My wife and I have been coming to the Destin area for years. This year we fell upon what I think might be the best hamburger we have eaten since growing up and cooking out in the back yard.
Tops Hamburgers is sooo unbelievable good and inexpensive we ate there 5 times in the 10 days we were in Destin. ( Sadly we didn't find them till 6 days into the trip ) We were driving by and saw a huge line and though a line that long has to be something good! The line was out to the highway and took less than 5 minuntes to get out food. The sweetest woman came out and took our order and it was ready when we pulled up to the window. 2 burgers, 2 fries and 2 sodas for under $9.00 and these are QUARTER POUND burgers!
If you are visiting Destin and need something to take to the beach or to take home after the beach we Strongly recommend Tops Hamburgers! They are only open till 7pm but the locals know where to get their burgers, hopefully you vacationers will know where to go now as well!
Favorite Dish: Good Old Fashioned Cheeseburger
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Address: Mile or so East of Destin Commons
Phone: 850-837-1811
Two restaurants in one, Harbor Docks offers a variety of great steak and seafood on one side with good hibachi and sushi on the other. Both restaurants overlook the water along the Harbor Walk area. My last visit I had the rainbow roll with yellowtail, tuna and salmon on top of shrimp and cucumber ($9.50). My friends shared the sushi dinner ($24) and had a lot left over.
Most meals are over $20 while the average sushi plate is about $8 for 8 rolls. Reservations are required to eat at the hibachi grills on busy weekend nights in the summer. There is also frequent live entertainment on the outdoor deck.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Address: 538 Highway 98 E
Phone: (850) 837-2506
We eat out just about every night we stay in Destin, and we take this trip every year. This is another restaurant that we try not to miss upon our return each year. The food is great, and the atmosphere is more laid back & casual than some of the restaurants.
Favorite Dish: You have to eat seafood when you're in Destin...The Back Porch is no exception to that. If you're in Destin during the peak season it is recommended to always try to go out to eat rather early to beat the crowds. One time we went here for lunch. There was no wait & the food was just as good.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Address: 1740 Old Highway 98 East, Destin, Florida
Phone: 850-837-2022
food was very run of the mill. thought we were going to have some "Sicilian" type authenticity, but were very disappointed. the server had no menu knowledge and could not answer our basic questions. nice kid, but obviously not trained on the food she was serving. lighting was very bright and this only helped to illuminate how dirty the floor was under our feet. need to mop for sure. being on vacation we tried to order some tropical type drinks--big mistake, the rum runner I ordered was not even drinkable. my husband ordered a dirty martini and the drink he was served was sort of pinkish. perhaps that is how it is done in Destin??? It took forever to be seated, not because there was a wait, but no one greeted us for 5 minutes. wish we had taken a clue from this and left. ordered chicken marsala and it was quite unremarkable. the sauce was very thin and there were maybe 3 slices of mushroom, and they appeared to be canned!!! we did like the house dressing, however the salad was old and the croutons were stale.
We certainly will not return here.
Written Jul 25, 2009
Address: 834 hwy 98 destin fl
Phone: 404-633-7989
Sand bar and grill/Islander club is a new restaurant in destin.Located on gulf shore drive across the street from target was a wonderful and enlightening place to eat.It was very family oriented and the staff was wonderful.Great attention to detail as the server kept thechildren laughing constantly.They offer 99 cent margaritas everyday as well as $1 pabst blue ribbons and their happy hour from 4-6 with 2 for 1 drinks and 25 cent wings were great for your budget especially during these times.Then there was the food.The menu was extensive offering everything from burgers to pasta to seafood all fresh and made to order by there executive chef michael ross who also visited the table regularly to ensure satisfaction.Every Friday and Saturday they offer live music in there club upstairs as well as t.v's upstairs and down to catch the latest sports games.Can't say enough about this establishment and can't wait to go there again.
Favorite Dish: the family recipe sicilian sauce with italian sausage and meatballs was wonderful!
They also offered cook your catch after our great fishing trip with destin angler!
Written Jun 26, 2009
Address: 824 hwy 98 east actually faces gulf shore drive
Phone: 850-650-8222
Sand bar and grill/Islander club is a new restaurant in destin.Located on gulf shore drive across the street from target was a wonderful and enlightening place to eat.It was very family oriented and the staff was wonderful.Great attention to detail as the server kept thechildren laughing constantly.They offer 99 cent margaritas everyday as well as $1 pabst blue ribbons and their happy hour from 4-6 with 2 for 1 drinks and 25 cent wings were great for your budget especially during these times.Then there was the food.The menu was extensive offering everything from burgers to pasta to seafood all fresh and made to order by there executive chef michael ross who also visited the table regularly to ensure satisfaction.Every Friday and Saturday they offer live music in there club upstairs as well as t.v's upstairs and down to catch the latest sports games.Can't say enough about this establishment and can't wait to go there again.
Favorite Dish: The family recipe sicilian sauce with sausage and meatballs is to die for!
They also offer cook your catch after a great fishing trip with destin angler!
Written Jun 26, 2009
Address: 824 hwy 98 east actually faces gulf shore drive
Phone: 850-650-8222
Probably has the best view of the Destin Pass. Breeze is very nice and boat traffic keeps you busy checking everything out. Food was very tasty, but alittle high, remember - you are paying for the view.
Written Jun 6, 2009
Address: behind the Emeald Grande Hotel
This is one big pub. Though sprawling like a huge sports bar cum beer hall, the decor is more in line with the Irish Pub theme that belies its name. Oh, there are hundreds of dollar bills stapled onto the walls and ceiling with just enough left over to make for a ramshackle look. People from all over the world or at least USA have left them as proof of their being there. After a few beers you understand better why. Bartender was attentive, efficient and obviously an old pro.
Favorite Dish: Though I have wanted to come here for the beer for some time, this was a dinner stop and were happy to see standard English/Irish pub grub as that was just what we were in the mood for. We shared two dishes to maximize of dining experience. We had the Sheppard's Pie which was a casserole of ground steak with fresh vegetables topped with smashed Irish potatoes, Cheddar cheese and baked to a golden brown for $16.99. The Steak & Mushroom Pie was choice tenderloin tips baked with wild mushrooms in a strong-flavored Cabernet wine demi-glaze and topped with a homemade puff pastry crust, also $16.99. Though pricey for pub fare, the portions were very good size and considering that the pints at happy hour were only $1.75 great value all around. The beers, all house brewed, were a mixed bag but at these prices it was hard to complain. Their Old Fashioned Ale (4%) sounded like like an English bitter but was a pretty pedestrian light bodied mainstream beer only a few notches above Budweiser. The Irish Red (4%) wasn't much better and things looked kind of grim until we got a Porter (5.3%) with a ruddy brown color, tan head and coffee-ish nose. Some roasty bitterness balanced out the primarily malty brew well. The Irish Stout (5.2%) was their best beer. It was black with ruby highlights and tan head. Served via a nitro tap, it was full bodied and creamy like a modern day Guinness. It was far too cold as is generally the case with Guinness though as it warmed up you could taste more of it's bitter profile which defines the style. This went particularly well with the food.
Written May 2, 2009
Website: http://www.mcguiresirishpub.com/
the commander's palace destin is a branch of the famous commander's palace restaurant in new orleans. they offer steak and seafood with a creole accent. a very good restaurant at the emerald grand resort.
Written Apr 14, 2009
Address: 34 harbor blvd
Phone: 850-650-6842
Website: http://www.commanderspalace.com/
Ft. Walton Beach Nate’s NY Strip N Chick is a well kept secret of deliciously prepared and served recipes (specializing in French Cajun). It is slightly off the beaten path, a few moments from Destin; but keeping with Emerald Coast’s tradition of serving the best (certified Angus beef, fresh vegetables, and deserts fit for royalty! It is a casual, comfortable, friendly, and family style restaurant where they aim to please with the highest quality of service and food at a very reasonable price.
Nate’s has live entertainment nightly. The night we dined, we heard an excellent piano performance. Thought it was a recording of beautiful music!
Nate’s menu offers beer and wine, and notes the availability of a full bar. The bar is separated from the restaurant.
It was a great dining experience learned word of mouth.
Favorite Dish: They offer Cajun classics like Borque’s Boudin (boo dan)… a tasty Gumbo of chicken, pork or crawfish, rice and seasonings. It will make you want to hurt yourself. It will make you want to sop your bowl inside out – I gar an tee!!! The Gumbo comes with a small bowl of potato salad just like the true Cajuns of Louisiana. Another Gumbo is the chicken and sausage Gumbo that makes my mouth water with anticipation.
Nate’s serves a variety of deserts like the Beignets – a light as air pastry melts with each bite. Another standout is their light and tender bread pudding served warm.
Nate's provides a wide range of superb dishes. I'm not a gourmet, but I know good eating.
Updated Jan 21, 2009
Address: 201 Miracle Strip Parkway South, Fort Walton Beach
Phone: (850) 226-4439
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Reviews and photos of Destin attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Destin sightseeing.

Ft. Walton Beach Nate’s NY Strip N Chick is a well kept secret of deliciously prepared and served recipes (specializing in French Cajun). It is slightly off the...
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Q: Me and a friend were planning on going to Biloxi for my 21st bday weekend...but I heard you have to be 21 to get into all the...

A: This might help : http://www.destin-ation.com/nightclubsunder21.htm
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destin is a beach resort town located on US 98 in northwest florida. this area of florida was originally inhabited by native american about 12,000 years ago. destin is named after captain leonard...
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I've got some interesting experiences in Destin. I'd love to share with you the 8 tips I've written, the 9 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created.
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The Emerald Coast is famous for dazzling sugar-white sands and brilliant emerald-green waters. The charming southern towns that line the bejeweled beaches of Northwest Florida's panhandle are Destin,...
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