Best Restaurants in Destin – Plain Chicken
Where To Eat in Destin, FL – a list of the best restaurants in the Destin, Florida area. Drinks, lunch, and dinner – we’ve got you covered! From dives, restaurants on the beach, to fancy steakhouses and everything in between!
Remember this post.
Pin this recipe to your favorite board now to remember it later!
Where to Eat in Destin, FL
Summer vacation is only a few weeks away. I can not wait! We are already planning our trip down to the Destin Florida area. We LOVE Destin! The beautiful beaches of the Gulf Coast are second to none and there is tons of great food.
Today I am sharing a list of the best restaurants in Destin, FL. I’ve got restaurants on the beach, local favorites, pizza, burgers, the biggest cocktail EVER, and a fancy steakhouse. There is something for the whole family.
- The Beach House Restaurant
- Boshamps Seafood & Oyster House
- McGuire’s Irish Pub
- Fat Clemenza’s
- Mimmo’s Ristorante Italiano
- Pazzo Italiano
- The Craft Bar
- The Wine Bar
- Brotula’s Seafood House & Steamer
- The Surf Hut
- Pompano Joe’s
- Landshark’s Pizza
- Lulu’s
- Harbor Docks
- Ocean Club
- Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood
Where to Stay in Destin
We stayed at the Hilton Sandestin on our most recent trip. It is our favorite place to stay. The rooms are nice and it is directly on the beach. I love sitting on the balcony and watching the waves.
If you are staying in a condo, don’t miss our Beach Vacation Meals post! Lots of great ideas for quick and easy beach meals. https://www.plainchicken.com/quick-easy-beach-vacation-meals/
Keep reading to see all of the delicious food we ate on our trip and start planning your Summer vacation!
We have several posts on the Destin, FL area. You can check them all out here: https://www.plainchicken.com/search/label/Destin
The Beach House Restaurant
The Beach House is located directly next door to the Hilton Sandestin beach resort. It had been YEARS since I had eaten here, so I thought it was time to go back. We started with some cocktails. They were all delicious! Plus it has a great VIEW! It is RIGHT on the beach!
I have a serious weakness for hushpuppies. I get them everywhere we go. The hushpuppies at The Beach House were very good!
Chicken Legs got the blackened fish sandwich and fries. It was good!
I opted for the Pulled Pork Nachos. SO good! We could have just split the nachos and been fine. It is a lot of food!
The Beach House Restaurant Sandestin
4009 S Sandestin Blvd, Miramar Beach, FL 32550
Boshamps Seafood & Oyster House
Boshamps is my absolute favorite place to eat in Destin. We love to sit outside near the bar. It is the perfect location to enjoy an adult beverage and look out over the beautiful Destin harbor. Boshamps also has live music outside – so check the schedule to see who will be playing when you are in town.
Back Forty Farms Spinach & Artichoke Dip – local baby spinach, marinated artichoke hearts, and warm tortilla chips.
This is wonderful. Just the right amount of spinach and TONS of cheese!
Boshamps Basket with fried shrimp, hand-cut fries, hushpuppies, southern slaw, and green tomato chow-chow tartar.
House Smoked Pulled Pork Sliders – house-made Gulf BBQ sauce, house-cured pickles, white BBQ sauce, and hand-cut fries. This pulled pork is delicious! Better than most of the popular bbq joints. Give these a try!
Alabama Gulf Shrimp Roll with hand-cut “Old Bay” fries, and assorted house pickles. Think lobster roll with shrimp.
Honest Gulf Grouper Sandwich – blackened grouper, southern slaw, local ripe tomato, crisp iceberg, pickled red onion, house-cured pickles, hand-cut fries, and green tomato chow-chow tartar. This sandwich is expensive but worth it!
Crunchy Yardbird Sammy – buttermilk fried chicken, local ripe tomato, crisp iceberg, pickled red onion, house-cured pickles, bacon marmalade, house buttermilk dressing, and hand-cut fries. This might just be the best fried chicken sandwich in the world. The buttermilk dressing is great and the bacon marmalade is to die for! TO-DIE-FOR.
If you are looking for a great place to eat on the water with a relaxed atmosphere, give Boshamps a try. It is a local favorite!
Boshamps Seafood & Oyster House
https://boshamps.com/
414 Harbor Blvd, Destin, Florida 32541
McGuire’s Irish Pub of Destin
McGuire’s Irish Pub is located on Emerald Coast Pkwy right before you go over the bridge to Ft. Walton. It is always busy and one bite and your taste buds will know why!
I started with the Irish Wake. I have no idea what all was in this but it was good and strong. They will only serve each person 3 of these drinks. I don’t know who could drink three, but that is the limit.
The thing at McGuire’s is to staple a dollar bills to the walls and ceiling. I didn’t participate, but it is one of the things that makes McGuire’s unique.
We started with some of the complimentary bread. It was a brown bread similar to The Outback with a butter glaze on top.
Irish Boxtys – Garlic Mashed Potatoes hand-rolled in herbed bread crumbs and fried. Served with Salsa, Guacamole Dip, and a Horse Radish Sour Cream Sauce.
These Buffalo Chicken Thighs were one of the best things we ate on our trip. O-M-G! I would get my own order next time. I’m not really a chicken thigh person, but these were AMAZING! No bones – just lots of chicken meat and hot sauce.
Traditional Fish & Chips – tastes as good as what we ate in London.
Finally, we shared a Bacon Cheeseburger and fries. The burger was really, really good. The burger is also very large. It is definitely something you can share.
McGuire’s Irish Pub of Destin
https://www.mcguiresirishpub.com/destin
33 US-98, Destin, FL 32541
Fat Clemenza’s
Fat Clemenza’s is our favorite Italian restaurant in Destin. We’ve been eating here for years and still love it. The food is fantastic and they have good service. Fat Clemenzas is open for lunch and dinner. I suggest reservations for dinner. The dining room is small and they are ALWAYS packed.
You MUST start with an order of Fat Clemenza’s homemade garlic rolls (5 per order) – they are the house specialty. I dream about these rolls!
Toasted Ravioli – Breaded ravioli with Italian bread crumbs stuffed with ricotta cheese and parmesan cheese. Ask for a side of vodka sauce with them. SO good!
Pasta Carbonara – with pancetta, white onion, in a cream sauce and finished with egg yolk.
Veal Saltimbocca – baked in a mushroom/veal sauce with Prosciutto Di Parma and melted fresh mozzarella cheese served with pasta.
Housemade Meat Lasagna. It is listed as a customer favorite. One bite and you will know why. It is a lot of food and leftovers are equally delicious reheated.
All pizzas are made from homemade dough, homemade pizza sauce, hand-tossed by their master pizza chef from Italy, and fired in a wood-burning oven at 900 degrees.
We sat at the bar and had a ringside set to the pizza show! They make a lot of pizza. It is some of the best in town.
If you still have room after your delicious meal, give the Tiramisu a try. It is fantastic!
Fat Clemenza’s
12273 US Hwy 98, Miramar Beach, Fl 32550
Mimmo’s Ristorante Italiano
Mimmo’s is very similar to Fat Clemenzas. One of the former chefs left Fat Clemenza and started Mimmo’s.
You may recognize the garlic knots. Equally delicious.
They also have a famous Garlic Bread stuffed with ham and cheese. EVERYONE said that we had to try it.
I now know why. This stuff is AMAZING! You can totally just get this bread as your meal. Ask for some pizza sauce on the side and you are set!
Veal Marsala – Fresh veal or chicken cooked in a traditional marsala wine & mushroom sauce. It is usually served over angel hair pasta. Chicken Legs opted to try the fettuccine alfredo instead.
Fettuccine Alfredo – Fettuccine pasta tossed in a creamy Parmesan alfredo sauce.
Meat Lasagna – vven-baked, meaty lasagna with Bolognese sauce, béchamel, Parmesan cheese then topped with mozzarella.
Mimmo’s has a wood-fired pizza oven. People come in droves getting pizza to go. We gave it a try and it is delicious.
Mimmo’s Ristorante Italiano
979 US Hwy 98 E, Ste. 5, Destin, FL 32541
Pazzo Italiano
Pazzo is another Italian restaurant owned by a former Fat Clemenza chef. They have the famous garlic knots as well!
We stopped in for a quick meal one night and snagged a seat at the bar. We were lucky. It was crazy busy! I definitely suggest making a reservation for lunch or dinner.
Pazzo has wood-buring pizza ovens. We wanted to give it a try, so started with a kid’s cheese pizza as our appetizer. It was really good.
Veal Saltimbocca – pan-seared veal with prosciutto di Parma, fresh mozzarella and finished with o porcini mushroom sauce.
Fettuccine bolognese – a flavorful blend of ground beef and ground pork, finely chopped garden vegetables simmered in San Marzano tomatoes sauce and red wine.
Pazzo Italiano Destin
34904 Emerald Coast Pkwy #114, Destin, FL 32541
The Craft Bar
The Craft Bar is a new favorite. They have four locations in the area. Destin, Ft. Walton, Grand Boulevard, and Panama City. They specialize in American cuisine and good beer. Not a beer drinker? No worries, they also have wine! YAY! Don’t miss their happy hour – GREAT deals!
We sampled a variety of appetizers and a burger.
First up – the pretzels with smoked salt. They are served with an IPA mustard. We added a side of beer cheese for $1. Worth it!
Lamb burger – house-ground leg of lamb, feta cheese, caramelized onion, tzatziki, on a ciabatta bun.
Craft Bar Mac and Cheese – sharp white cheddar cheese, gruyere, smoked apple wood bacon-infused crust. Have mercy!
Finally, the Pulled Pork Quesadilla served with Williamson Brothers BBQ sauce (my favorite!
If you want a fun casual place with delicious food, give the Craft Bar a try.
The Craft Bar Destin
https://www.thecraftbarfl.com/
4424 Commons Dr E, Destin, Florida 32541
The Wine Bar
Right next door to the Craft Bar is the Wine Bar. It is the perfect place to grab a drink and a quick bite to eat. The Wine Bar is our go-to spot for happy hour. Their daily happy hour special is a carafe of wine for the price of a large glass from 11am – 6pm. We always stop in for a carafe or three. Rosé all day!
In addition to wine, they also serve some of the best food in town. We love to snack on a meat and cheese plate. The bread and olive oil is the best!
The Wine Bar is also a great spot for lunch with fresh sandwiches and salads.
We are going to eat here for dinner on our next trip. They serve prime steaks and fresh seafood is on the dinner menu. I’ve seen the food coming out when we’ve been having drinks and it looks incredible.
The Wine Bar
https://www.thewinebarfl.com/the-wine-bar-destin
4424 Commons Drive East Suite E3, Destin, FL 32541
Brotula’s Seafood House & Steamer
This was our second time eating at Brotula’s. We ate here several years ago and decided to try it again. The menu had changed, but it was still good. Chicken Legs started with a Bushwacker. It hit the spot!
We started with an order of fried okra. I love fried okra and this was good. The portion was a little small for the money, but it tasted good.
Chicken Legs got the fish tacos and LOVED them. He said they were some of the best he’s ever eaten. He got the fish blackened. Give them a try!
I’m not really into seafood, so I went with the burger. It was good. I really loved the hushpuppies and fries!
Brotula’s Seafood House & Steamer
210D Harbor Blvd, Destin, FL 32541
The Surf Hut
I found the Surf Hut on Yelp. It was highly rated, so we decided to take a chance and give it a try. Boy am I glad we did. It was great! PLUS it is right on the white sandy beaches of the Gulf of Mexico! BOOM! You can’t beat these beach views!
We started the meal with some cocktails. You can’t eat on the beach without a cocktail!
If fried cheese is on the menu, we are getting it. This was delicious!
Chicken Legs got the Taco Trio. It normally comes with one fish, one shrimp, and one pulled pork taco. Chicken Legs skipped the pork taco and got his trio with two fish tacos and one shrimp taco.
He said they were fantastic. The tacos were served with some rice and black beans. I am totally getting the rice and beans as my side next time. SO good!
I got the Grilled Chicken Sandwich with pepper jack cheese. It was great. It comes with pico de gallo, slaw and fries. YUM!
The Surf Hut smokes their own BBQ on site. I am going to try some of the pulled pork next time.
The Surf Hut
https://www.surfhutdestin.com/
551 Scenic Gulf Dr, Destin, FL 32550
Pompano Joe’s Seafood House
If you are looking for a great restaurant right on the beach, Pompano Joe is your place. You can not beat this view of the Gulf!
Mozzarella sticks with marinara sauce – SO good! And the portion size is incredible. Definitely enough to share with a big group.
Grilled Grouper Sandwich with fries and coleslaw.
I got the chicken finger platter with hushpuppies, french fries and black beans and rice. This is a TON of food. Definitely enough to share. It was SO good. I am totally getting this again.
Pompano Joe’s
2237 Scenic Gulf Highway, Miramar Beach, FL — 32550
Landshark’s Pizza
Landsharks Pizza is a local sports bar. It is located across the street from McGuire’s – right before you get to the bridge to Ft. Walton. A local told us about Landshark’s. We love pizza and wings so gave it a try.
Landshark’s have your typical bar food. We’ve only tried the pizza and wings. I can not wait to work my way through all the appetizers and sandwiches.
The wings come in 5, 10, 20, or 50 and have more than 20 sauce options. We usually get two orders of five and try different sauces. It will take us a while to give them all a try.
This is the perfect place to relax and watch a game. It is a Packers bar, so it is crazy during Packers games.
Landshark’s Pizza
300 Harbor Blvd A-B, Destin, FL 32541
Lucy Buffett’s Lulu’s
Lulu’s is one of our favorite Destin restaurants. It has such a fun atmosphere. It is right on the bay and they have live music, a beach, and even a water plane you can take a ride in! If you are looking for a good time, this is your spot!
We always start with the Fried Okra basket with homemade Ranch dressing. If you haven’t tried fried okra, this is the okra to try. It is THE BEST!
You can never go wrong with the Pulled Pork Nachos. Corn tortilla chips, tomatoes, jalapeños, queso, melted Cheddar. Served with LuLu’s Sassy Salsa and sour cream.
They put the queso on the bottom of the pan so the chips don’t get soggy. If you get the nachos, make sure to dig down to the bottom!
Fried shrimp po boy with fries.
Jerk Chicken Sandwich – grilled chicken tenders marinated in LuLu’s own Southern Jerk Seasoning topped with bacon, grilled pineapple, and swiss cheese. Served with Honey Mustard. Yum!
Fish Tacos – corn tortillas filled with fresh fish and topped with jack-cheddar cheese, shredded cabbage, pickled red onions, cilantro slaw, island black beans, and mojo sauce. Served with Tortilla Chips and LuLu’s Sassy Salsa.
Lulu’s is one of our favorite places in all of the Destin area. You must give it a try!
Lucy Buffett’s Lulu’s
https://lulusfunfoodmusic.com/location/destin/
4607 Legendary Marina Dr, Destin, FL 32541
Harbor Dock’s
If you love fresh gulf seafood, Harbor Docks is your place. In addition to the seafood restaurant, they also have a local seafood market! This was our first time eating here, but it definitely won’t be the last!
As the name implies, the restaurant is directly on the Harbor. You can watch boats sail up and down the water as you dine.
They have an extensive sushi menu. It was delicious! We can’t wait to try more!
I’ve been eyeing the Pad Thai and it did not disappoint! Stir-fried rice noodles, egg, bean sprouts, peanuts, lime, and spring rolls. They offer it with chicken, beef, or shrimp.
If you aren’t a seafood fan, you can’t go wrong with the burger. Make sure to get the Smoked Gouda-Bacon Spread – so good!
Harbor Dock’s
538 Harbor Blvd, Destin, FL 32541
Ocean Club Restaurant
The Ocean Club is our favorite place for dinner in Destin. It is a fine dining restaurant located in Topsail, near the entrance to the Sandestin resort. It is more of a local place and the tourists are really missing out! They have amazing food! They also have live music and dancing!
We started our meal with a crab cake. It is one of our favorite crab cakes in town. I love the sauce that comes with it.
Caesar Salad with hearts of romaine, croutons, and shaved Reggiano.
Fresh Buffalo Mozzarella Caprese with red onions, beefsteak tomatoes, basil, and balsamic vinaigrette.
Grouper Ocean Club topped with crabmeat and served with shrimp.
Soft Shell Crab – two soft shell crabs fried and topped with pecans and almonds and served with pasta alfredo.
Grouper Almondine – sauteed and topped with toasted almonds, garlic beurre blanc and meuniere sauce with house vegetables.
Chicken Parmesan – sauteed chicken breast served with pasta and our homemade red sauce.
Chicken Picatta – chicken breast in a white wine and lemon butter caper sauce served with pasta. This is my all-time favorite chicken dish. I always clean the plate!
Don’t forget to look at the dessert menu. This ice cream pie was AMAZING!
Ocean Club takes reservations. I suggest calling to get one. They are always busy when we are there, especially on Wednesday and Saturday night when there is live music.
Ocean Club
http://theoceanclubdestin.com/
8955 US-98 W 107, Miramar Beach, FL 32550
Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood
Seagar’s is located in the Hilton Sandestin Hotel. It is always a treat eating here. It is expensive, so we try and save it for special occasions.
We always start with the crab cake. It is seriously delicious.
We usually sit at the bar when we come for dinner. They do not serve the Caesar salad in the bar, so we usually get the wedge. Baby iceberg lettuce, oven-roasted tomatoes, bacon, radish, pickled red onion, croutons, and house-made Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing.
All of the steaks are 100% USDA Prime and are served with a Veal Jus.
The Ribeye is meant to be shared.
The filet mignon is our go-to steak.
It is always cooked to perfection!
Our go-to side dishes are the Sauteed Mushrooms.
You can get the recipe here: https://www.plainchicken.com/steakhouse-sauteed-mushrooms/
The macaroni and cheese is heavenly! Here is our take on this recipe: https://www.plainchicken.com/steakhouse-mac-cheese/
If you need a place to celebrate a special occasion, give Seagar’s a try. It is sure to fit the bill!
Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood
4000 S Sandestin Blvd, Miramar Beach, FL 32550
Restaurants Destin Florida
There are so many great places to eat in Destin! It is always hard to choose where to go.
We also tried Louisiana Lagniappe on a recent trip. Everyone raves about it, but we did NOT like it. The service wasn’t very good, it was blazing HOT inside the restaurant, and the food felt more like cafeteria food than the gourmet cajun food they advertise. Maybe we had an off night, who knows.
I already have a list going of places we want to try on our next trip:
- Pizza by the Sea
- Parlor Doughnuts
- Tuscany Italian Bistro
- Slick Lips
- Maple Street Biscuit Company
- Bijoux
- Marina Cafe
- La Paz
- Camille’s
Is your favorite place on our list? What are some of your favorite places to eat in Destin? Leave us a comment with your favorites!
We have several posts on the Destin, FL area. You can check them all out here: https://www.plainchicken.com/search/label/Destin
Steph
Remember this post.
Pin this recipe to your favorite board now to remember it later!