Anglers Beachside Café
As the name suggests, Anglers Beachside Café is located right on the beach. Indoor seating is available complete with sports bar and old-Florida décor (shells, nets, lobster carcasses, etc.), but deck seating is the way to go. Overlook the ocean while enjoying a feast of Gulf seafood and a fruity beach cocktail. Take a stroll on the boardwalk and watch real anglers trying their hands a fishing. There's a playground for youngsters, and plenty of beach-y décor ... a feast for the eyes, so to speak. The menu is casual, affordable, and offers a little something for everyone. The children's menu boasts the standard kiddie fare: chicken strips, pizza, etc.
Anglers Beachside Café
1030 Miracle Strip Pkwy. SE
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 796-0260
The Crab Trap
For family-style dining at its best, head to The Crab Trap. The deck features rows and rows of picnic tables, and each one is filled on any given night most months of the year. Order up a frozen daquiri, and await your feast of crab legs and fried shrimp. Kids are welcomed with shovel and bucket, a coloring page and some crayons. Post-meal, head down the stairs to the beach playground, or let the youngsters put their souvenir buckets to use with a few before-bed sandcastles. The majority of the menu features seafood---most of which is prepared with a Southern twist---and the prices are reflective of market prices. Whatever you do, make sure you try the hushpuppies. You'll never have them so tasty!
The Crab Trap on Okaloosa Island
1450 SE Miracle Strip Pkwy.
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 301-0959
crabtrapdestin.com
Pompano Joe's
Not far from Okaloosa Island in the neighboring town of Destin sits a colorful shack with tons of personality. Pompano Joe's is a true beach bum's eatery. Located right on the sand, "P. Joe's" exudes a laid-back vibe where you can't help but enjoy yourself. Florida colors---such as blue, yellow, orange, seafoam green and lavender---dot the landscape, and guests can enjoy a table by the open windows, a bar stool, or a picnic table on the sand. The atmosphere is what beach-front eating should be, and the menu is an extension of the enjoyable surroundings. Items like "Reggae Rolls" and "Island Chicken Wings" with "voodoo dressing" culminate the laid-back beach scene. You might even swear you see a Rastafarian wandering around in the kitchen!
Pompano Joe's
2237 Scenic Gulf Highway
Destin, Florida 32550
(850) 837-2224
pompano-joes.com
The Back Porch
A vacation standard for long-time Emerald Coast visitors is The Back Porch. And, there's a reason folks keep coming back year after year. It's worth it! Also located in nearby Destin, The Back Porch is the perfect way to enjoy an early dinner or a post-swim cocktail after a long day at the beach. Wander up in your bathing suit and cover up, order up some of the area's finest Gulf seafood, and reflect on the day's fun. Kids' meals are served on the famous "Back Porch Frisbees," which are perfect to take back to the beach and fly. Or perhaps the adults can sample some appetizers while the little ones pass the time on the playground in the sand. Casual dining for a relaxing night out, menu fare includes an even blend of seafood entrées and American cuisine (hamburgers, etc.). Don't look for a diet-friendly option, though, because you likely won't find it!
The Back Porch
1740 Old Hwy. 98 E.
Destin, Florida 32550
(850) 837-2022
theback-porch.com
