The Red Bar is the most popular indoor destination in Grayton Beach, Florida. A favorite of locals and visitors to the area. It’s the place for the evening’s first cocktail - and quite often the last. The short but varied menu includes pasta with crawfish and shrimp, panne’ chicken and mashed potatoes (a mound as big as a baby possum), stuffed eggplant, fish of the day, and rotating specials.
The volume and the party gets cranked up a notch after the dinner crowd thins. The festive family atmosphere turns more funky. Don’t be surprised to spot Sheryl Crow or Jim Carrey late at night. But please! Everybody just wants to chill at the Red Bar. Belgian-born owner Oli Petit and brother Philippe welcome all comers.
The Red Bar Jazz Band plays almost nightly. Don't miss Sunday mid-day or evening with local favorite Dread Clampitt or other honest tune makers. Cash or check only - onsite ATM.
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Olivier Petit was 19, and barely out of culinary trade school in his native Belgium, when he took a summer job serving tourists here in the Panhandle beach towns stretching along 30-A.
"I thought I would just come work the season and be done," Petit told me. "But I've been here ever since."
Today Petit, 39, runs the Red Bar, one of the area's best-known hangouts. During the high season from Memorial Day through Labor Day, Petit serves between 700 and 1,000 customers daily.
With its red indoor lighting and funky decor, the Bohemian-chic restaurant and watering hole is modeled after his father's bar in Belgium. Old movie, art and music posters from around the world cover the ceiling and walls. Street signs and eclectic knickknacks hang above the bar and doorways.
"It looks chaotic, but there is symmetry," Petit said. "Every piece is hand selected."
The Red Bar, with its six-item dinner menu and cash-only policy, is a come-as-you-are spot where locals drink shoulder to shoulder with tourists and celebrities like Sheryl Crow. The house jazz band is always hoppin'. The beer taps flow generously. The white-sand beach is just outside.
No wonder local resident Lynn Nesmith, an architectural critic and freelance writer, called it "the heart and soul of Grayton Beach."
A visit to this area is not complete without at least one meal at the Red Bar! It's "simply the best" as they say. My fave's are the grilled Mahi at lunch and the baked eggplant at dinner. Always good service too!
Reservations not accepted, but even if you have to wait, it's worth it! Winter hours - Wed through Sun. LOVE the crab cakes, but only on Fri and at nights! Don't miss this place, and take your friends!
Been hanging with Oli since day one and was even part of the crew for a (way too) short time. A SOWAL legend and always will be. Love all of you guys!!
Simple menu + great food + quirky, cool atmosphere = internationally renound dining experience. Place has come a long way since the days I'd shoot pool and play pinball in Butler Store, one of the locations previous lives.
Great food! Great atmosphere! We always eat here!
This was my "happy place" when I was in labor with my daughter (it wasn't open when I had my first child - it was still Aladdin's Paradise Cafe). I come to the 30A area mostly so I can eat here at least once every other day - especially Friday nights, when crab cakes are on the board. I'm one of the first in line and don't mind waiting outside in the hot summer sun for the doors to open.
We are probably what would be considered newbies for Grayton Beach because we only have six years of awesome vacations behind us, but during this short time, we have celebrated: birthdays, two engagements, one wedding, "christened" five grandchildren, and enjoyed countless hours at The Red Bar. I cannot tell you how many times during the year between vacations in Grayton that we all make reference to enjoying something there. Most years, we are 20-22 strong, and we love every moment we are there.
Heard the wrap up party was held at The Red Bar after the completion the movie, The Truman Show. The reason, I think, is because it's a good time place. The music, the atmosphere, and the food epitomizes the laid-back atmosphere of Grayton Beach.
Best Crab Cakes in the world. Try to catch a night when Dread Clampitt is rocking the front of the house, makes for a very entertaining evening. Excellent service, but get there early to avoid the long wait!
Great food, great people, overall amazing atmosphere! Definitely a great place to go whether grabbing a drink from the bar or sitting there eating. Kid friendly as well, and awesome music!
Great place to eat and great atmosphere!
Red Bar is just the best place in the world to people watch because there are all types of people there. Love the funky decor. And the food is great. The week before last I had the best grilled grouper sandwich I can remember having anywhere -- perfectly prepared. Love their burgers too, and you can substitute a salad with their awesome house dressing for the fries, making it a lot healthier. The wait staff is very friendly and make you feel at home.
Red Bar makes me smile.
The crab cakes are delish!!!! Always worth the wait.
I love the atmosphere, food and beverages. I have never had a bad meal at any sitting. It is fun to go on Sunday to enjoy the food, crowd and a great band "Dread Clampitt". It don't get any better!
Being from Little Rock, AR we couldn't wait to go to Red Bar, since the owner is a LR native. Red Bar never lets you down. It is a favorite of ours to take out of town guests (London, and MN) for a night of great food, service and entertainment for all ages. The portions are huge and the price is just right! Thank you Ollie for a wonderful dining experience!
The Red Bar is the center of the SoWal universe. A must do!
The best place ever!
Happy 18th year Red Bar, Oli, and all. We love ya! Great food music paneed chicken, mashed potatoes music drinks bar people!!
The Re d Bar is my fav restaurant..
its why I moved to 30- a. I dream of smoked tuna dip & tiramasu...mimosas & mojitos! Happy 18 Oli & Crew! miss u!
Always struggle to decide what to order...but in the end, I just can't get enough of that grit cake:) Love this place!
My girlfriends and I have gotten together in 30-A area for 15 years and we always make The Red Bar a night out destination. Especially on crab cakes night!!!! Well worth the experience!
Love, love The Red Bar! Great family atmosphere, great music and outstanding food! We always plan lunch or dinner at The Red Bar during our annual vacation on 30A.
The Red Bar food and drinks are consistently good; especially, the key lime pie, Bloody Marys, grilled cheese sandwich, crab cakes, and blackened grouper over grit cake. Breakfast, lunch or dinner you will not be disappointed. It is always our first destination when we have out of town guests. Great fun staff with superb food/drinks, excellent music and eclectic decor, this place is the best!
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