A.J.'s has a nice set-up and decent seafood.
I've never had a really "great" meal at
A.J's, but it's a relaxing place to grab a sandwhich and watch the boats come back into the harbor in the afternoon. You can sit inside or sit upstairs on the deck and overlook the harbor. (service upstairs can be slow though).
Excellent choice. It's "Fish basket food", but great atmosphere sitting on the dock watching the sun set and great fresh seafood.
Callahan's has great sandwiches.
Everything I've had a Callahans is good.
I'm not sure if it's still there, but many years ago I had a few good meals and good times at Harbor Docks.
It's still there. Food is great but prices are on the high side. It can easily run a couple $70 to $100 bucks to eat there (with drinks, tip, tax, etc). Parking is non-existant, but they have a solution with valet service that works well.... The valet parking is free, but the valets work for tips. So have cash available for valet. Have lots of cash (or credit card) for when you get your dinner bill.
Here's a list I posted over on ST forum a while back..... just cut-n-paste below.
Back Porch is good too. It's owned by the same company that owns Lousiana Laginappe and Pompano Joes. Both of these are good also.
Deweys' Destin that ReefHound mentioned is good also and not high priced, but go with the realization that it's fish basket food. It's still some of the best seafood you can get there. Parking is usually full, but you can always find a place. WHen you get there, get someone in your party to snag a table as quick as you can as they run out. Great place to sit on the dock and watch the sunset. Since you sit on the dock, great place to go after diving.
Other choices that I like:
Capt Daves on the Gulf: they have a great Terriaki Scallops and Mahi Mahi. It's a nicer restaurant with huge glass windows looking over the beach. Located on old hwy 98 at the county line. easy parking across the street.
Pompano Joes: Great food, but their bar isn't that great (they use artificial juices to make their drinks). The Tuna melt there rocks as does the tuna appetizer. They have two grouper dishs there that are great also. Located on the beach on old hwy 98. Parking is terrible here. The parking lot was taken out by Hurricane Ivan and then again the next summer by the next hurricane and they really haven't fixed it yet. Update 2011: parking lot is fixed. still crowded though. Prob more since they fixed the parking lot.
Harbor Docks: Great place to eat, but pricey. Parking is almost non existant and you have to use their valet service, which is free but the drivers work for tips, so have some cash. Dinner for two here will run you $65 to $90 easily If you get the fresh catch, they will often charge you $10 extra for certain meals if you want it "fresh". I think our bill after tipping the valet and the waiter was easily $100 bucks for 2 of us. Though it was good, it wasn't worth that much.
Red Bar: Santa Rosa Beach. Best grouper I've ever had. They only have 5 items on the menu and take only cash. But they are that good. It's worth the drive down there. Definately go again.
Stinkys Fish Camp: what did I say you're asking? yep. that's the name of the place. It's a small square building on 30A in Dune Allen Beach. It doesn't look like much or does their name do them justice. But the food there is GREAT. I would have never tried it if I didn't go there with someone else, but I'll go back. Service was excellent.
WhaleTail: Near Seascape on old hwy98. This place is kinda a dump to be honest with you, but what I like about it is that you can sit out on the deck at a pinic table and eat and watch the sunset and activity on the beach. Compared to other spots, parking is easy and usually not a wait and price is moderate. They tend to not have the "First rate wait staff" either, but It's one of those "what you make of it spots" but I find it relaxing because of sitting on the deck and let the other stuff brush off... Update: as of 2011 it's been rebuilt from scratch... I haven't been since then.
Callahans: Great food, but I heard they've moved from their location on Gulf Shore Drive. THey have pretty good steaks also.
Mellow Mushroom: Pizza and hot sandwiches. I love their pizza..... I usually eat there at least once while in town because we don't have one near us... Hwy 98 up near Gulf Shore Drive.
Other reviews:
Crab Trap: Been there several times and while I've never had a bad meal there, it just wasn't great by any means. fish was always kinda mushy like it'd been kept in a warmer. I can grill better fish than they do and I don't have a $65 bill/check at the end of the night after waiting 1.5 hours just to sit down. just not worth the hassle.
Lucky Snapper: Been there I think twice and it was never great either time. Service was alway mediocore also. Not worth the cost of the meal there.
Fishermans Wharf: on the harbor. Ok, nothing great. DIdn't see a reason for a return visit when you have other better choices. Prob reason that there was plenty of parking there..... hah
