Fort Walton Beach Area Restaurants

Along with the standard assortment of national chains on Highway 98, Fort Walton Beach offers a variety of homegrown eateries. Menus range from casual boardwalk burgers to sophisticated Northern Italian fare. Nearby Destin Commons and Silver Sands Factory Stores are quick trips for families seeking more dining choices.

AJ's Seafood & Oyster Bar
116 Highway 98 E
Destin Harbor, FL
(850) 857-1913

AJ's is a tiki-themed local favorite with a great view of Destin Harbor. The menu features every kind of fresh seafood, and the atmosphere is lively. Bands play most nights at the restaurant's upstairs thatched-roof bar, Club Bimini. Open for lunch and dinner nightly. Fresh local seafood, dockside dining, kid's menu and oyster happy hour.

Another Broken Egg Cafe
104 Harbor Drive
Destin, FL
(850) 650-0499

9100 Baytowne Wharf Blvd A-4
Miramar Beach
(850) 622-2050

Wake up to a delicious morning. Voted "Best Breakfast" on the Emerald Coast for seven years in a row! How about a specialty omelet or bananas foster french toast? Breakfast, brunch and lunch. Convenient locations in Destin, Sandestin, Grayton Beach and Panama City.

Big City Bistro
171 Brooks St
Fort Walton Beach, FL 
(850) 664-0664

Come to Big City Bistro for a caffeine fix, breakfast, lunch or dinner. With great salads, sandwiches and entrees that will awaken both you and your taste buds.

Black Pearl
1450 Miracle Strip Pkwy (at the Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island)
Fort Walton Beach, FL
(850) 833-3016

Features wood-fired seafood and steaks that you'll treasure. Indoor and outdoor views of the Gulf of Mexico. Truly steaks and seafood that you will treasure.

Buffalo's Reef
116 N. Eglin Parkway
Fort Walton Beach,FL
(850) 243-9464

Follow the stampede to the "Best Buffalo Wings on the Emerald Coast." Locally owned and operated, Mike Hanley has been "winging it" right for 17 years! Open 7 days, dine in or carry out.

Caffe Italia
189 Brooks Street
Fort Walton Beach, FL
(850) 664-0035

Small but mighty, Caffe Italia regularly scores high marks with critics, travel books, and locals alike. Serving Northern Italian fare from a cozy 1925 Sears& Roebuck mail-order cottage, the proprietors have created a unique and romantic spot. Carb-conscious diners should take a night off; the house specialties of risotto, tortellini, and cappuccino are not to be missed.

The Crab Trap Seafood & Oyster Bar
1450 Miracle Strip Parkway
Fort Walton Beach, FL
(850) 301-0959

This beachfront, family-oriented seafood house is located at the Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island. Offering freshly-caught local fish, crab, oysters, shrimp, and lobster, the Crab Trap is well worth stopping by.

Floyd's Shrimp House
1450 Miracle Strip Parkway (at the Boardwalk)
Okaloosa Island, FL
(850) 243-2232

Enjoy casual, family-friendly dining on the Boardwalk at Floyd's, home of "all-you-can- eat jumbo fried shrimp." Menu features fresh seafood, steaks and traditional favorites. Also offers nightly specials, a children's menu, full bar and happy hour. Serving lunch and dinner. Open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Fudpucker's Beachside Bar & Grill
108 Santa Rosa Boulevard
Fort Walton Beach, FL
(850) 243-3833

25 Years of Fun! Fudpucker's is not your ordinary restaurant. Stop by either of their two locations and discover why they are "the place" for great food, friendly service, live music, world-famous T-shirts, and of course, FUN!

LaPaz Restaurant & Cantina
950 Gulf Shore Drive
Destin, FL
(850) 837-2247

Mexican fare with flair! Specializing in serving fresh, local seafood prepared south-of-the-border stylealong with all your traditionalfavorites. Voted "Best on the Emerald Coast" for 8 years running.

The Lighthouse Restaurant
878 Highway 98-E
Destin, FL
(850) 654-2828

Food and service shines at The Lighthouse! Specializing in traditional seafood favorites and homemade desserts. And, half-price entrees are served from 4:30-8pm. Open 7 days a week.

Magnolia Grill
157 Brooks Street
Fort Walton Beach, FL
(850) 302-0266

Magnolia Grill of Fort Walton Beach provides top-notch diningin a friendly atmosphere filled with local history. We offer Steaks, Seafood and Italian style food along with burgers and a kids menu.

The Marina Cafe
404 Highway 98 E, in Destin Harbor
Destin, FL
(850) 847-7960

For a fancier experience, Fort Walton folks head next door to Destin’s most romantic eatery, where candlelight and mood music accompany upscale New American fare. Enjoy fusilli with roast chicken and sun-dried tomatoes with a glass of wine while you gaze at the twinkling harbor lights.

Mitchell's Fish Market
500 Grand Blvd
Destin, FL
(850) 650-2484

At Mitchell's Fish Market fresh seafood obsession is a commitment, and a passion for absolute freshness as a way of life. Fish any fresher would still be in the ocean. The ever changing menu printed twice daily puts the finest and freshest from every coastline on the planet within your culinary reach. There's a variety of chef driven dishes and tried-and-true seafood favorites.

Old Bay Steamer
102 Santa Rosa Blvd
Fort Walton Beach, FL 
(850) 664-2795

Old Bay Steamer is a locals favorite where nothing is fried and the huge seafood platters are more than you can eat in one sitting.

Pandora's Steakhouse and Lounge
1120B Santa Rosa Boulevard
Fort Walton Beach, FL
(850) 664-0664

Pandora's specializes in prime rib and fresh local seafood, expertly grilled over an oak wood-burning grill. The restaurant's upper deck lounge features live entertainment and a happy hour with complimentary hors d'oeuvres.

Ruth's Chris Steak House
15000 Emerald Coast Parkway
Silver Shells Resort
Destin, FL
(850) 337-5108

At Ruth’s Chris you can enjoy New Orleans-inspired appetizers, aged USDA Prime steaks, fresh seafood, signature side dishes and homemade desserts, all complemented by an award-winning wine list and served with a genuine hospitality style service in an elegant yet comfortable atmosphere. To experience fine dining at its prime . . . just follow the sizzle to Ruth's Chris Steak House.

Rutherfords 465 Restaurant at Regatta Bay
465 Regatta Bay Boulevard
Destin, FL
(850) 337-8888

Located inside the Regatta Bay Clubhouse. Open to the public for lunch, early dinner and Sunday brunch. Overlooking the 18th green and Lake Regatta, Rutherfords 465 is perfect for special events including weddings, receptions, and business meetings.

Seagar's Prime Steaks and Seafood
4000 Sandestin Boulevard
Destin, FL
(850) 622-1500

Winner of AAA’s Four-Diamond Award. Specializes in prime beef and fresh seafood. Features reserve wine list with more than 800 labels. Private dining facilities available. Open Sun. - Thurs., 6 to 9 p.m.; Fri. - Sat., 6 to 10 p.m.

Staff's Seafood Restaurant
24 Miracle Strip Parkway (Highway 98)
Fort Walton Beach, FL
(850) 243-3482

Established in 1913, Staff's is a historic Florida restaurant that specializes in serving fresh seafood, vegetables and salad greens that make you happy and healthy! Whole wheat bread baked daily. Open for lunch and dinner.

Vin'tij Wine Boutique & Bistro
10859 West Emerald Coat Parkway, Suite 103
Destin, FL
(850) 650-9820

Fine dining deserves a fine wine. Savor our eclectic coastal cuisine for lunch or dinner and see why Wine Spectator gave them its top award and Florida Trend awarded them a Golden Spoon as a top Florida restaurant. Bon appetit!