Where to eat on the beach? Here are 7 restaurants recommended by Visit Panama City Beach

Nathan Cobb, The News Herald
·4 min read

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Whether a first-time tourist or long-time resident, there is no shortage of local restaurants to check out while in Panama City Beach.

In a blog posted Monday on Visit Panama City Beach's website that was titled "A Taste of Summer in PCB," the organization highlighted seven local restaurants it believes stand out.

In no particular order, they include Firefly, Sisters of the Sea Waterfront Bar & Grill, David's New Orleans Style Cafe & Sno-Balls, Saltwater Grill, Another Broken Egg Cafe, Dee's Hangout and Dusty's Oyster Bar.

"Panama City Beach’s unique geography makes it an ideal locale for fresh coastal cuisine inflected with Cajun, Gulf Coast and American Southern traditions," Lacee Rudd, spokeswoman for Visit PCB, wrote in an email. "Whether you yearn for fresh-caught fish, hanker for barbecue or crave the down-home heat of a hearty gumbo, you’ll find what you’re looking for in Panama City Beach."

Craving oysters? Get them raw, fried, broiled or steamed at these restaurants

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Firefly in the Shoppes at Edgewater

Server Chantille Gooding turns on lights inside a wine bottle as she preps tables at Firefly in September 2021. The fine-dining restaurant was listed in a recent blog by Visit Panama City Beach as being among the best places to eat in the Panama City Beach area.
Server Chantille Gooding turns on lights inside a wine bottle as she preps tables at Firefly in September 2021. The fine-dining restaurant was listed in a recent blog by Visit Panama City Beach as being among the best places to eat in the Panama City Beach area.

Mentioned first in Visit PCB's blog was Firefly, a fine-dining restaurant at 535 N. Richard Jackson Blvd. in the Shoppes at Edgewater.

Firefly's most popular items include stuffed filet, seasonal Gulf fish, crab soup and even flaming crème brûlée and iced wine.

"You can enjoy a first-class meal in your casual clothing and still have a white tablecloth experience to rival the best — although, you can dress up and not be out of place either," according to Visit PCB.

Sisters of the Sea Waterfront Bar & Grill

The next restaurant in the blog was Sisters of the Sea Waterfront Bar & Grill, a "mermaid themed restaurant" at 3901 Thomas Drive.

According to Visit PCB, the two "standout" items on its menu are deep fried strawberries and Siren's Song, which boasts steamed shrimp, scallops, crab claws and mussels in a garlic and white wine broth.

"Southern classics and coastal favorites are on the menu," the group wrote.

David's New Orleans Style Sno-Balls

David's New Orleans Style Sno-Balls also was featured. Located at 13913 Panama City Beach Parkway, the eatery boasts almost 50 flavors of shaved ice.

It also offers great food.

"The unsuspecting name of this restaurant might lead you to dismiss it as a dessert-only spot, but you'd be missing out," Visit PCB wrote. "There are po' boys and muffulettas packed with meat. The roast beef po' boy is consistently cited as surprisingly impressive."

Saltwater Grill is a 'favorite pick for celebrations'

Saltwater Grill is known for its staple menu items of grilled red snapper and seared tuna, and its 25,000-gallon saltwater aquarium that sits inside the business at 11040 Hutchison Blvd.

"Saltwater Grill is a favorite pick for celebrations in Panama City Beach," Visit PCB wrote. "Maine lobsters (are) flown in twice a week for guaranteed freshness."

Another Broken Egg Cafe

Another Broken Egg Cafe is specifically known for its brunch, although the restaurant also serves breakfast and lunch every day until 2 p.m.

Located at 11535 Hutchison Blvd. Suite 100, it also offers bloody marys and pitchers of mimosas.

"Brunch isn't just for the weekends at Another Broken Egg Cafe," Visit PCB wrote. "Specialties include chicken and waffles, shrimp 'n' grits and crab cake benedict."

Dee's Hangout is a Cajun-themed restaurant

Standing out with a unique style, Dee's Hangout is a Cajun-themed restaurant at 529 N. Richard Jackson Blvd.

Some of its "customer favorites" are smoked tuna dip, fried catfish étouffée and jambalaya.

"Chef Dee himself is behind all of the dishes that'll transport you to the bayou," the group wrote. "Daily specials are listed on the chalkboard."

Dusty's Oyster Bar is a 'no-frills PCB dive bar'

The last local restaurant featured in Visit PCB's blog is Dusty's Oyster Bar, a "no-frills PCB dive bar" at 16450 Front Beach Road.

While the menu offers a variety of items, the establishment is known for its oysters, whether served fried or raw.

"Their motto might describe the fare here as 'lousy food,' but locals and visitors alike will tell you it is the opposite," Visit PCB wrote. "You'll love the local bar atmosphere with the walls and ceiling covered in dollar bills."

Rudd noted the blog was just a sample of the many "amazing" restaurants the Beach has to offer.

These are the honorable mentions

She said honorable mentions include The Grand Marlin, Andy's Flour Power Cafe-Bakery and Dat Cajun Place Cafe.

Panama City Beach "hosts (many) local restaurants, all with unique stories and bites to eat or drink," Rudd wrote. "There are so many different culinary experiences to have while exploring Panama City Beach (that visitors) might just have to keep coming back to try them all."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: 7 of the top restaurants in Panama City Beach highlighted by Visit PCB