This post is all about Emerald Coast restaurants you have to try.
Don’t you just love travel food? Not the food that you eat while you’re traveling to the destination. I mean the food that you try at new restaurants. Let’s go even deeper and say new Emerald Coast restaurants.
If you’re travelling to the Emerald Coast or are already there, I’ve got some restaurant ideas for you.
There are lots of options but there are a few that I recommend to anyone who plans to come to the Emerald Coast (because my experience there was very enjoyable.)
If you’re a seafood lover, the Emerald Coast is for you. If not, then I listed some non seafood heavy restaurant options too.
The restaurants I have listed below are ones that I have only seen in this area. I am sure some of these restaurants are in other locations around Florida or the US but as of right now, I haven’t seen any others.
Here’s a list of 13 Emerald Coast restaurants to try and their dollar signs. You’re Welcome.
Why Eat At Emerald Coast Restaurants?
I think you should think about eating along the Emerald Coast because the beach views are BREATHTAKING. I live here and I still feel so lucky to see the white sand and blue water whenever I want.
Not only that, but the vibes here are SO relaxing. I actually plan on retiring here. Hopefully, me saying that to you gives you a good idea for what kind of place the Emerald Coast is.
This post is all about Emerald Coast restaurants you have to try.
Disclaimer
I am not affiliated with any of the locations listed below. Everything in this post is my personal opinion and is intended for informational purposes only. You, the reader, will read the content at your own risk. I will not be held responsible for any consequences that arise from you interacting with this blog post. Before deciding to visit any of these locations, I highly recommend you do your own research beforehand to ensure that it is the right place for you
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Let’s begin.
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13 Emerald Coast Restaurants You Have To Try
1. Flounder’s Chowder House $$
Founder’s is a seafood restaurant at Pensacola Beach and is one of the touristy restaurants with outdoor seating with some beach views.
There is a playground by the outdoor seating area so if you have kids, you could eat and have a place for the kids to play.
The food presentation was AMAZING.
The one time that I went, we had a cup of chowder, Flounder’s Shrimp & Spinach Dip, Seared Tuna Tacos, Tuna Avocado Roll, and a side of complimentary bread. It was A LOT of food for sure but everything was delicious.
The only thing I didn’t really like was my choice of sushi. I chose one of the basic ones with minimal ingredients. If I was choosing a roll the way I normally would, I’d go for the most expensive one. The Rainbow Roll. (Because there is a variety of fish on it.)
For some reason, I thought a smaller sushi roll was going to be worth $13 but it really wasn’t.
I am never making that mistake again because the more expensive rolls have more stuff on it and more flavor.
I would highly recommend going to Flounder’s for lunch because I think the beach themed restaurants are best when they are eaten outdoors in the bright sun.
There is definitely bias in my opinion because I only go to beach themed restaurants during lunch.
I’ve noticed that night time has more bugs too so I ask for indoor seating when I eat out for dinner.
The only time I would consider sitting outside for dinner is when they have the hung up twinkling lights everywhere. Those lights lighten up any atmosphere very well in my opinion.
I would eat outdoors for dinner during the cooler months when there are less bugs. (And less sticky sweating.)
2. The Tin Cow $$
The Tin Cow is a fun hamburger restaurant in downtown Pensacola.
They let you design your own burger which I thought was an interesting concept.
The last time I went, I got a hamburger on a brioche bun with a medium rare burger, avocados, lettuce, tomatoes, and a side of mac and cheese. I get fries sometimes too.
Each time I’ve gone, my burgers have been juicy and delicious.
I would go to this restaurant for both lunch and dinner. The restaurant is more on the dark color scheme side so it will most likely feel the same no matter what time of day you come in. At least that’s how I feel.
Since this restaurant is in downtown Pensacola, you can walk around and digest afterwards. You’re definitely going to have to do some walking anyway because I doubt you can get parking right next to the restaurant.
You got really lucky if you could manage parking nearby.
There isn’t really much else I can say. It’s a great place for you if you’re craving burgers.
3. Petrella’s Italian Café $$
Petrella’s is a little Italian restaurant in Pensacola too.
Some of their pastas are VERY cheesy and I love cheesy foods. So that’s why I would recommend coming here for some authentic, cheesy, Italian food. (I don’t know what your version of authentic is but it seems authentic to me.)
I recently tried the spinach ravioli and it was delicious. It was topped with alfredo sauce too which really made the dish very tasty.
The way they designed the restaurant’s interior also gave very relaxing vibes and looked aesthetic. They had candles and wooden furniture.
I have only been to Petrella’s for dinner.
Based on the food they serve and the atmosphere, I consider it more of a dinner place, but they have lunch items as well.
Every time I’ve come here, there are a majority of older folks. To me, when I see a lot of older folks, it’s a more local location with good food.
Not only that, the portion sizes are very generous. My boyfriend and I once shared a dinner combo of spinach ravioli, manicotti, and fettuccine alfredo that came with a salad and 4 butter bread slices and were still unable to finish the meal.
I don’t know how much food you need to be satisfied but I would say to start with one to share, and then order more if you need to.
The best time to come for dinner would be 4:30 pm because 5:00 pm is when the crowd starts coming in. It’s a small café so they can only fit so many people inside.
If you come to Petrella’s for lunch instead, it will still be a worthwhile experience.
I think this location is a step above Olive Garden. (But Olive Garden has some pretty good breadsticks.)
4. East River Smokehouse $$
East River Smokehouse is located in Navarre right next to the bridge that takes you to Navarre Beach.
This is a waterfront restaurant that has barbecue and bar food type foods.
I would recommend this place because it’s a casual place to eat and there is something for almost everyone. I normally get the country fried steak.
The only time I don’t get a country fried steak is when my boyfriend wants to eat something else (because I literally love country fried steak and will always order it if I could).
We share our meals most of the time so I can’t always get my country’s fried steak.
I think East River Smokehouse is a fun place to eat at along the Emerald Coast for both lunch and dinner because of the area and the casual vibes.
Even if you’re not trying to go for casual, a dinner date night at this location with a waterfront view is A+.
I will warn you now that if you decide to sit outdoors, there is a high chance of bugs depending on the time of year you decide to come.
I went in the summer for lunch once and there were a lot of gnats flying around and it got annoying.
That is the only time I remember having a bug issue at that restaurant. I have also eaten indoors before and I still like eating their just the same.
I would say plan to go here when it’s not hot out. There are probably less bugs. (Don’t quote me on that though, if there are still bugs the other times then I am so sorry.)
If you’re only interested in the food and not the view, then by all means just eat indoors.
5. The Slippery Mermaid $$
The Slippery Mermaid is also located in Navarre and is slightly farther from the bridge to Navarre beach than East River Smokehouse.
This restaurant is very small. It’s more of a café size.
There is both indoor and outdoor seating (but I prefer indoor seating because the only view I’ve seen so far is the parking lot.)
The sushi is very tasty. I normally order sushi rolls with a lot of stuff on it and this sushi place has all sorts of options.
The last time I went, I ordered the psycho mermaid roll and that was super yummy.
This restaurant tends to get busy though so you should prepare to wait at least an hour for food (unless you come at the right time. I do not know when the sweet spot is. I show up whenever and hope for the best.)
The last time I went, I had to wait about an hour and half. I don’t remember if that includes the time that we waited to be seated.
But the main point is that this restaurant made the list despite the wait time because the food is delicious.
I recommend sitting at the bar. It’s small but it feels less hectic and as if it’s only you and your partner. (Or you feel more secluded if you’re dining alone.)
6. Domo Café $$
YES, Domo Café.
Domo café Is located in Fort Walton Beach and it’s my all time favorite place to eat along the Emerald Coast.
I kid you not, I try to go to Domo Café at least once a month. If it’s possible, I would go more than once a month.
Domo Café is my favorite place to showcase my love for sushi. I have only ever ordered sushi here.
But, if you don’t like sushi, there are other foods to eat such as bento boxes and soup. I just can’t comment on them because I have not had anything else other than sushi.
If you like a lot of stuff on your sushi and a lot of different flavors on your sushi, the BOMB.COM is your roll to try. You should definitely look at the ingredients before you order this one though because there is a lot of stuff on it.
There are plenty of other delicious rolls but the BOMB.COM is the biggest (in my opinion) and the most expensive.
All in all, try Domo Café. It’s a must.
I’ve only had one person try it and not like it (which still breaks my heart) but most of the time, people love it here.
Domo Café is very popular so it’s busy a majority of the time.
I’ve tried to time when the best time to come in is but it is a hit or miss place.
Sometimes I come at 6 pm and it’s empty. Sometimes I come at 6 pm another day and it’s PACKED.
So, I just go at random times now and decide what to do based on how busy it is. I hardly ever wait if the line extends out the door. (It’s another small café restaurant.)
7. Think Poke $
Think Poke is pretty much the sister of Domo Café because it has pretty much the same food but in bowl form. It is located in Fort Walton Beach in Uptown Station.
Think Poke is normally the back up plan if Domo is busy or if we recently went to Domo and didn’t want to go there again. I like Think Poke as the backup place to go to after Domo Café because not only is it similar, but it’s cheaper too. (I just like rolls more than bowls.)
“What do you mean you like rolls more than bowls?”
At Think Poke, you build your own bowl. You choose your base such as rice. Then you can choose different proteins to put on it (fish, chicken, etc.). The next part is the most fun because you can add lots of toppings and sauces that you would normally see on top of sushi rolls.
So at Think Poke, it’s literally a sushi roll, but in bowl form.
This location is slightly smaller than Domo Café but I haven’t had a problem with seating and lines thus far (But I’ve been lucky to show up before the crowd.)
I would recommend not coming during peak eating times. I think the busiest time I have ever seen Think Poke was 7:00 pm where the line started extending out the door.
But since your bowl is made on the spot right in front of you, the line moves relatively quickly.
It’s like subway, but sushi stuff instead of sandwich stuff.
8. Old Bay Steamer $$$
You saw that right, it’s THREE dollar signs. Old Bay Steamer is the most expensive restaurant on this list. I had to be diverse with this list. (There might be rich folks reading this.)
Old Bay Steamer is located on Okaloosa Island.
This place is pretty much a big birthday staple for the older relatives in my family.
Old Bay Steamer is a seafood place with lots of different platters. It’s pretty basic, but if you’re craving seafood and are not worried about the price, this is a good place to go.
They have tasty captain wafer crackers too. (I always take some home.)
Since this restaurant is three dollar signs, we only go here for the big birthday occasions. My family and I do not have the money to come here often.
Whenever we do go to Old Bay Steamer, we order a big platter with snow crab, shrimp, corn, potatoes, etc. to share. I am pretty sure it’s one of those platters that reaches at least $100.
One platter is normally enough to fill up my family of 4 but to be fair we don’t eat that much. If you decide to get the platter, you should definitely ask your server how big the portion is.
I highly recommend that you share meals with other people. I’m not saying this because I already do it everywhere I go. It’s because if you each get your own meals, you might break the bank.
It’s THREE dollar signs. I repeat, $$$.
Like I said, I only go here on special occasions so about once a year on average. Maybe even less than that.
Going here at least once is a good experience.
Also, sitting on the second floor made me the most excited, especially when I was younger.
9. The Gulf $$
The Gulf is also on Okaloosa island and is pretty much across the street from Old Bag Steamer, but you have to go deep into the side to get to the restaurant.
I have only been here once, but I will say that the one experience and memory that I have of the place was VERY nice.
It was around 3:00 pm when I went and all I had was pita chips and tuna dip. (I know, basic. But it was definitely enough.)
This is another waterfront restaurant but this one is entirely outdoor seating.
The decorations and set up that they chose are aesthetically pleasing.
I haven’t gone here at night yet but I am sure the place looks BEAUTIFUL because they have string lights hung around.
If you look up photos online of the place, you’d see it.
I definitely plan on going back to The Gulf again to eat.
You don’t have to come here for a full course meal. You can do what I did and come for a little appetizer snack.
I think it would be a nice and relaxing experience if you decided to come right after a beach day.
10. The Crab Trap $$
The Crab Trap is probably one of the biggest tourist traps on Okaloosa Island.
I have been there twice and sat in the same spot both times.
I was there with my boyfriend and we decided to sit at this little bar area that looks over the gulf.
The bar is always my go to place to sit because I feel like I can really focus on my partner and there aren’t other people in front of us to distract us.
The good thing about the bar overlooking the beach is that my boyfriend and I could talk about what we are seeing, who we are seeing, and what those people are doing. It makes for some interesting conversations.
I have only ever gone to The Crab Trap for lunch and the appetizers are delicious.
We normally go for the chips and dip options for our appetizer.
If I haven’t already said it enough, I love this place because the beach view looks great! Of course, we go on sunny days with a nice cooling breeze.
If you get to Okaloosa Island and want a nice relaxing lunch and a nice beach view, the Crab Trap is one of the good restaurants for that.
11. Rockin’ Tacos $$
Rockin’ Tacos is right next to the Crab Trap, so if you’re feeling tacos, you can also get a seat that overlooks the beach at this location.
There are some seats with and without a cover roof though. I’ve only been to Rockin’ Tacos once so far and we sat without the cover.
Luckily it was a decent day, but we did go during the colder months. We went for lunch though so we had the sun to keep us warm.
I remember I got one of the most expensive tacos on the menu and it was pretty and tasty.
I have been wanting to go again but I haven’t been in the area for a while. There were times when I was in the area but ended up driving past it because another restaurants sounded yummier.
But the point is, Rockin’ Tacos is another touristy spot with a nice beach view that I recommend for your vacation to the Emerald Coast.
12. Island Wing Company $$
Island wing company is such a cute restaurant and is located in a plaza area in Destin.
The reason I like coming here is because the color scheme of the restaurant is fun and they have baked Buffalo wings.
Whether the wings are baked or fried they all taste the same to me but seeing “baked” just makes it feel like a better time. (Yeah, I don’t know what I mean either. Just go with it.)
This is a location that I would probably only go to for lunch.
I associate Island Wing Company as a casual restaurant that I could go to with a couple friends and chat for a while.
I personally like having these casual friend outings during lunch when the sun is out and everything feels bright and happy and the Island Wing Company is the perfect place for that kind of event.
13. Yuga Sushi and Sake House $$
Yuga Sushi is located around the center of Destin Commons.
My boyfriend and I wanted to try a new sushi place so we went there. We went fairly recently so we were there at a time where it was low on staff (because of COVID stuff.)
We were served by the sushi chef. (There was only one other server and the cook in the back.)
We also sat at the bar-like table around the sushi making area too. (You should know by now that I’ll always go for the bar if it’s available.)
Despite the low staff, our server was SO nice to us.
He made sure we had everything we needed and constantly checked on us. He was even nice enough to make sure our soup wasn’t too spicy and made sure we had enough sauce for our appetizer dumplings.
On top of that, the food presentation was beautiful. The taste was delicious. The entire experience was amazing.
I would definitely go back.
It was an overall great experience so I definitely recommend you check this place out. Hopefully whoever serves you is as nice as our server was. (You can also go shopping when you’re done eating.)
14. BONUS: Bruester’s Real Ice Cream
I added a little bonus here because Bruester’s is not a restaurant BUT it is a place for dessert.
Bruester’s is slightly deeper into Destin but not too much.
Bruester’s is a little ice cream booth type with outdoor seating.
I love going here after a beach day. They have lots of different flavors which should be expected at an ice cream shop.
The outdoor seating arrangement is cute and very colorful too.
The last time I went, I ordered birthday cake ice cream and it was DELICIOUS.
If you want ice cream on a hot day, this is your place.
Ending Note
I really hope you decide to visit the Emerald Coast soon because these restaurants that I’ve listed are literally my favorite places to eat at.
Most of the restaurants on this list made the list mainly because of the way I felt while I was there. Such as how the atmosphere was and how it made me feel while I was there.
I wanted to share these Emerald Coast restaurants with you and hear about how you love them too. Unless you don’t.
But I would still be interested in knowing why you don’t like them. It may be an eye opener for me and change some of my perspectives. But as of right now, I love them.
If you have some of these restaurants where you live already then obviously DO NOT go to them when you visit the Emerald Coast.
The point I am trying to make is that when you’re on vacation, it’s more fun if you go to new restaurants that you can’t get in your hometown.
I see vacation as a time to get away from what I’m used to and try all sorts of new things, including food.
If you want to know about more activities to do along the Emerald Coast, I have a blog post for that too. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Good day!
This post was all about Emerald Coast restaurants you have to try.
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