Destin Seafood Restaurants: Where to Eat Local Food and Have Fun

Part of any vacation in Destin includes trying local cuisine. Known as “The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village,” Destin features some of the freshest food caught in the Gulf. And seafood lovers can’t get enough of their favorite dishes made with daily catches, shrimp, oysters and other tasty options. Keep reading to find the best Destin seafood restaurants, and select from casual to upscale atmospheres.

Destin Seafood Restaurants: Enjoy Local Flavor and Good Times

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Brotula’s Seafood House and Steamer

Locally owned and perfect for families, Brotula’s Seafood House serves fresh fish from the Gulf of Mexico. The restaurant sources seafood through local vendors, so visitors enjoy some of the freshest fish in Destin.

Brotula’s serves lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. Those dining during lunch find shareable appetizers, salads, oysters, sandwiches and catch of the day. Or select from steamers and boils, with buckets featuring crab, shrimp and mussels. The dinner menu offers much of the same, but the Bro’s favorite section has house favorites. Gulf grouper, shrimp and grits, and blackened red snapper are all top options. In addition, Brotula’s will prepare catches brought in from visitors.

Louisiana Lagniappe

Louisiana Lagniappe offers Gulf seafood with Creole flair. Visitors come here for dinner and waterfront views, as the restaurant overlooks a small bay located in the Sandpiper Cove condo complex.

Start with some crab, shrimp or tuna dip. Then dig into soups, salads or fried seafood. A few house favorites include grouper, jambalaya, twin lobster tails, yellow-fin tuna and seafood lagniappe. Other entrees feature stuffed shrimp, oysters, redfish and scallops. Louisiana Lagniappe also has a kids menu and steak selections perfect for surf and turf.

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Jackacuda’s Seafood and Sushi

Craving sushi? Look no further than Jackacuda’s Seafood and Sushi. This family-friendly spot makes handmade sushi and dishes from locally sourced seafood caught in Destin’s waters.

Open for lunch and dinner, Jackacuda’s serves sushi rolls, poke bowls and house specialties. Basic rolls include spicy tuna and California. Then select from soups, salads, shrimp rangoon and ahi tuna poke. For the main course, try specialty rolls, grilled cobia, fish tacos or poke bowls made with fresh seafood. In addition to seafood, Jackacuda’s has a selection of burgers, steaks and pork chops.

Boshamps Seafood and Oyster House

For Southern-style dishes paired with Destin Harbor views, head to Boshamps Seafood and Oyster House. This restaurant has been a local hangout for more than 40 years.

Open for lunch, dinner and nightlife, Boshamps serves local seafood and hosts live music. Start with blue crab claws or lobster bites. For lunch, try something from the oyster bar, salads, sandwiches, and seafood baskets and platters. The dinner menu adds the catch of the day, snapper Destin, grouper, and lobster mac and cheese. To add a little local flair, order a signature cocktail.

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Pompano Joe’s

Specializing in Caribbean flavors, Pompano Joe’s ranks among the best Destin seafood restaurants for food with a view. This beach-side gem overlooks the Gulf and has affordable prices.

The lunch menu has entrees such as fish tacos, fried combos and sauteed salmon. Or try salads, soups and sandwiches. Visitors also enjoy the house specialties. PJ’s platter and Joe’s crab cakes offer a taste of local seafood. Some  guests may prefer the mahi mahi, jumbo shrimp, oysters and grouper. Those who want some island flavor should try the coconut shrimp, grouper with lobster and Montego Bay tuna.

The Back Porch

Another icon among the top Destin seafood restaurants is The Back Porch. For more than 40 years, this spot has served traditional seafood with a Gulf view. Guests enjoy lunch and dinner on the patio, inside the dining area, or on the beach.

Kick off the meal with seafood dips, oysters or small bites. For something light, try salads with fresh fish, soups and sandwiches with daily catches. House specialties include snapper, grouper, crab, amberkack and shrimp. The Back Porch Maui is always popular and comes with the signature crab mix. In addition, visitors can get fish blackened fried, or order seafood in pastas and alongside steak.

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The Surf Hut

The Surf Hut also ranks among the best Destin seafood restaurants with epic views. Plus, kids enjoy playing on the sand with toys. Everyone else can sit back and relax for lunch or dinner.

Appetizers include oysters, calamari and shrimp. Next try some fish tacos, catch-of-the-day, fried seafood and kabobs. The Surf Hut’s house entrees feature fried stuffed shrimp, grouper and crab. Gulf-to-table options range from sea scallops to the captain’s platter with local favorites. Additionally, The Surf Hut has plenty of cocktails and refreshing non-alcoholic drinks.

Crab Trap Destin

Crab Trap Destin ranks among the best Destin seafood restaurants – and one of the best known. Plus, visitors enjoy stunning Gulf views.

Crab Trap Destin opens for lunch and dinner. Start by sharing the bay shrimp trio, hot crab dip or raw oysters. Or select the award-winning gumbo, fresh catches and fried favorites. Those who want the house best should try Crab Trap mahi, crab cakes, sea scallops or Bairdi crab dinner. Couples can’t miss the triple crab combo for two. For more variety, order the Captain’s Platter with Gulf shrimp and scallops.

Dewey Destin’s Seafood Restaurant

The Destin family and Destin area have a long history. That’s why Dewey Destin’s Seafood Restaurant group is one of the best with multiple locations along the coast. However, Dewey Destin’s Seafood Restaurant was the original location.

Come for lunch or dinner. No matter which one, visitors find fresh and affordable seafood. The gumbo and hot crab dip are a good place to start. Then select from fried baskets with mahi mahi, shrimp, oysters, crab and scallops. For a lighter option, try snow crab or shrimp steamers. Dewey Destin’s menu also has sandwiches, salads and seafood platters. Plus, they will cook local catches brought in by guests.

After planning where to eat, check out the top Destin outdoor attractions.

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