Favorite restaurants

Are they pricey?

 

Last night, we went to The Old Florida Fish House, on Eastern Lake. I had thought by the name it would be more of an old time casual fish house but it is more upscale than that. Not over the top or fancy, just very pretty inside. The service was great. The signiture dish, "Fish House Grouper", was awesome. Sauteed grouper with lump crab and 2 shrimp on top. mmm. It was $19.95 al a carte. The small side salad of greens and blue cheese was $2.95. The little sea turtle had the corn and crab bisque ($3.50) and the grilled swordfish (22.95). He loved them both! Not cheap but priced fairly for this area and really fresh. Most entrees ranged from $15.95 to 22.95 (about like Cafe 30 -A) I would recommend this restaurant!!

Louie's Seafood on 98 past Carillon (on the right with a smoker out front) has one of the best shrimp Po'Boys around. $6.95 and I (almost) couldn't eat the whole thing! Someone had fried crawfish platter and it was great, too.

During these Hurricane Repair days, I would like to encourage other locals to continue to frequent the many restaurants and merchants in the area that depend on the summer income to survive.

 

Do they have non-seafood options, for those who don't want a seafood dish (I know, horrors, but there are these types)?

 

In Destin itself (or Holiday isle) what are the best Non-Chain places to eat?

WE've tried the Back Porch(mostly fried) and a few others that were just 'ok". Of course I'm from Louisisana, so we have great food here & I'm picky.

 

We used to love Flamingo Cafe and Marina Cafe, but I don't know if they're there anymore or still good. Once we discovered 30-A, we rarely go to Destin.

 

Try Louisiana Lagniappe on Holiday Isle- was excellent last time we were there (last fall).

 

For Destin proper, we really like La Paz for good & fresh Mexican. I'm a sucker for their made to order black bean soup, and their prices are very reasonable. By far the best Mexican or Tex/Mex in Okaloosa County.

Osaka for Japanese and sushi.

Ciao Bella for Italian. Best thin crust pizza in the area.

McGuire's for American/seafood. Good year-round, but tends to be even better in the off season when it's only their core staff is working there.

Bonefish Grill for seafood. Yeah it's a chain, but it holds its own against the locals.

Quick bites- Publix subs; Panera Bread or Zoe's at Destin Commons.

Back Porch, Pompano Joe's, Louisiana Langiappe, and Gratzi are all owned by the same people. And IMO, tend to coast by on location rather than food quality. Decent enough fish, but cheapest possible starches. I'm picky about bread, and feel like the sandwich buns are sweet enough to taste close to cotton candy.

 

Thank you!

LaPaz is right near our condo & my gang loves Mexican!
I've always wanted to try Panerra bread.

 

I have been to La Paz and Louisianna Lagniappe, Both are favorites but haven't been in a while cause of the drive.

 

We have been going to Marina Cafe for years - it is an excellent fine-dining restaurant. No fried food here.

From Louisiana too, so I know what your saying ;-)

edit: Flamingo Cafe closed up last year and Destin Chops moved in (same ownership as Marina Cafe). Louisiana Lagniappe was originally started by a Louisiana transplant and the food was great. He sold the restaurant a few years ago, moved back to Baton Rouge and re-opened an LL there.

 

Does anyone in the Seagrove/Grayton/Blue Mt. Beach area have fried shrimp that comes close to what Nicks used to have? Their shrimp was the best...we miss it!

 

In an eariler post someone said Smiling Fish had good fried shrimps (Bubba Gump)

 

To drsvelte: Thanks for the update regarding Flamingo Cafe.

To others: I forgot about La Paz. It's good, but it's a chain - I've been to one in Atlanta. Check out http://www.lapaz.com. I think CajunGal was looking for non-chain restaurants in Destin. But then there are some chains that I like, such as Houston's and Pappasito's.

 

In Destin, I'm very fond of Landry's. I'm even fonder in the off-season, when you don't have to wait 45 minutes.

I do appreciate this thread too - it's very useful even when you are local, especially if you spend most of your time on or north of 98. You guys have talked me into forcing a family outing to the Smiling Fish Cafe and probably Yianni's too!

 

Ditto that! I'm dumping the whole thread to a tree to take along for next week! (beach is one week out of the year the electronics & I part company )

 

Bayou Bills on 98 between Grayton - Destin has the basic fried whatever-you-want seafood.

 

Went to Blue Orleans yesterday for lunch. Their lunch specials were the dinners that they will be serving starting next Thursday. Had the crawfish cakes and they were delicious! Cajun type food. Lunches were about $8-$11. THey serve breakfast until 2pm, so that works well to feed the kids. Casual atmosphere for lunch. Not sure about the wine. Met the owner and he seems to be fun guy.