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Seafood recomendations please !!

Beach Comber
2,201 views
Hello all!
Headed down soon with the family and some friends. We have been coming to Seagrove for years and just love it! This is my first year on SOWAL forums so I thought I would a little bird doggin for some seafood and get the "local" perspective.

Im hoping the wife and I can break away from the kids one night and head out with another couple and you know...eat with silverware and maybe cloth napkins. A higher end experience.
A bonus would be any recomendation that is situated with a gulf view :clap: Yeah!

Oddly enough, when I do internet searchs for "TOP RATED" seafood in the area, A place called Stinkys Fish Camp" keeps coming up. Guess I will have to try it too. Looks like a place the kids might enjoy.

Any guidance most appreciated!

Thanks!
Chris

Replies

12
scooterbug44 avatar
SoWal Expert
#2
Avoid raw oysters - the FDA issued a warning today to not eat raw gulf oysters as they are causing a cholera outbreak.

Stinky's, Smiling Fish, Nick's, and Caliza are all great places to get Seafood.
Beach ComberAuthor
#3
Not a big fan of raw oysters anyway...but thanks for the heads up scooter.

Thanks also for the recomendations. I will check'em out
Beach ComberAuthor
#4
Hey Scooter.
I looked at Caliza. WOW!

Wifey...will...likey :D

Keep'em coming!!
Beach Lover
#6
Tango is a must. Stinky's is better with no kids, Elmo's is the place to go with kids.
DD avatar
SoWal Expert
#7
I loved Nick's. Caliza....top notch.
Minnie avatar
Beach Fanatic
#8
We love Nick's, very friendly atmosphere, lots of free parking and a great menu and service is always top notch.
30A Skunkape avatar
Skunky
#9
I still contend the best piece of fried fish to be found in SOWAL is at the Pizza Bar in Seaside, of all places. It is the fried grouper appetizer.

Nicks is good for fried stuff and boiled crabs. The grilled fare is, well, not what you go to Nicks for.

Elmo's is great for kids and eating massive portions of crab legs you saw three seasons ago on The Deadliest Catch.

Stinky's is great, but it is such a mob scene at dinner we avoid it. Lunch is a much more pleasant experience and the young ones will be OK there at that time, too.

Some people like to go to Bayou Bill's on HWY 98 in Sant Rosa Beach. The boiled crabs ore pretty good and this is another place the kids will be welcome.

Good fish tacos are found at Smiling Fish Cafe.

For white cloth seafood you might try Bud and Alley's.

Another good spot for higher end seafood is Fish Out of Water in Watercolor.

I suggest not taking the offspring to the latter two.

For a destination trip, Captain Anderson's in Panama City is hard to beat. Very good seafood but it is a solid 35 minute minimum drive from most of SOWAL. With that said, it is worth the trip.
Teresa avatar
SoWal Guide
#10
Oh, Skunky - you are right - Captain Anderson's is a great place to go for seafood. Go early and watch the fishing boats come in.

I just LOVE Nick's for fresh fried seafood, blue crab and fun, relaxed atmosphere.

Stinky's definitely a favorite these days so go early! Seafood baskets are way too small - go for sandwiches or entrees.

Families love Bayou Bills.

Summer Kitchen - I've had some of the best fresh seafood for dinner there in Rosemary Beach! Beautifully prepared.
Beach Comber
#11
I suggest Basmati's. No gulf view, but sets nicely back from the road in a quiet, easy to get to area (on 30A). I consider it casual upscale and think about "firecracker grouper" all year round. Check out website with menus/prices.
Beach Fanatic
#12
i've eaten at every seafood place up and down from panama city to destin to 30-a. for fried shrimp my favorite is bayou bills. its hard to be there lightly breaded yet crisp shrmp. i ate at nicks a few weeks ago and although the shrimp was good the batter was sliding off the shrimp.
beachmouse avatar
Beach Fanatic
#13
If anyone finds themselves flying through VPS airport around meal time, I'll throw in a recommendation for the Dockside Cafe in North Lights Marina at the corner of Hwy 20 (John Sims Road) and SR 85. Ernie's a proper cajun guy who knows his regional seafood, and has his mama's recipes for gumbo and jambalaya on the menu.

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