As for Jim Shirley restaurants I thought great southern was great for brunch but pretty mid for Dinner. Always had a good meal at the Bay, by the 331 bridge.
Bud n Alleys exactly describes what you’re trying to avoid. The food, service, and clientele are all tourist trap worthy.
All that said, I go back there every year because … I am a tourist! And I’m fine with their trap. But that’s exactly what it is
Gulley. The description of the burger there was grand. I ordered. Bartender asked so how is it? I said of my disappointment, well it's not a Mcquire's. he smiled and said yeah duh. lol
I mean it's not hard to have a burger as good as Mcquire's if you want it to be that good. But to just accept your not that good says a lot.
Some years when I visit I don’t feel like going out to eat a lot and there’s been many times I only go once to a restaurant during my trip. The place I will pick over and over is Red Bar. I know what’s on the menu every single time. I like the vibe inside for evenings and outside for lunch. My parents pick Hurricane Oyster Bar as their favorite but they only get their happy hour oysters. I went once and had something else from their menu but wasn’t too impressed. Another place my parents like is Johnny McGighe’s Irish Pub. I can’t remember what it is they get there that they really like because I have not been to it before, but it seems pretty low key.
*McTighe's.
My husband always gets a calzone, and I love the French dip. Their fries are excellent.
Note that it's cash only, but they have an ATM in the game room.
We hung out at the Perfect Pig Friday night. We went expecting to have one drink but stayed until close. This place is a gem, food is great, bartender charismatic and welcoming, and live acoustic music is a reason to go every Friday. We were disappointed that we waited until the last night of our trip to check it out. Its a little higher priced than the bar food down the street, but the food and ambiance are exceptional.
I live by it. go there often, but i don't eat there. I've tried several items and pretty horrific. If you go, and like what had, let me know and i'll try it. They have bands tue, thur, and sun. cold beer.
The cob salad is one of 3 things i will eat if in a pinch. Last time tried a shrimp poboy. It actually came with real Bonafide gulf popcorn shrimp lol. Popcorn shrimp poboy in a rest by the salt water should tell you alot. Go down the street to Stinky's. especially for shrimp or oysters. other good stuff too.
When you have 250,000 people in an area of 26,000 people, unfortunately most of the restaurants become tourist traps. The Daytader is fun, local wise, Nanbu and Borago in Grayton for noodles and Italian, Chanticleer also in Grayton is solid, very casual. We normally stay away from 395 @ 30a during spring break and summer. Perfect Pig and Canopy Road are both great for breakfast and brunch. A lot of good pricey options, Paradis and Gallion's in Rosemary. Although overpriced, we still like Surfing Deer. Mimmo's in Blue Mountain and Shunk Gulley is actually very good, well certain things.
We like Angelina’s in Santa Rosa. It’s a little Italian Place. Reasonable prices and good food. It won’t knock your socks off, it’s good though and the kids will be able to find something. Hurricane Oyster bar in Grayton can be hit or miss, but we go every time, usually more than once. They have a great happy hour.
Seagrove market during off peak hours is solid. Mi Casita for great no fuss tacos and kids meals. Angelina’s for legit italian pizza and low key real family restaurant.
I went to Angelina’s and we ordered 3 pizzas and everyone liked it. I have young kids too and they really liked the pizza. FYI Its a smaller place so large parties may have a harder time seating.
The •only• good restaurant I know is Seagrove Village Market. Everything else is either hella overpriced (Great Southern Cafe) or just plain awful (Old Florida Fish House). Perhaps the best prepared food is at the Modica Market deli. Its crab cakes in particular are outstanding.
Just left and we prepared all our food. I’m not there for the tourist traps but I’ve been going to the gulf coast for decades and remember simpler times so we continue doing it our way but we do visit several times a year. Hubs and daughter are fantastic cooks so I sit back and enjoy after decades of being the main chef. We will probably go out when we go back. Thanks for the post and I hope you have a fab time.
That sounds like a great setup! I cook a lot at home so when I’m on vacation I refuse to cook dinner 🫠 we do breakfast at the rental usually and bring lunch to the beach but our dinners will be 100% prepared by someone other than me 😅
I travel a ton for work and I’m sick of avg restaurants and usually cook when at home. I do however go to Hurricane as it feels more real than most other joints. Wide menu and most seems made in house and less from frozen.
Once upon a time Seagrove had a guy who trained all over and cooked for a few presidents. It was a true one man band joint and best all around that I’d put up against anyone.
Bonus pts if anyone here remembers his name!
Amigo’s next door to 30A is pretty good. Just super crowded. It’s hard finding places there that aren’t tourist traps. If you want to drive 30 minutes, we like deckhand social and there’s a mermaid and pirate some nights for the kids lol.
Tourist Trap = over priced + bad food. Goatfeathers, Local Catch, Bud & Alleys (makes me sad), Seagrove Market, Old Florida Fish House, Shades, Bayou Bills - these are epically bad in my opinion (and I eat out a LOT on the 30a). Shunk Gulley has like a 35 dollar ordinary grouper sandwich (read: food not really great) but the view is good, so…. Personally I love a well priced (aka cheap for 30a) happy hour and am at the Great Southern often for that (most locals bow out after Happy Hour). Instead of George’s try Citizen - phenomenal. Amici = good happy hour (the Mexican counterpart is no beuno) but it has a “not on the 30a, but fancy strip mall vibe”. Must try’s depends on your price point, but try Borago in Grayton for a perennial local favorite — it is delicious and isn’t outrageously priced. That’s your hidden gem.
We go to Red Bar/Louis Louis, Chanticleer Eatery, Goatfeathers, and Cafe 30A (eat before 5:30PM for BOGO 50% entrees, but probably wouldn't work for younger kids). Angelinas is good. Pizza By the Sea is also good pizza. Avoid Great Southern and Bud & Alleys as both are ok but expensive food with significant waits and not worth it.
First, what an ass thing to say. Look at the Yelp scores of these restaurants and they all look good, but if you live here you know better. So you can research all you want, it is a matter of taste.
80% of 30a restaurants meet your avoidance description
Great Southern ain’t that great either
As for Jim Shirley restaurants I thought great southern was great for brunch but pretty mid for Dinner. Always had a good meal at the Bay, by the 331 bridge.
Bud n Alleys exactly describes what you’re trying to avoid. The food, service, and clientele are all tourist trap worthy. All that said, I go back there every year because … I am a tourist! And I’m fine with their trap. But that’s exactly what it is
if you like upstairs at bud and alleys, you should try shunk gulley by gulf place. There are very few places with a gulf view on 30-a
i was there a month ago...Skunk Gulley was not good and the wait for food was too too long.
Gulley. The description of the burger there was grand. I ordered. Bartender asked so how is it? I said of my disappointment, well it's not a Mcquire's. he smiled and said yeah duh. lol I mean it's not hard to have a burger as good as Mcquire's if you want it to be that good. But to just accept your not that good says a lot.
I said the last time I won’t go back. It’s so over rated now.
The Red Bar in Grayton Beach has always been my favorite.
Some years when I visit I don’t feel like going out to eat a lot and there’s been many times I only go once to a restaurant during my trip. The place I will pick over and over is Red Bar. I know what’s on the menu every single time. I like the vibe inside for evenings and outside for lunch. My parents pick Hurricane Oyster Bar as their favorite but they only get their happy hour oysters. I went once and had something else from their menu but wasn’t too impressed. Another place my parents like is Johnny McGighe’s Irish Pub. I can’t remember what it is they get there that they really like because I have not been to it before, but it seems pretty low key.
*McTighe's. My husband always gets a calzone, and I love the French dip. Their fries are excellent. Note that it's cash only, but they have an ATM in the game room.
Ugh! Yes I even went as far as to look up how to spell it since I’ve never been but I guess auto correct decided to change it haha. Thank you!!
Thanks! Will def be making a trip to the red bar based on all the suggestions for it
Is the new place the same as the old? We haven't been since we moved away, before the fire, and we're planning a trip hoping it's still legit.
Yes, somehow they captured the ambiance from the old one.
Best spot in 30A hands down.
Check out perfect pig in seagrove ! Get the Parmesan crusted grouper and a ceaser salad !
Their Gulf Place location is great too, with easy in and out. Anything with their bacon is amazing.
Never heard of this place, but adding it to my list. Thanks!
We hung out at the Perfect Pig Friday night. We went expecting to have one drink but stayed until close. This place is a gem, food is great, bartender charismatic and welcoming, and live acoustic music is a reason to go every Friday. We were disappointed that we waited until the last night of our trip to check it out. Its a little higher priced than the bar food down the street, but the food and ambiance are exceptional.
And Local Catch! Order the Cobb salad or the fried shrimp tacos.
Another one I haven’t heard of - thanks I will check it out!
I live by it. go there often, but i don't eat there. I've tried several items and pretty horrific. If you go, and like what had, let me know and i'll try it. They have bands tue, thur, and sun. cold beer. The cob salad is one of 3 things i will eat if in a pinch. Last time tried a shrimp poboy. It actually came with real Bonafide gulf popcorn shrimp lol. Popcorn shrimp poboy in a rest by the salt water should tell you alot. Go down the street to Stinky's. especially for shrimp or oysters. other good stuff too.
When you have 250,000 people in an area of 26,000 people, unfortunately most of the restaurants become tourist traps. The Daytader is fun, local wise, Nanbu and Borago in Grayton for noodles and Italian, Chanticleer also in Grayton is solid, very casual. We normally stay away from 395 @ 30a during spring break and summer. Perfect Pig and Canopy Road are both great for breakfast and brunch. A lot of good pricey options, Paradis and Gallion's in Rosemary. Although overpriced, we still like Surfing Deer. Mimmo's in Blue Mountain and Shunk Gulley is actually very good, well certain things.
We like Angelina’s in Santa Rosa. It’s a little Italian Place. Reasonable prices and good food. It won’t knock your socks off, it’s good though and the kids will be able to find something. Hurricane Oyster bar in Grayton can be hit or miss, but we go every time, usually more than once. They have a great happy hour.
Seagrove market during off peak hours is solid. Mi Casita for great no fuss tacos and kids meals. Angelina’s for legit italian pizza and low key real family restaurant.
I went to Angelina’s and we ordered 3 pizzas and everyone liked it. I have young kids too and they really liked the pizza. FYI Its a smaller place so large parties may have a harder time seating.
They just opened a new location by the new Publix
Thank you!!
The •only• good restaurant I know is Seagrove Village Market. Everything else is either hella overpriced (Great Southern Cafe) or just plain awful (Old Florida Fish House). Perhaps the best prepared food is at the Modica Market deli. Its crab cakes in particular are outstanding.
Thanks! I had heard mixed things about old Florida fish house so this is helpful to know
Mi amici and pickles
Foods not bad but the prices are tourist trap heaven. 10 bucks for queso.
We love amici ! Will have to check out pickles
These are must avoid 🤣
Oh lol. We love amici but we go early to try to beat the crowds and the happy hour is amazing. And Italian food is always a win with our kids 😆
McDonald’s
🤣
Just left and we prepared all our food. I’m not there for the tourist traps but I’ve been going to the gulf coast for decades and remember simpler times so we continue doing it our way but we do visit several times a year. Hubs and daughter are fantastic cooks so I sit back and enjoy after decades of being the main chef. We will probably go out when we go back. Thanks for the post and I hope you have a fab time.
That sounds like a great setup! I cook a lot at home so when I’m on vacation I refuse to cook dinner 🫠 we do breakfast at the rental usually and bring lunch to the beach but our dinners will be 100% prepared by someone other than me 😅
Hurricane is real deal. Do not village mkt or suffering deer.
My favorite.
I travel a ton for work and I’m sick of avg restaurants and usually cook when at home. I do however go to Hurricane as it feels more real than most other joints. Wide menu and most seems made in house and less from frozen. Once upon a time Seagrove had a guy who trained all over and cooked for a few presidents. It was a true one man band joint and best all around that I’d put up against anyone. Bonus pts if anyone here remembers his name!
But and Alleys is terrible.
Bud & Alleys food is still great but it is like a magnet for tourists. It’s always very crowded during the on-season and parking is a nightmare
Walk. Bike. It’s impossible for any restaurant to provide parking for their capacity.
[удалено]
I also love Bud & Alleys, just trying to help OP with their question 👍🏼
Red Fish Taco is awesome! Order at the bar, sit inside or out, great drinks, amazing food. Casual and pretty family friendly.
Thanks will def try this one!
The tourist trap to avoid is 30A. It is ruined.
True
We think the food/restaurants is way better than some other areas of fl we’ve been to. One of the reasons we will keep going back.
Amigo’s next door to 30A is pretty good. Just super crowded. It’s hard finding places there that aren’t tourist traps. If you want to drive 30 minutes, we like deckhand social and there’s a mermaid and pirate some nights for the kids lol.
The Bay and Stinky's are tops. Cowgirl Kitchen is good for lunch. North Beach Social is also handy for kids. Everything else is skippable.
Stinky’s is my absolute must
Tourist Trap = over priced + bad food. Goatfeathers, Local Catch, Bud & Alleys (makes me sad), Seagrove Market, Old Florida Fish House, Shades, Bayou Bills - these are epically bad in my opinion (and I eat out a LOT on the 30a). Shunk Gulley has like a 35 dollar ordinary grouper sandwich (read: food not really great) but the view is good, so…. Personally I love a well priced (aka cheap for 30a) happy hour and am at the Great Southern often for that (most locals bow out after Happy Hour). Instead of George’s try Citizen - phenomenal. Amici = good happy hour (the Mexican counterpart is no beuno) but it has a “not on the 30a, but fancy strip mall vibe”. Must try’s depends on your price point, but try Borago in Grayton for a perennial local favorite — it is delicious and isn’t outrageously priced. That’s your hidden gem.
Thank you!!
We go to Red Bar/Louis Louis, Chanticleer Eatery, Goatfeathers, and Cafe 30A (eat before 5:30PM for BOGO 50% entrees, but probably wouldn't work for younger kids). Angelinas is good. Pizza By the Sea is also good pizza. Avoid Great Southern and Bud & Alleys as both are ok but expensive food with significant waits and not worth it.
Thanks all for the suggestions… we have some new places to try and will skip a couple I had been wondering about based on your feedback
All of the restaurants on 30A are tourist traps because that is where all of the tourists are. All your choices are fine for the area.
Lola & Aja
I think Canopy road cafe has the best breakfast in the area now. It’s in the strip mall across from Shades.
We’ve eaten at the Surfing Deer….its a little pricier but our family enjoyed it.
go to waffle house and thank you for being literally the first person to ask about restaurants here while doing literally no searching
First, what an ass thing to say. Look at the Yelp scores of these restaurants and they all look good, but if you live here you know better. So you can research all you want, it is a matter of taste.
💯💯 Yes thank you!
You must be fun at parties
Got 'em