Alabama Eats
Seafood & Wine — By Administrator on May 13, 2010 at 3:16 pmFrom Mobile all the way down to the sugar-sand beaches, the Alabama Gulf Coast area has countless restaurants with many ways to satisfy your hunger. Each brings its own specialties and own personality to the table, so with the multiple options available, how do you choose the place that’s ready and able to conciliate your current craving? As always, Gulfscapes is here to help. To make it simple, we’ve assembled a handy dandy list of beach (and beyond) eateries and placed them in convenient categories. So here are our picks for the best places to…
MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME
Cosmo’s Restaurant
251-948-9663
25753 Canal Rd.
Orange Beach, AL 36561
www.cosmosrestaurantandbar.com
If being at the beach alone wasn’t enough to relax you, a visit to Cosmo’s will melt away any residual stress. The easy-going atmosphere has a neighborhood pub vibe that makes everyone feel welcome. A guy strumming guitar and outdoor seating on a large deck are reason enough to visit, but the spectacular sushi pushes this place to the top of the list. And if you’re wondering about the doggie décor, it was inspired by Cosmo’s namesake, a black lab rescued by the restaurant’s owners.
GO NATIVE
Lulu’s at Homeport Marina
251-967-LULU (5858)
200 East 25th Avenue
Gulf Shores, AL 36542
Lulu’s is the creation of perhaps the area’s favorite famous daughter, Lucy Buffet (musician Jimmy Buffet’s little sister). Chef Lucy returned home after some time in Los Angeles and opened Lulu’s on the Intracoastal Waterway. The food is fresh and prepared with lots of Lucy’s love, but it’s the laidback pace and the bay breeze blowing across the deck that bring people back.
King Neptune’s
251-968-5464
1137 Gulf Shores Parkway
Gulf Shores, AL 36542
www.KingNeptuneSeafoodRestaurant.com
Eat like a local at King Neptune’s, one of Gulf Shores’ oldest and most popular restaurants. After just one spoonful of the creamy, flavorful corn and crab bisque, you won’t notice the lack of designer décor or the tight squeezes in the tiny space. Try favorites like bacon-wrapped stuffed shrimp (an instant heart attack, but at least you’ll die happy) or the tart and tangy West Indies Salad.
ROUGH IT
The Flora-Bama
850-482-0611 or 251-980-5118
17401 Perdido Key Drive
Pensacola, FL 32507
www.florabama.com
The Flora-Bama’s Oyster Bar & Grill is technically in Florida, but your kid could easily throw one of its delectable fried pickles over into Alabama, so we’ve included it anyway. It is a downright dive, but that’s a huge part of its appeal. You won’t find linens on the tables, and there’s sure to be sand on the floor, but you will find delicious versions of seafood shack standards like fried shrimp, oyster po’ boys and fried crab claws. And sitting just steps from the surf, it’s the best deal you’ll find on the beach.
BRING A FRIEND
Pirate’s Cove
251-987-1224
6664 County Road 95
Elberta, AL 36530
We mean a four-legged one. In fact, if you arrive Pirate’s Cove Marina without a dog in tow, you may be in the minority. Scallywags of all shapes and sizes are welcome. Hordes of people and their pets congregate on the rickety-looking deck adjacent to the marina, sipping Bushwhackers (a thick, chocolaty milkshake/cocktail) while waiting for their “cheeseburger in paradise.” A tiny kitchen turns out burgers that are legendary; some claim they inspired Jimmy Buffet’s famous song. The truth of this is irrelevant, one bite and you are in hamburger heaven. Everybody comes for the food and “pirate” environment, but the fact that you can enjoy it all with Fido just sweetens the deal.
SPLURGE!
The Trellis Room
251-338-2000
26 North Royal Street
Mobile, AL 36602
An elegant experience is always on the menu Mobile’s only AAA Four Diamond rated restaurant, the Trellis Room at the Battle House Hotel downtown. While this evening out will cost you, it’s well worth it. Indulge in sophisticated, contemporary décor amidst the historic hotel and “chef-inspired” cuisine with a Northern Italian influence. The menu changes often, but a dish like caramelized day boat scallops with wild mushroom risotto is just one example of the delicious offerings.
Voyagers
251-981-9811, x103
27200 Perdido Beach Blvd.
Orange Beach, AL 35661
www.perdidobeachresort.com/dining/voyager.asp
Inside the Perdido Beach Resort, Voyagers is the classic fine dining establishment on the Alabama Gulf Coast. Staying true to its philosophy of using only the freshest local ingredients, Voyagers consistently serves authentic tastes of the area’s bounty. Reservations are highly recommended.
OGLE AWAY
Guy Harvey’s Island Grill
251-224-8180
4851 Wharf Parkway
Orange Beach, AL 36561
Guy Harvey’s at The Wharf is the perfect place to ogle, but you won’t be leering at bikini bodies. You’ll be gawking at boats—big boats. This relatively new restaurant’s outside seating offers a straight-shot look at The Wharf’s marina. Of course, a diverse menu and the adjacent museum and retail shop showcasing the works of famed fisherman artist Guy Harvey are a big draw too.
OVERDO IT ON OYSTERS
Doc’s Seafood Shack and Oyster Bar
251-967-4800
26029 Canal Road
Orange Beach, AL
Or
1140 Gulf Shores Parkway
Gulf Shores, AL
Briny and slightly sweet and prepared countless ways, oysters are little gifts from the ocean, and both locations of Doc’s Seafood Shack and Oyster Bar are making the most of what the sea has provided. Doc’s fried oysters are the area’s best. This casual joint is also reasonably priced and quick.
Wintzell’s Oyster House
251.432.4605
605 Dauphin St.
Mobile, AL 36602
Or
251-974-2122
24131 Perdido Beach Blvd.
Orange Beach, AL 36561
Renowned for offering oysters “fried, stewed or nude,” this Mobile hallmark started in 1938 and now has a location in Orange Beach too. Order the Oyster Sampler and have it all—Oysters Monterey, Oysters Bienville, Oysters Rockefeller and Wintzell’s famous grilled oysters.
INVITE EVERYONE
The Original Oyster House
251-948-2445
701 Hwy 59, Bayou Village
Gulf Shores, AL
Lots of space, fast, friendly servers and seemingly no noise restrictions make The Original Oyster House a best bet for families and large groups. And don’t let the kind-of campy digs fool you. They belie the establishment’s real charm—a wide array of expertly prepared seafood dishes.
Mikee’s Seafood Restaurant
251-948-6452
2nd Avenue, East 1st Street
Gulf Shores, AL
Mikee’s calls itself “a place for seafood.” The lack of creativity aside, it seems Mikee was right. It may be THE place for seafood. The atmosphere leaves a little to be desired, but the menu does not. Try the grilled triggerfish or Captain Ed’s Sautéed Scallops, and you’ll easily forgive the plastic seashells. Mikee’s is truly family friendly too.
EAT UP THE VIEW
Cobalt
251-923-5300
Nibble on tasty jumbo BBQ shrimp or crab-stuffed baby portabellas and watch the boats float by at Cobalt. The restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows frame a picturesque vista of the bay and Perdido Pass. And the raised bar ensures everyone gets a good look. The water wall and touch tank full of live fish at the entrance will keep you entertained if you (somehow) become bored by the view.
SKIP THE SEAFOOD
San Roc Delicatezza
(251) 981-8466
27267 Perdido Beach Blvd # 104
Orange Beach, AL 36561
San Roc Deli has a wide wine selection, gourmet pizzas and great sandwiches. Its Perdido Pass sandwich is the best non-aquatic treat on the Alabama coast. Tender roast beef smothered in gooey havarti cheese and kicked up with some creamy horseradish all on an onion roll. Need we say more?
PREPARE TO PARTY
Tacky Jack’s
251-981-4144
27206 Safe Harbor Dr.
Orange Beach, AL 36561
Tacky Jack’s 2 – Fort Morgan
251-981-4369
Tacky Jacks has so much fun to pass around, they have two locations on the Alabama coast, both set on the backwater. There’s always a crowd of happy diners and drinkers at either, so they are great spots to socialize while satiating your appetite for ample portions of yummy food. Flat-screen TVs in the bar area at the Orange Beach location make a festive hangout for watching football games in the fall.
BE SWEET
Scoops Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor
251-948-4800
100 W. 6th Ave
GULF SHORES, AL 36542
Take a break from the beach and cool off with an ice cream cone at Scoops, one of Gulf Shores’ tastiest traditions for 25 years. This popular little nook has over 36 flavors of the cold, creamy stuff that are certainly worth screaming for.
SHOW UP HUNGRY
Wolf Bay Lodge
251-987-5129
26619 Perdido Beach Blvd.
Orange Beach, AL 36561
Now in its new location (at Zeke’s Marina) after the original building burned in a tragic fire, Wolf Bay Lodge is still serving up heaping helpings of seafood and steaks. This local treasure keeps things casual, and at lunchtime, Wolf Bay’s sensational salad bar is not to be missed. If you just got off one of the fishing charters stationed at the marina, Wolf Bay will clean and cook your catch for you.
Gulf Shores Steamer
251-948-6344
124 West 1st Ave.
Gulf Shores, AL
If you want to eat your fill but avoid the extra calories that come with fried foods, Gulf Shores Steamer is the place for you, dishing up piles of steamed seafood that’s been voted some of the best in Gulf Shores by Southern Living and USA Today. True foodies will appreciate the unadulterated flavors of Royal Red shrimp, crab and fish that come through thanks to the simple steaming. Go for a Bucket of Shrimp if you’re really starving.
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