dining out dollar.

The owner also said he knew of several local INDEPENDENT restaurants that are not doing well and maybe closing right behind him. So if you like to frequent locally owned restaurants, now is the time. Apparently it wasn't the greatest summer and now we are into the off season. I hate to see the day where all we are left with is Applebee's, PF Changs, and Cheeseburger in Hell.

Sad - this should be in its own thread.

[ItzKatzTime]

OK- heads up - COCO'S IS CLOSING. I asked the owner about a specific date, and he said "day by day". So sad- we love going to Coco's with the kids and other families. We were told that they just aren't making it, and the final straw was all the new chain restaurants going in up around Sandestin. Too much competition for the ever shrinking dining out dollar.

The owner also said he knew of several local INDEPENDENT restaurants that are not doing well and maybe closing right behind him. So if you like to frequent locally owned restaurants, now is the time. Apparently it wasn't the greatest summer and now we are into the off season. I hate to see the day where all we are left with is Applebee's, PF Changs, and Cheeseburger in Hell.

CoCo's

This is so true jd....it is a well known fact amongst the local restaurants/cafes owners that times have changed. The pie has been cut too many times here on 30A, not counting along 98 from Grand Blvd to Bay Town on to Silver Sands and Destin Commons. I think it really hit me when I saw "The Melting Pot" put up their sign. Long gone are the days of the "Boutique" restaurants in South Walton. It is now no different then vacationing in Orlando. It has become "what's the most convenient". Why drive from Sandestin to 30A when you have 5 or more Chain Restaurants within a golf cart ride from where you live or are vacationing.

The 30A corridor is hurting....not only the food industry, but retail too. I'm leaving out real estate because that has already been discussed so much. My heart goes out to anyone in that industry!!!!

I make a point to drive from one end of 30A to the other both for lunch and dinner to see how other restaurants are doing. Sometimes you see busy other times dead. It's just not consistent....last spring and summer were not consistent either. It's a toss of the coin if one will be have business these days. Which, makes keeping a staff not only hard, but for them making any money waiting tables becomes pennies compared to other times.

We at D&K's applaud each and everyone one of you that dine with us......as YOU make the difference! I love you all so much...you make our restaurant live and breathe. I don't know if you know it or not but SoWallers are a incredible force in this area. Pat yourself on the back for helping to keep locals alive!

D&K's Kat, Doug, Jamie, Chris, Kelly, CR, Natalia, Sharon, Sarah, Chef John, sous Chef Robert and Kitchen help John!!!!

[kurt]

Nice post Kat! You get the last word. I'm closing this thread since a lot of the info is old.