Gulf Front Rooftop Breakfast at Bud & Alley's

Bud & Alley's owner Dave Rauschkolb never skimps on research. When he decided that Bud & Alley’s would begin breakfast service, he and the crew packed their bags and caught a flight to New York in search of menu inspiration. After seeking out the most important meal of the day all over the city, they brought the best recipes back to the place with the best view in the world. Breakfast at Bud & Alley’s was born.

Bud & Alley’s is perched on a bluff of dunes in Seaside with sick views of the Gulf. As the morning haze clears, pelicans fly in formation overhead. Down below, students at Seaside Neighborhood School attend surf class. People come down from their cottages for a drink of the freshest air in the world against a watery backdrop that deepens from green to aqua to blue.

With a view like that and a menu inspired by one of the most famous culinary cities in the world, you’d be hard pressed to find a more perfect way to start your day.

“It’s no secret that we have the most amazing view in the world, so why wouldn’t we want to enjoy that over breakfast,” says Dave.

Choosing what you want off the menu is a much tougher decision. Chef David Bishop has been at Bud’s for eight years and is adept at turning inspiration into reality. He even put a New York Style Bagel & Gravlax on the menu, authenticated with scallion cream cheese and pickled red onions.

Regional coastal influences are found throughout the breakfast menu, reflected in instant classics like the Sweet Potato Pancakes.

“If we ever took them off the menu people would freak out,” says Dave. 

While you can’t go wrong with a Southern Style Breakfast, Crab Cake Benedict makes everything feel alright. Lumps of tender crab are perfectly accompanied by a poached egg on an English muffin drizzled in hollandaise.

You won’t find Duck Confit Hash Browns anywhere else in South Walton. Crispy potatoes, leeks, frisee, roast peppers and a fried duck egg round out the entrée. If you’re a lover of breakfast sandwiches, opt for the Scrambled Egg and Cherrywood Bacon with aged Swiss and avocado piled high on ciabatta bread.

A fruit plate with fresh mint or Granola & Yogurt with stone cut oats, almonds and berries show the lighter side of breakfast at Bud & Alley’s. The restaurant keeps it local with Amavida coffee, and you can even make it an Irish one.

Sunrise Cocktails are special at Bud and Alley’s. Fresh o.j. and Lamarca Prosecco make for one wonderful Mimosa, but it’s the Bloody Mary that’s the star of the show. The House Bloody Mary won the top spot at the inaugural Bloody Mary Festival this past fall. A meal in itself, the concoction of Stoli Vodka and house made mix is garnished with a spicy pickled green bean, pickled okra, spicy boiled shrimp and Cherrywood smoked bacon. 

This year, Bud and Alley’s is celebrating 30 years of good food, good people and good times in Seaside. Get up to the rooftop for a hearty breakfast and the best view in the world to inspire your day.

“Breakfast is one of my favorite meals of the day. It’s been a long time coming but it’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” says Dave.

Bud and Alley’s is located on the Gulf side of Scenic 30A in Seaside. Enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks daily, with breathtaking views of the Gulf. Call 850.231.5900 for reservations and information, or email info@budandalleys.com. Read the Bud and Alley’s story and see menus at www.budandalleys.com, and join the conversation on Facebook.