Category: Dining

By Phil Heppding – 30A Food and Wine

For those of us that live and vacation here in South Walton, operating on beach time is a way of life. If an island destination is what you crave, Tommy Bahama Restaurant at Grand Boulevard can meet your need for tropical breezes without ever leaving the shores of South Walton.

As one of the original restaurants at the iconic Grand Boulevard, Tommy Bahama has grown a loyal local following while also catering to tourists and vacationers alike that visit the area. If you have visited Tommy Bahama recently, you may have noticed they just recently completed a refresh of their interior space. We caught up with the new General Manager, Pratt Shirley to get the run down on what’s new, both with the building and the menu. “We haven’t changed the building itself or the bones as you would say, but we updated the colors and made things much lighter,” said Shirley.

“We’re very happy that we were able to keep the characteristics of the restaurant so that when our guests return, they see the same space they have come to love, but with a brighter, more open feeling to it,” Shirley continued.

In addition to cosmetic updates, the menu has also seen some changes, upgrades and additions that will only serve to raise the level of cuisine in South Walton.

Frequent visitors might be well acquainted with the coconut shrimp that has become a fan favorite, but a few other dishes are quickly rising to the top of diners with list. “The flatbread pizza is by far the most popular appetizer other than the shrimp,” said Shirley. The filet mignon flatbread features bacon, honey roasted onions, lemon arugula, gruyere and roasted mushrooms.

The restaurant also highlights daily chef features each day, depending on what local fisherman and purveyors are offering. Dinner guests might find the evening special to be a snapper, grouper, amberjack or sea bass based on seasonal availability with a hint to the island theme.

For those that are used to happy hour, more live music options make Tommy a fantastic option for starting your night off in South Walton. Added Shirley”We have what we call island time from 4-6. We now have live music 6 nights a week with a different artists each night.” Executive Chef Andre Dobbs takes pride in wowing the guests that visit the restaurant. “We want our guests to feel at home and I try and spend a lot of time visiting the dining room to make sure everyone is having a great experience,” said Dobbs. “From our crab cakes to our macadamia nut shortbread key lime pie, we take the island theme pretty seriously here.”

Guests will notice new presentations on some old favorites, But not to fear, if you are craving island time, Tommy Bahama looks forward to hosting you soon. Tommy Bahama Restaurant is located at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin at 525 Grand Blvd, Suite P-101, Miramar Beach, FL 32550. Open Daily at 11AM with Island Time happy hour from 4-6PM Daily. Live music Monday-Saturday from 5-9PM. For more information visit https://www.tommybahama.com/restaurants/sandestin or call 850-654-1743.

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New Offerings Include Bowl-Themed Entrees and a Build-Your-Own Martini

Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. (August 14, 2019) – The Gathering Spot, located within the WaterColor Inn, has unveiled new all-day menus.

The new bowl-themed menus provide guests with the chance to try a signature entrée bowl (such as the Cobb Bowl or the Caesar Bowl), or to experiment with flavors by building their own bowl – choosing a base, vegetable, protein and sauce. Breakfast bowls (such as the Salmon Bowl) are also available, as are delicious handhelds, which include a Wagyu Burger, Smoked Wings and House-Made Soft Pretzels served with beer cheese.

“Guests will find it hard to pick a new favorite, but I recommend they have some fun trying out different bowls. My choice? House-made fettuccini, Gulf grouper, locally roasted vegetables and some pesto, for good measure,” says Matt Moore, Executive Chef and Food & Beverage Director. “Those looking to share smaller plates are sure to be tempted by the scent of our hot, fresh-made pretzels, while the cauliflower has quickly become a preferred (and innovative) appetizer.”

Keeping with the build-your-own theme, the restaurant’s cocktail menu now includes a Build-Your-Own Martini option, in addition to the restaurant’s wide selection of wines, beers and creative libations. Guests can select their choice of Spirit, Syrups (or Purees), Mixers, Bitters and Garnishes for a truly personalized sip.

“My advice to guests is to be adventurous,” says Kyle Davis, Assistant Director of Food & Beverage. “It’s best to rely on the knowledge of our staff as a guide, but don’t be afraid to venture out. Plus, blue cheese stuffed olives taste great with tequila!”

A popular spot for a casual meal in a laidback, beach-house setting, The Gathering Spot is a comfortable place for families and couples alike to spend time together, while enjoying a fresh (and fun) meal. The restaurant, which is open to the public seven days a week, is located on the main lobby level of the WaterColor Inn, across from the library. Entry into the restaurant does not include doors, and seating is wheelchair accessible.  Reservations are never required.

Hours are as follows:
Breakfast (Daily):                       8 – 11 a.m.
Lunch & Dinner (Daily):             11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Happy Hour (Daily):                   5 – 6:30 p.m. (cocktails served until 10 p.m.)
Entertainment:                          Live music (seasonal)

For more information, call (850) 534-5000.

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By Susan Benton

One of the most beloved restaurants in Seaside is Great Southern Café. Known for their fresh local seafood and produce, fun loving staff, and a happy hour that is perfect for people watching on the side deck, the chef and owner is Jim Shirley.

As a member of the state board of directors of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA), vice president of the Northwest Florida Chapter of FRLA, founder and president of the Society of Great Southern Chefs, and a member of the Southern Foodways Alliance, Chef Shirley knows what it takes to be a leading force behind the local food movement, and how to take action. As a community leader, he dedicates time to many charities, including the Children’s Home Society of Florida (a board member of the Western Division), and is also a board member of the Autism Society of the Panhandle.

Shirley opened his first restaurant, Madison’s Diner, in Pensacola in 1995, followed by the Screaming Coyote in 1997, and the Fish House in 1998. In 2006, he opened Great Southern Café in the heart of Seaside and said, “I have always loved Seaside. The wine festivals introduced me to this area, and Dr. Ken Ford of the Institute of Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) in Pensacola introduced me to Robert Davis, Seaside’s developer, whose passion and interest is about all aspects of sustainability.”

Shirley had been working with farmers in the Panhandle to get them to grow local specialty food items, and when he found there was a Seaside Institute trip planned to Pienza, Italy to study the theme “agricultural edge”, he jumped at the chance to attend, and said, ”In Italy, you look outside of the town you are in and really see the food that you will be eating. Robert Davis had brought along a group of city planners, architects, a few chefs and the people that had put together Alice Waters’ farm-to-table program. We discussed what was happening in Italy, how we could learn from the Italians, and bring that sustainability home to interject into our community and lives on the Gulf Coast.”

Modern Southern cuisine is what Shirley likes to call his style of cooking, as he grew to learn about many food cultures traveling as the young son of a Navy pilot who was often stationed internationally. When he would reflect on his flavor choices, he found he would always go back to his roots; his grandmother’s traditional Southern cooking.

Shirley’s expertise lies in combining unique flavors from the area’s region with his culinary travels abroad, to create new and enticing recipes. His famed Grits A Ya Ya is always a coveted menu favorite. With shrimp that is blackened and nestled on a bed of smoked Gouda cheese grits, smothered in a sauté of applewood smoked bacon, spinach, Portobello mushrooms and cream, then topped with sweet potato hay, it is a dish that is not for the faint of heart. The Soul Rolls stuffed with local collard greens are always a treat as well.

Sourcing his ingredients from local purveyors, Shirley enjoys shopping at The Seaside Farmers Market each weekend with his young family. You will see Twin Oaks Farms eggs on his menu, and the incorporation of Ocheesee Creamery dairy products in many of his dishes. Shirley said. “In the last few years, local farmers have really stepped up their game and are providing us with high quality products. When used in my recipes at Great Southern Café, we’ve got a home run!”

Great Southern Café is located at 83 Central Square and serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch Monday through Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

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By Susan Benton

Go to the beach every day, eat fresh seafood, and make lasting memories is probably on your vacation bucket list. South Walton and 30A are in a prime location to easily source the highly sought after briny bivalves of the Gulf. Oysters in the area typically come from the West Bay of Panama City Beach, Apalachicola just a few hours away, and our neighboring Gulf states of Texas and Louisiana. Though they are traditionally enjoyed with hot sauce, saltines, and a cold beer – oysters are now being prepared in a wide variety of ways. However you decide to throw them back and slurp them down, be sure to visit one of these 30A hot spots for your oyster fix.

Oysters All Day, All Ways

Don’t be deterred by the name! Stinky’s Fish Camp is a long time favorite in Dune Allen Beach for fresh seafood and drinks. They also happen to be a well known spot to get your hands on some oysters, and their Oyster Log adorned with 36 baked oysters is definitely something to write home about. A foot long piece of driftwood is topped with 3 dozen delectable oysters prepared in a variety of mouthwatering styles including BBQ butter, shrimp and crab, cheddar jalapeno, and smoked gruyere with bacon.. The log is a Stinky’s signature for a reason, and might even end up being the most memorable part of your trip.

Live music, Great food, Gulf views

Shunk Gulley is one of 30A’s newest restaurants and was named 30A’s Hot Spot for Best Raw Oysters. It sits in Santa Rosa Beach at Gulf Place with an open-air concept overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Offering 40 feet of panoramic views, the upstairs open-air dining room is the perfect place to grab a casual bite to eat. When you come to Shunk Gulley, you can count on two things: fresh oysters and a stunning view.

Hurricane Oyster Bar is a long-standing fun and funky restaurant that serves oysters in an impressive range of fashions. Try the “World Tour,” and you’ll get a sample of five different styles of raw oysters in styles influenced by international foods from Mexico, Russia, Germany, Japan. Perhaps the most unique flavor on the tour is Japanese, which is a raw oyster topped with hot & sour sauce, seaweed, and ginger. Hurricane Oyster Bar is bound to have a flavor for every kind of oyster eater.

Shrimpers: Family owned and operated since 1977

This much-loved local seafood market is a staple in the South Walton community for providing locals and tourists alike the freshest seafood at fair prices. Jump up onto Highway 98 and take a quick drive over to Shrimpers Seafood Market in Santa Rosa Beach and pick up a bucket of freshly caught oysters to bring home.

30A Oyster Bar: A Shucking Good Time!

It’s time to step up your shrimp boil game and throw an oyster shucker into the mix. 30A Oyster Bar is a locally owned company that brings the oyster bar to you. This private catering service can accommodate events, parties, weddings, and dinners of any size, shape, or style. Rick, the owner of 30A Oyster, is an oyster shucking champion who promises to deliver only the freshest quality local seafood via his oyster bar on wheels. Watch the master at work from the comfort of your own home.

Pizza Bar in Seaside just starting serving raw oysters from Panacea, and Great Southern in Seaside has an Oyster Happy Hour too. One of my favorite seafood Markets is Destin Ice 30A at Inlet Beach. So what are you waiting for? You’ve got oysters to eat, and a cold drink with your name on it.

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By Susan Benton

Seagrove Village MarketCafe has been serving up deep fried love on the corner of County Road 395 and 30A in the Florida Panhandle since 1949. This location once boasted the first official business in Seagrove – an Exxon gas station. Originally owned by the founders of Seagrove Beach, the McGees, customers would drive their Plymouths and De Luxe Fords from miles around to purchase gas and get fresh Gulf seafood along with one of the best burgers to be found. Fast forward 60 years and this iconic eatery has not changed, except its owners are now long time locals Ann and George Hartley who kept this culinary gem in its original state, adding only a few new recipes while keeping much of the tried and true the same. The Hartleys will tell you that the Seagrove Village MarketCafe is still running full steam ahead since the day George walked in to buy a Coca-Cola and then walked out with the business in 1998.

Generations of guests return each year to enter the gravel drive at the Seagrove Village MarketCafe, heading to the back of the store to order the grilled fresh Gulf fish of the day, shrimp tacos, fried oyster basket or the fried grouper sandwich named by Garden & Gun Magazine as “100 Things You Must Eat Before You Die!” Another popular menu item is the half-pound burger that patrons love to sink their teeth into, also voted the #1 Burger on 30A.

The atmosphere at Seagrove Village MarketCafe is an inviting throw back in time, and the perfect place to bring hungry beach goers donning wet bathing suits and sandy feet after a day in the sun. This causal family-friendly dive offers a spacious porch for dining outside and booths and tables for dining inside.

Peruse the market for kitschy souvenirs and classic Seagrove Village MarketCafe merchandise including t-shirts, hats, koozies, ice, cold drinks, sunscreen and much more. You won’t want to leave without taking home one of the best key-lime pies on the planet to savor.

Seagrove Village MarketCafe is open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information call  (850) 231-5736 or visit their website at www.seagrovevillagemarket.com.

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By: Hannah Neville

La Cocina Mexican Grill & Bar, located in Seacrest Beach is a favorite for both tourists and locals alike. Known for their house margaritas and guacamole, the menu features traditional Mexican food but with a local twist; chef’s specials and fresh seafood caught nearby. My fiancé, Chase, and I ordered some drinks to kick off the evening. We were convinced to try the house margarita and the strawberry daiquiri, both of which were fantastic! The tangy house margarita was made with top-shelf tequila and fresh squeezed lime juice, while the daiquiri was not too sweet and really refreshing.

For appetizers, we decided to order some salsa, a large guacamole, and queso — guacamole and queso being some of our favorite foods. The guacamole was incredible, very generous in size, and we couldn’t even finish it all. The queso was savory and rich, a nice compliment to the acidity from the house made salsa. I definitely recommend getting all three of these as starters. When it came time to order, we were unsure of what to get because there were so many options on the menu. Our energetic waiter, Benito, recommended the chef’s specials, and after hearing what they were, we both agreed to try them.

Chase ordered the fresh Gulf amberjack crudo, a dish which consisted of lime cured Gulf amberjack with red chili oil, serrano, blood orange, and micro-cilantro. The raw amberjack was fresh and clean, and the peppers were spicy. The berries added an element of sweetness making the dish very rounded and unique.

I chose to go with the other chef’s special, the crab chorizo taquitos. This dish featured corn tortillas stuffed with crab, chorizo, and queso fresco that was served with charred pasilla-arbol salsa, cilantro crema, mint cilantro salad, and pickled onions. The crispiness of the taquito married well with the sultry crab and spicy sausage, while the cheese and crema played nicely against the smoky salsa. La Cocina is really stepping up their game with their recent hiring of executive chef Eric Bartholomew and sous chef John “J.R.” McKinny.

The appetizers and entrees were filling, but we were still able to split a dessert, and we both immediately knew what we wanted. As fans of tres leches cake, we were excited to sink our teeth into the dense and creamy layers topped with fresh strawberries giving just the right amount of tartness to the sweet ending of our meal. All in all, my experience with La Cocina was lovely. Their generously sized appetizers, creative chef specials, and hand crafted cocktails are really worth the hype. La Cocina Mexican Grill & Bar is located at 10343 E County Hwy 30A, Rosemary Beach, FL 32413. They do not take reservations; however, if you have any questions, feel free to contact them at (850) 231 4021 or visit their website: lacocina30a.com

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By Hannah Neville

Grayton Seafood Company is located on 30A – just after the four-way intersection that leads to Grayton Beach heading east toward Seaside. Tucked quietly away in the shops of Uptown Grayton, Grayton Seafood Company has been around for nearly four years, according to Kenny Griner the owner, who coined the phrase “Grayt Food and Tall Tails.” The laid back atmosphere boasts a southern-style boathouse feel, and the friendly staff makes for a great place to settle in for a bite to eat, especially for those who are in the mood for some true local seafood. Chase, my fiancé and I, began our dinner with two glasses of Riesling and an order of the crab claws. Let me just say this: Order The Sautéed Crab Claws! As we are both lovers of crab, we were absolutely blown away with the amount of flavor that these crab claws packed! The forward lemon-garlic butter that the meaty claws were marinated in was absolutely mouthwatering! Be sure to order this delicious appetizer when visiting Grayton Seafood!

The service was incredibly fast, and before we knew it, it was time for us to order our entrées. I decided on ordering the daily special: the blackened cobia. The dish featured blackened cobia that was heavily seasoned with creole spices over a Cajun rice pilaf and drizzled with a crawfish cream sauce; the dish also came with a sautéed vegetable medley and was topped with crawfish. Words cannot even describe how fantastic the flavors in this dish are. The cobia was very firm and not fishy at all, the creole seasoning really added extra flavor to the dish, and the rice pilaf paired perfectly to create a Southern Cajun Coastal dish. Hands down, this was honestly one of the best pieces of fish that I have ever tasted. Never fear that you are not getting the freshest fish when dining at Grayton Seafood. Chase decided to go for one of their staple menu items: the Conecuh crusted snapper. The dish featured snapper that was crusted with ground Conecuh sausage and was blended with breadcrumbs to produce an extraordinarily thick, crunchy, and flaky crust. The fish was presented on over bed of garlic-mashed potatoes with a side of grilled asparagus. The food was then lightly coated in a creole cream sauce for extra flavor. The size of this entree was enormous. Chase and I were both shocked at how thoroughly and perfectly coated the breading on the snapper was and by the size of the fish. This is a great entree for anyone looking for a delicious southern fried locally caught snapper.

Of course, regardless how full we both were from our fantastic (and not to mention, very generously sized) entrees, we settled on one order of the bread pudding. The bread pudding contained a warm, dense breading with a whiskey sauce, powdered sugar, and pecans. The desert tasted very sweet and hearty, and was fabulous. Overall, our experience with Grayton Seafood Company was excellent. Our waitress, Sarah, and the owner, Kenny, were extremely kind and quick to assist us. If you are looking for a delicious seafood meal and friendly people, then head to Grayton Seafood Company where you can relax, drink a beer, and enjoy delicious seafood!

Grayton Seafood Company is located at 50 Uptown Grayton Circle, Grayton Beach, FL, 32459. GSC does not take reservations, but for any questions, please contact them at 850-213-3683. You will not want to miss their popular Sunday Brunch. Wear your pajamas and get free mimosa’s!

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