WHERE TO EAT

Probably the most anticipated part (other than the beach) of our Destin trips is… you guessed it – THE FOOD! So often our drive to the coast is consumed by questions like “which meal are you most looking forward to?” or “Are you going for the lobster or the steak this time, or both??” And it’s not just the amazing food we eat while we are there (although you can’t get seafood any fresher than that), but it’s the memories and dining experiences we have while we are there that are always in our minds until our next trip! Our days are regularly spent on the beach, heading back to the condo as the beach service reps are packing things up, and immediately getting ready for a great dinner out.

So for our second blog post we chose to give a restaurant preview of what our favorite spots are in Destin to eat. This is not necessarily an exhaustive list, and we will most certainly miss some places that a lot of people love. This is just a list of the places we like to go when we head to Destin, and we are always ready to try new ones as well!

Louisiana Lagniappe

Cuisine: Upscale Creole

Price: $$$

What’s a Destin restaurant list without mentioning Louisiana Lagniappe? This white table cloth restaurant is a great date night destination and is steps from our condo! Located on the Sandpiper Cove grounds, Louisiana Lagniappe looks out over the Destin Harbor, making it a great place to watch the sunset. There aren’t many restaurants that are considered a “must-go” for us every trip to Destin, but this is definitely one of them. From the steak to the lobster to shrimp & grits, you will not be disappointed! They do not take reservations, but just walk on over, get on the list, and you can wait out on the docks or even back at the condo!

Donut Hole Bakery & Café

Cuisine: Breakfast Bakery/Lunch

Price: $

The most important meal of the day is breakfast, and Donut Hole Bakery & Café has taken that to heart! Make sure you’re an early riser, because a line can form very quickly here. The breakfast sandwich is to die for, and you can’t leave without getting some donuts! If you do just want to buy some donuts to-go, you can also by-pass the line outside and head straight to the counter!

The Back Porch

Cuisine: Seafood

Price: $$

The Back Porch not only has phenomenal food, but it also has some sentimental value for us with memories of visiting as a kid! Previously a house on the beach and established in 1974, this restaurant actually has a back patio where you can wait for your table that is right on the beach. Specializing in gulf seafood, Back Porch will have you coming back for the food, atmosphere and service. Normally I’m between the “Broiled Jubilee” or the “Fried Captain’s Platter”, and that just depends on if I’ve had fried shrimp already somewhere else in town!

Marina Café

Cuisine: Seafood

Price: $$$

We came across Marina Café after seeing their buy one get one offer for entrees between 5 PM & 6 PM, which is an awesome deal! We compare Marina Café to Louisiana Lagniappe in terms of service and quality, with just a little less creole. Marina Café is an awesome place for a date night and with the large dining room windows, it’s a great spot to watch the sunset on the harbor while you enjoy a nice dinner. Can’t go wrong with the Andouille crusted redfish!

Mimmo’s Ristorante Italiano

Cuisine: Italian

Price: $$

Mimmo’s is another one of our “must-go” places when visiting Destin! Serving authentic Italian food, Mimmo’s is the perfect place that will please every palate in your family with great seafood, pasta and an awesome pizza oven! We usually eat there one night and do take-out pizza another night. Mimmo’s does take reservations, and you’ll definitely need them if you don’t want a long wait. We love the lobster ravioli, margherita pizza and always have to splurge and get the garlic rolls!

McGuire’s Irish Pub

Cuisine: Pub Fare

Price: $$

A Destin staple if there ever was one, McGuire’s is one of our favorites with a down-to-earth pub feel, awesome pub fare and great home-brewed beers! You never knew you liked $.18 bean soup until you try it here, and you will not leave hungry! Typical plates for us are filet mignon and ale battered shrimp. Go early or prepare for a wait, but you can grab a home brew or an Irish Wake (if you’re brave) while you wait and try to count all the $1 bills!

Shake’s Frozen Custard

Cuisine: Dessert

Price: $

If you remember one thing from this blog post, remember this…. You have to get some ice cream at Shake’s! Admittedly this is a multiple-night stop for us, and I can assure you that a medium bopper can be finished between Shake’s and our condo's front door!