New Owners & Chef For Locals' Favorite Chanticleer Eatery in Grayton Beach

When you sit down at Chanticleer Eatery, you simply know something special is coming. But like its namesake, this is no fairy tale folks, this is the real deal!

If you’re craving that special gourmet-twist on home-cooked staples, look no further than Chanticleer Eatery in world-famous Grayton Beach! Tucked in the tall pines just a stone’s throw north of Scenic 30A on Clayton Lane, Chanticleer is serious about making every meal as impressive as the last. 

This tried-and-true South Walton gem is now under new ownership of long-time locals Jimmy Hasser and Adam Yellin — the same duo behind Local Catch Bar & Grill a few miles down the road! They're no strangers to providing our slice of paradise with delicious, family-friendly food.  With the expert help of Nigerian-born Executive Chef Innocent Utomi, Jimmy and Adam have maintained the same care and necessary details for executing Chanticleer’s beloved menu. 

“Our goal was to retain the staff and the recipes so we could continue to produce everyone’s favorite dishes, served by a familiar face” explains Hasser.

This staff writer recently put that goal to test and I think we will all agree when I say, mission accomplished! Their dishes are not only delicious and made with high-quality ingredients, but also look spectacular with a new attention to detail. 

“We try hard not to change what our customers like. If it works, why change it? All we have to do is take it up a notch and that’s what we’ve done,” reiterates Chef Innocent, Head of Culinary Operations for Local Catch and Chanticleer. Now serving lunch AND dinner seven days a week, Chef Utomi wants food-lovers alike to know: “We bring dishes you’ll find in fine dining, and dishes found in casual establishments together - all in one place!”

The lunch menu still features made-to-order signature sandwiches showcasing their incredible housemade bread, daily soups from scratch, and sizable salads, along with an extensive entree selection. Dishes include their popular Chanticleer Grilled Cheese, perfectly battered Fried Shrimp Platter, loaded Cobb Salad, a hearty yet refined Steak Sandwich, or my favorite, Sauteed Crab Claws  — get these fresh blue crab pincers sauteed in butter and garlic and wash them down with a cold Idyll Hounds Ghost Crab Pilsner… simply divine!

In the evening, this dreamy establishment flips its tables to offer an elevated dining experience. Impressive dishes like Smoked Filet Mignon, mouth-watering Baked Lobster Tails, and their renowned boneless Pork Chops, marinated and grilled to perfection, pair perfectly with Saldo’s luscious Zin-Cab blend, The Prisoner. Be sure to ask your server about Chef Innocent’s nightly specials.

Pro-Tip: Don’t skip on dessert! Choose from decadent cakes, key lime pie, and made from scratch cookies such as their coveted White Chocolate Coconut Cookie — make these a double order, you can thank me later. 

I believe Chef Innocent words it perfectly when asked about what makes their location so special, “you can be a part of the area’s craziness and experience the peacefulness all at the same time.”

Located within Grayton Beach North’s thriving art and culinary scene, yet slightly hidden off County Road 283 just north of the Scenic 30A intersection in Grayton Beach, Chanticleer invites you to come as you are – be that sandy toes and beach clothes or dashingly dressed! On a breezy summer night, their dog-friendly open-air patio adorned with a canopy of white lights makes for a wonderful place to sit and catch up with family, meet new friends, or bring that special someone you want to impress.

Looking to host an event at Chanticleer? You are in luck! Once the old bakery room now transformed into a private dining area, this intimate event space is the ideal spot to host your get-together, be it birthday or rehearsal dinner, or simply to entertain clients. Offering seating up to 16 people, your reservation enables you to order off the full menu or work with the culinary team to put together a select tasting menu of your choosing. 

With over a decade of success at sister restaurant Local Catch under Adam and Jimmy's belt, we at SoWal know Chanticleer is in good hands for years to come! Chef Innocent Utomi’s dedication to upholding tradition paired with his culinary ability to ‘take things up a notch’ ensures great things for the future of this Grayton Beach eatery.

“We don’t want to limit ourselves. We want to be dynamic. Because once you start to avoid change you will be obsolete,” Utomi excitedly states in his captivating Nigerian lilt. “ We are giving people more choices. We are not satisfied until it’s the best!”

Chanticleer Eatery is a popular culinary destination for locals and visitors alike that is as delicious as it is welcoming. The eatery currently doesn’t take reservations. Learn more at chanticleereatery.com. View menus, catering options, and more. Stay up to date on all things Chanticleer by following Chanticleer Bakery & Eatery on social media. 

Website: www.chanticleereatery.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChanticleerEatery