Explore Best Panama City Beach Eats
Nestled along the sugar-white sands of the Florida Panhandle, Panama City Beach boasts a tantalizing culinary scene that complements its breathtaking seaside charm. From fresh, Gulf-caught seafood to cozy beachside shacks serving up Southern comfort food, the dining options are as vast as the ocean views. Each restaurant adds a unique flavor to this vibrant coastal community, inviting both foodies and casual diners to feast amidst the backdrop of endless blue skies and emerald waters. Whether seeking a romantic sunset dinner or a lively family feast, Panama City Beach's eateries promise memorable meals with a side of USA's quintessential beach vibe.
American charlie grill & tavern
4.5
(362)
Reviews:
Excellent place in PCB! We got the Uncle Sam and the Chicken Caesar Salad with French Quarter Onion soup and everything was so good! The atmosphere was relaxed and casual, great for families. The decor was tastefully done and you can tell the owners and staff take great pride in their establishment. Danielle took great care of us while we were there. We will definitely be frequenting American Charlie Grill & Tavern.
kendra rauch
We ate dinner here last night. Yes fall break so it was not too busy until we left. We did get to enjoy live music which we sat in the room in the front of the restaurant and it was still extremely loud. We really could not hear each other once he started a song. Our food took over 35 minutes to get to us so I am not sure if they are understaffed or just a slower restaurant. The bar was very packed so maybe that caused the slow down. The theming of this restaurant is outstanding! I would give it a 5 star on that. Hands down the best thing. For our food we started with beer and soda and lemonade, all that came out with large cups and ice. For dinner we got the kids Mac and cheese with fries that my daughter gave a two thumbs up. My wife got a medium rare burger which was very under cooked see photo and of note fries are an additional 4 dollars each!! The burger by itself was 12 dollars very expensive and honestly the portions of the sides were very small for that price. Not a good deal. My son grabbed some wings and fries. Wings were a 3 out of 5 by him. I could tell they were a disappointment when he did not want to bring them home. I had a Cobb salad, French onion soup and cheese grits. Salad and soup were good. The grits is advertised as sharp cheddar grits so please next time melt the cheese in the grits!!! Because the temperature of the grits was not warm enough to melt the it. Very disappointing. Overall I gave the theme a 5 and food a 3. I asked the family if they would come back or try a new restaurant and all said try a new restaurant, therefore if you are in the area give it a try for the theming and not the food.
Chris Konecny
We got there at 5pm on Saturday . We were sitted right away. Our waitress was great. Food was also great. Family of 4 our total was $82 and we all got meals plus 2 appetizers, and a beer. Shrimp and fried oysters were hot ,crispy and filling. The fried pickles were thick. Coleslaw was dry. But good all in all.
Shannon O'Brien- Foster
Shrimp tacos were pretty good. Says citrus slaw but there was no hint of citrus. I'd recommend a slash of pineapple juice in the slaw or a little chopped up pineapple.Steak in the quesadilla wasn't the best quality (you can taste it)still decent for most palates. Fries was underwhelming (no seasoning)burger was good.overall a strong 4!
Mar concessions Smokehousengrill
Excellent food, everything was cooked perfectly and delicious. The service was also up to par. There was great music as well. If you go and visit you will be sure to return!
Olga Soldatova
473 Richard Jackson Blvd, Panama City Beach, FL 32407, USA
Shrimp basket
4.3
(5218)
Informal chain outpost offering a variety of fried seafood dishes & an oyster bar.
Reviews:
Tina was an excellent, super friendly and helpful waitress! We felt welcomed and enjoyed all food we had. Thank you Tina! We had Boom Boom Shrimp and Seafood Boils Cajun style medium heat. It was not too spicy for me(don’t like too spicy). Everything was super yummy! Crab was amazing! Never had sausage like that before. The atmosphere was great 😊 Highly Recommended!!
Iryna Tsukanova
Food took a few extra minutes, but it was completely worth the wait! Sit outside, enjoy the view and try the grilled menu, Cajun style. I chose Cajun shrimp and flounder with green beans as a side. The fish was so tender you couldn't use a fork, the shrimp was cooked perfectly and the seasoning was balanced and delicious. As an appetizer, I had the best coconut shrimp I've ever had, served with a nice take on dipping sauce. Orange/mango tasting with a hit of worshteshire sauce, amazing! Topped it all off with the local "Shrimp Pail Ale", one of the best meals I've had in Panama city. My waiter was Derek, if you eat here I hope you ask for him or get him, friendly, attentive and all around good guy. Give this place a shot, you won't be disappointed! Update: brought the family back on vacation and had to visit this place again. Just as good as before and friendly staff.
B Wiggs
The wait was long, but to be expected for a Saturday night. The food was well worth it too, in my opinion. I ordered the Cajun Pasta & it was soooo good. Everything was perfectly seasoned. The sauce was just the right consistency that it stuck to everything, & don't even get me started on the garlic bread. I'd go back & wait just for a bag of the garlic bread itself!
Heather Guzman
There's nothing to not like about the Shrimp Basket! The prices are much more reasonable for panama city Beach. Bigger chain resturaunts run at least $10 more for similar dishes. A mixed drink was 7.25 vs 13.00. I got a cheeseburger and a CHERRY daiquiri, while my husband got a basket with shrimp, white fish, stuffed crab, and oysters, which came with a shrimp slaw. Everything was fantastic. Parking was easy to get in and out. I highly recommend this place!
Tracy Martin
Ate there today for lunch. The food was amazing! Restaurant was great, we ate outside. Our server, Derek, was so nice and had an awesome personality. We will definitely have to eat there again before our vacation is over. Absolutely recommend this place to anyone interested in some great seafood!
Hope Asbell
12390 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32407, USA
Hook'd pier bar & grill
4.4
(2086)
Small, beach-themed bar & grill featuring outdoor seating with water views & a seafood-focused menu.
Reviews:
We try to visit this awesome beach side bar and restaurant everytime we come to the Panama City area. They just recently expanded and included more tables inside in the air conditioning if you don’t like the sea breeze and warmth and humidity that you get from the beach. The staff is fantastic and the food and drink menu is extensive with something for everyone. This trip that we went with the wraps as our personal favorites with the fish tacos a close second. All the drinks are amazing with many beach themed libations to make your day just a little bit better
Randle Likes
There's nothing like having a meal with a view of the beach. Hook'd does that and more! Though their menu was on the smaller side for being on a touristy street, I actually quite appreciate it. You can tell that Hook'd has been here for a while, and then deciding on keeping their menu relatively small means that they care about the quality of their food. You can definitely taste it too! My partner and I had the catch of the day. I had mine fried, he had his blackened. You couldn't go wrong with either way, because both were delicious. Mine was perfectly fried, salted, and with the added lemon and tartar sauce, it was great. I could also taste how fresh it was as well! Their fries were good too. My favorite part about this place is that dogs are allowed, so long as they are leashed and behaved. We don't get to bring our boy with us to many places, but I'm glad we got to bring him here. Our waiter even got him his own bowl of water, and our boy was definitely thankful. Lastly, the service was wonderful. We had the kindest waiter who was super friendly, conversational, and informative. I feel bad because I forgot his name, but he was definitely one of the best waiters we've ever encountered. You can't go wrong with this place!
Andrea Ecarma
My coworker and I really enjoyed this restaurant. Food- The food was good. We both got bowls for dinner and dole whips for dessert. The bowls had lots of flavor and came out incredibly quick. Service- Probably one of the best waiters we have ever had. His name was Dillon and he was efficient, checked on us, made recommendations and made us feel like he was an old friend in his style of communication. Atmosphere- beautiful location and beach beach vibes. We sat outside and got to watch the sunset over the pier. You can’t beat that.
Juanita Simpson
It was Memorial weekend & they still got us seated pretty quickly (about 30 minutes). We got outdoor seating at night, and it was a fun atmosphere. The drinks were yummy & the food was really tasty!! Everyone in our 8 person group, loved what they ordered. I got the fish tacos & the flavor was incredible!
Amy Jones
We ate outside by the pier which was really nice. The food was extremely good. We got Mahi Mahi sandwich, shrimp teriyaki wrap, fish tacos and a burger. Would definitely eat here again.
Brittany B
16201 Front Beach Rd Ste C, Panama City Beach, FL 32413, USA
Firefly
4.5
(2045)
Romantic seafood spot offering dining under a lit-up oak tree plus a creative menu & full bar.
Reviews:
Had a great experience here. All of the food was delicious, our server was incredibly nice and attentive. It was a pretty busy Friday night and everything showed up in a pretty reasonable amount of time. They prefer your courses so you don't feel rushed, probably good to know if you are in a hurry to eat... This might not be the place. The sushi was fresh and flavorful, the appetizers were phenomenal, and the drinks were mixed well. All in all, one of the best places we ate on our vacation to PCB. definitely worth a try!
B Wiggs
The best steak I've had!! The fried calamari was delicious as an appetizer, along with the bread and three spreads. Amazing creme brulee. Beautiful setting - I loved the tree and lights, the mural, etc.
Amanda H
Really good menu. Can't wait to try more of it, but it would have to be a special occasion because the prices are high. But to be fair the prices could be much higher for food that good. I am not fond of open concept dining areas, but the tree helped. Friendly staff and professional service.
Thomas Thieme
We had our 2 year anniversary dinner here and let me say it was one of the best dining experiences I've had on Panama City Beach! The stuffed Filet was incredible and she had the shrimp and grits and she thought it was the best she ever had!. Great service warranted a 30% tip of course and the atmosphere was top notch 👌 No reservations and zero wait time was a nice surprise but if you want a private table I recommend calling ahead. 10 out of 10 overall
King Pipeforce
Amazing ambience and atmosphere. We were in the room with the tree and all the lights. We had a nice dinner date and enjoyed a night out without the kids. We had the crème brûlée for dessert which was amazing! We both ordered steaks but 2 different types and it was very good! We would definitely come back next time we come into town.
Amy S
535 Richard Jackson Blvd, Panama City Beach, FL 32407, USA
Pineapple willy's restaurant
4.5
(13158)
On-the-sand spot offering po' boys & frozen drinks plus sports on big-screen TVs & live music.
Reviews:
Went to Pineapple Willy's again, said I would not go back. Would rather went to there sister's restaurant the Wicked Wheel where the food is better. When me and my wife went there the Rangers and Astros were playing. Hosted said I could not sat there because that they were seating people from back to the front where there was no TV. Had the chicken strip and fries. Chicken was so salty it my raise my blood pressure. They should tell customers how salty this is so that are aware. Wife had clam's, fries and cold slaw. Clam's salty and cold slaw uneatable. Server Jesse was nice and enjoyable. I will never go back !
Greg Crenshaw
Not a long wait to get in. Food was really good and it was all made right. Waitress was top notch checking on our table alot. Dont get much better than this place for sure!! The Mahi Mahi platter was good and the Pineapple Coleslaw was also good. The portions are more than enough. Wife got the Shrimp Basket and it was also good!!
russell dehaven
One of the best places in PCB. Don’t eat breakfast and get there right when they open because it gets packed VERY fast. The Miami vice frozen drink is so good. We have been here twice on our trip because we love it so much. There roumalade is incredible and you really can’t get anything bad on the menu. Our servers were extremely attentive and friendly. Can’t say enough great things!
Olivia Galecki
I wish they had a reservation system but it was first come first serve. We were given a pager and quoted a 2 Hour wait. We spent our time in their little gift shop which was a great escape for some A/C. We then went over to the bar to order some drinks. If you want appetizers during your wait, you have to flag down a server and sit at an open table. Our group of 8 shared a small table which was pretty comedic. I absolutely love their fried pickles! Our pager went off and we were escorted to a different part of the restaurant. A whole separate building. Bathroom was clean. Service was fast and we got our food quick.
Linda Nguyen
I cannot say enough wonderful things about this restaurant. Ample parking and quick seating started off the great experience. The restaurant is right on the beach for a relaxing view while you dine. The server was cordial, and the food arrived quickly- shockingly so. There was not one person from our party of 5 who was not pleased with their dishes. The Alligator is an absolute must, and I was dubious about trying it and left a huge fan. It was so good, the family wanted to go there again before departing PCB. The service and quality remained the same: amazing. The cocktails were also potent but delicious.
Reka the Travelnista
9875 S Thomas Dr, Panama City Beach, FL 32408, USA
Harpoon harry's beachfront restaurant
4.1
(4900)
Casual eatery with beach views & patio seating featuring burgers, seafood & steaks.
Reviews:
This restaurant has an awesome view! I would recommend this restaurant if you’re only willing to drink or snack, otherwise there are better restaurants out there with variety of seafood options. The seafood dishes offered here are mostly fried. You only get crab legs in the 75$ bucket. So, if you’re willing to fill up your tummy from scratch to the brim, this is not the place. If you’re willing to drink and snack on a very picturesque place, then this is it! Please take the Tuna Dip if you’re snacking. It’s the best amongst most of the dishes I tried in this restaurant.
Swapnil Moon
Saw this place on TV and it was right next to the hotel so I walked over to try something I have wanted to try for a while. Got cheese wrapped fish tacos and was not disappointed. The fish was slightly dry but the sauce on the taco and the fresh slaw made up for that. To top it off, the grilled cheese on the tortilla was amazing. It is definitely a loud place but I took my seat on the bar with The Gulf behind me and it was pretty nice. Will definitely come back if I am in the area. Update: came back on vacation with the family, food was great, but the highlight was our waiter Chris. Great sense of humor, very attentive and made the dinner memorable. Will be back whenever I'm in town!
B Wiggs
4 stars because of the location and service. The view was incredible. We were looking for a place on the beach, and we got it! We wanted dinner but didn't want to lose time on the beach, so we got the best of both worlds. We enjoyed that we were able to step right down off the deck, on to the beach for a few pictures while waiting on our food, then again after dinner to catch the sunset. Our server was fantastic as well!Our kids got cheese sticks as an appetizer, and they were OK. The grouper strips (I forget exactly what they called them) were a tasty appetizer, though. My blackened grouper was not blackened like everywhere else. I've had blackened fish (and this is A LOT). I probably should have asked about it, but I didn't. The bigger issue was simply the texture; it was just off. My wife loved her chicken sandwich with pineapple (Island Chicken), and it was quite tasty.
Matt Diebolt
I went there with my mom & daughter who are both in wheelchairs. We were treated with the same respect & kindness as everyone else. They quickly cleared 2 spaced for their access & seated us. Food was served fast & it was hot & delicious. Beautiful sunset view can be seen there as well.
Robert Mintz
In town from Chicago and met a friend at this Panama City Beach gem. Not only were the views spectacular, the service was impeccable. Sabrina did an awesome job ensuring that my friend and I enjoyed our experience at Harpoon Harry’s. She suggested that we try the Cheesy Fish Tacos which were delicious. If you’re ever in the area, make sure to check out this establishment and ask for Sabrina.
C Clark
12627 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32407, USA
Margaritaville - panama city beach
4
(6863)
2-story space with Gulf views & casual American eats that morphs into a busy bar scene at night.
Reviews:
We were here during Thunder Beach, so there was a packed house. We were seated quickly and got drinks in a reasonable time. Appetizers took a minute, but were fine. We had fried pickles. Our entrees took much longer (but there were a lot of people at the restaurant) and one dish had a piping hot plate, but the food was barely warm. The service was good and reasonably attentive.
Amanda Bladsacker
Great atmosphere and a variety of food for everyone. Enjoying our visits at other Margaritavilles across the US, we had to make a stop at the PCB location. We had top notch service, the atmosphere was very pleasant, and the shows in between is a nice touch. My seafood platter was on point, the shrimp & grits was well received. What's not to like??
Darrell Marcum
We had a great meal and service! There is plenty of parking around the back. We had a reservation but arrived early and were seated quickly. Our server, Cliff, did a fantastic job suggesting drinks and food. Everything was delicious!! I definitely recommend a stop. The ribs were falling off the bone!!! There is plenty of seating and the drinks are top knotch!
Jo-C Coleman
Everything was good. I couldn’t remember the last time everything everyone ordered tasted good and was done right. Excellent place to visit and eat!
Richard Crawford
My husband and I come here every year and loved it, so he wanted to come for his birthday. Unfortunately, we were very disappointed with our visit this year. We were seated in a timely manner and our server, Kyle, was very nice. The umbrella at our table fell on my husband, and another server rushed over to make sure we were okay and fixed it. Things like that happen, and I appreciated how kind she was about it. We ordered 2 drinks, Tropical Thunder and Cococabana, and they were very good. We ordered the Volcano nachos which were good, but they didn’t put any guacamole on it like it advertises. Our food was brought out right after the appetizer had been placed on the table. I wish they could’ve brought the appetizer out first, and gave us a little time to enjoy it before bringing the food out. I ordered the Jambalaya, and it was terrible. There was no flavor. It tasted like something you would get out of a can. I only took two bites out of it, and I was very disappointed. My husband got coconut shrimp, and he was it was okay but the fries were over cooked. Our meal ended up totaling $134 which included the 20% tip, but we left feeling very bummed because the food wasn’t worth the money especially for his birthday.
Hannah Hulsey
16230 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413, USA