For over 33 years Ocean Reef Resorts has continued to serve our happy guests by providing distinctive vacation rental properties for memorable meaningful times with loved ones. Our extensive offerings of vacation rentals available extend from Destin all the way down Scenic 30A in South Walton to Panama City Beach. They include beautiful beachfront homes, luxurious condominiums that face the gorgeous gulf waters and even quaint charming cottages nearby. We also enjoy letting everyone know about upcoming special seasonal festivities, exciting events and local happenings. Certainly a wonderful beach vacation with friends and family often includes delicious dining at choice restaurants. It is our pleasure to let you know about the 3 top places to eat that are located beside the sparkling waters of Choctawhatchee Bay.

Related article: South Walton Beachfront Restaurants

Destin, Miramar Beach and the picturesque communities on Scenic 30A are located on a peninsula that runs from east to west. However it is really like an offshore island since the expanse of Choctawhatchee Bay extends between three to five miles off the mainland on the other side and you have to take a bridge to get here! During the late spring throughout the summer into the early fall the sun moves northward and seems to descend in heavenly fashion right into the bay. The bay waters are usually quite tranquil compared to the gulf so on magical evenings the mirror like surface reflects the spectacular sunsets that fill the skies above. If you want to experience one of these incredible views while enjoying fine dining you may want to try out one of these bay front restaurants which include "The Bay" in North Santa Rosa Beach, the "Marina Bar and Grill" at Sandestin's Beach Golf and Tennis Resort and "Lulu's" in Destin.

The Bay is a gourmet gem that graces the southern shore of the Choctawhatchee Bay near the foot of the Route 331 Bridge. This restaurant does indeed serve fine mouth watering Southern Gulf Coast Cuisine that would satisfy any gourmand but is also very family friendly, casual and decidedly laid back. They have indoor dining with an expansive bar that features a twelve draft cold beer system, inventive bar crafted cocktails and a fine wine selection. A covered open porch and an outdoor bayside deck allows you to enjoy dining al fresco. They have a little beach right on the bay nearby where the kids can frolic if they get restless before dinner while you enjoy favorite tropical drinks and watch them at play. Just before dusk, decorative lights twinkle on the porch outside while a cloister of palms adorn the lovely shore. Many try their sensational samplings of sushi as an appetizer or even as an entrée. It is a fabulous presentation with colorful sauces that provide artistic decoration preluding delicious consumption.

The Bay is the latest culinary hallmark of outstanding dining from Chef Jim Shirley who also introduced other top restaurants like the popular Great Southern Cafe in Seaside, Meltdown on 30A, The Fish House and Atlas Oyster House in Pensacola. Diners at The Bay give it raves reviews like "Food was fantastic", "View is awesome", "Staff is first class", "Wonderful atmosphere and "Can't wait to come back!" Their menu includes appetizers like Point Washington Spring Rolls which are filled with Alligator, Tasso and Poblano; Crab Cakes laced with basil, mint and a sake butter sauce; Thai-Molleys which are fresh ground organic corn tamales filled with red curry pork and green curry chicken served with a coconut sauce; Shrimp Lettuce Wraps; Fresh made Edamame Hummus and Vietnamese Style Wings with roasted garlic bits, mint, basil and cilantro. Main entrees feature Fresh Black Grouper, Red Snapper, Mahi Mahi or Shrimp. These are served grilled, blackened, flash fried or dipped and baked with pecan encrusted Panko bread crumbs. Their large Signature Dishes include Faux Ya Ya which is their wonderful take on Shrimp and Grits as well as Pesto Seared Snapper and Crab Cake. Their "comfort food" desserts if you get that far include Peanut Butter Cream Pie, Homemade Banana Pudding, Pure Vanilla Bean Cream Brulee and of course Key Lime Pie. Dinner is served daily from 4:00 pm till 9:00pm.

Lunch includes some of the above along with their Bay Burger, The Big Bomber Burger, Grilled Chicken Sandwiches, Lobster Rolls and fresh salads. Lunch is served daily from 11:00am till 2:00pm.

A Sunday Brunch is also served from 11:00am till 2:00pm including a fantastic traditional Bay Breakfast; Pork Belly, Crab Cake or Bacon & Eggs Benedict; Steak and Eggs; Smoked Pork and Biscuits; Bacon Cheddar Omelets; Fried Chicken Breast on Waffles and Egg BLTs. For more information you may call at 850.622.2291 or check out their website at baysouthwalton.com.

New-Ish Over The Water Restaurant And Bar In Destin

When it comes to dining while on a beach vacation in Destin, what are some of the things you look for? If you’re anything like us, high-quality seafood, great service, and a view of the water are at the top of the list.

The Marina Bar and Grill is located at the Sandestin Marina near the Village of Baytowne Wharf. This locale faces due west offering gorgeous views of sensational sunsets. They can be so dazzling that a cannon is fired off from their dock at the exact moment the sun slips down out of sight heralding the end of the day and beginning of a magical evening. Large fishing boats and private yachts are anchored here year round on behalf of their privileged owners which provide awesome silhouettes against the painted skies. This restaurant and bar is very casual with an almost Key West type ambiance for atmosphere. A local famous celebrity is always there perched upon a big tree limb named Maryann. She is actually a big brightly colored parrot who loves to squawk and chatter much to the delight of children. The Marina Bar & Grill often has a live performer on their open dining deck who usually plays guitar. During special sporting events or "must see" college football games a giant screen is placed over the dock nearby so everyone can cheer on their favorite team while drinking and dining. After eating you may take the raised walkway directly to the village that meanders along the side of the beautiful bay, through the Spanish moss draped trees and across a long lagoon that leads right into Baytowne. The kids will love it too because there are a couple of tree houses along the way that they may explore.

The Marina Bar & Grill is open daily serving food on Mondays thru Thursday from 11:00am till 8:00pm; Fridays from 11:00am till 9:00pm; Saturdays from 8:00am till 9:00pm and Sundays from 8:00am till 7:00pm. The bar usually stays open one hour after dinner is served each day so you may enjoy a "nightcap." Live music is performed on the outdoor deck from 6:00pm to 9:00pm every Friday.

Breakfast is served on Saturday and Sundays from 8:00 till 11:00 am. This menu includes choices of Grits, Yogurt with fresh berry granola, Fruit Salad, Traditional Breakfast with bacon and eggs, Scrambled Egg bacon or sausage and cheese sandwiches on Texas toast, French toast, Pancakes and "Maryann's Favorite" which is a three-egg omelet completed with sausage or bacon and cheddar cheese.

Lunch and dinner include the same menu which has a wide variety of offerings that are reasonably priced. Appetizers include Southern Fried Green Pickle Chips, Chicken and Cheesy Quesadillas, Smoked Tuna Dip, Buffalo Wings and Crispy Calamari. They also have House, Caesar, Arugula and Cobb Salads. Entrees have a decent choice of Sandwiches, Burgers, Tacos and Seafood Baskets. Specials include Homemade Panhandle Pizza on Fridays, a Seafood Boil on Saturdays and Gumbo on Sundays.

In Destin on the bay at the foot of the Mid Bay Toll Bridge be sure to discover Lulu's at Legendary Marine. This brand new restaurant has been established by long time restaurateur Lucy Buffet, (sister to Jimmy). Lucy is an amazing personality and has had quite a robust remarkable life. She grew up in L.A. which for those of you who don't know stands for Lower Alabama! She did reside in the other LA, Los Angeles, for a while but returned back to her beloved Mobile Bay area in her forties because she missed the scent of Magnolias in May, the laid back pace of Southern living and Crab Boils during the Summertime. Lulu has always loved to cook and entertain so she opened up Lulu's Sunset Grill in Weeks Bay, Alabama which quickly became a popular local hangout that diners dubbed a place "where life was good and lunch lasts forever!" In 2003 she was unexpectedly unable to renew her land lease so she had to find a new home of operation. All of her friends and family rallied around and loaded up the entire restaurant onto a big barge that was pulled behind a Tugboat down to Gulf Shores, Alabama where she planned to relocate. It included a one ton custom made BBQ Grill, all of her chairs and tables, a now infamous "Boat Stage" she had for musical performances, a few mature palm trees and some portable Margarita Machines which remained in use during the entire journey! Musical accompaniment was provided by the Leavin' Brother Band to entertain her friends and family members on the way down. She opened her new place "Homeport" on the Mobile Bay on Fat Tuesday, 2004. It started as a little beautiful bayside restaurant with a tiny gift shop and a small sandy beach for the kids to play on. She dedicated her new place to be a special spot for "Good food, Good Folk, Good music and Good times" in essence to celebrate the philosophy that "Life is Good!"

It quickly caught on in popularity and expanded exponentially in a short period of time.  Besides the big restaurant and huge adjoining Gift Store, she now has a Bama Breeze Bar, a "Wet Your Whistle" Sunset Grill and live musical performances to entertain the 4,000 patrons who arrive every day during the summer season. She also has a sandy beach with buckets, shovels and volleyball for the kids and young at heart to play, a "Fountain for Youth" to cool them off, a "Mountain for Youth" that they may safely climb, face painting, hair wraps and old fashioned New Orleans styled snow cones.

Her new place in Destin is featuring the same kind of wonderful "Life is Good" spirit with live musical performances, amusements for kids, favorite drinks and of course her awesome food. The menu includes specialties like grass fed "Cheeseburgers in Paradise", her Famous Seafood called "Gumbo Love" and Fresh Gulf Caught Snapper Sandwiches. Up to two live bands provide free fun lively uplifting music with a state of the arts sound system throughout the day both inside and out. Lulu's does not take reservations so plan on getting there early if you're hungry. However you will be very amply entertained while you wait having a drink, listening to some great music and watching the kids at play. Lulu's opens daily at 11:00 am. More information is available by calling 850.710.5858 or on their website at lulubuffet.com

Ocean Reef Resorts bids you an enjoyable time during your stay with us here along the Emerald Coast. Now you know about 3 top bayside restaurants where you may "Eat, Drink & Be Merry!"

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