Fort Walton Beach Restaurants

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Floyd "Sonny" Tillman and his wife, Lucille, founded Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q in Gainesville, Florida. The year was 1968. We first came across Sonny's when we ate lunch in the Tallahassee area on the way down to Fort Walton Beach. But there's one of them in Fort Walton Beach too.

Favorite Dish: We had what they called a "Short Ration" for $4.99. I had a pork sandwich with Brunswick Stew, fries and cole slaw and Bob had a beef sandwich with the same. The food came VERY quickly (we were walking in at 11:40 and we had our food by 11:50). This would have been cheap except the iced tea was $1.29 each (very big ones). Lunch was $14.36.

They had a large interesting salad bar, but we didn't have that, and didn't have dessert either.

The buffet was wonderful and not too expensive. It's worth getting off the beaten path for authentic mediterianan food. Lots of locals eat here.

Favorite Dish: the lamb was great, the buffet was a great way to try new dishes.

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This chain of the Southwest was started in Texas using five inch hamburger buns instead of the usual four inchers. The entrepreneur's idea was that everyone who had one would say "What a BURGER".

This was the first fast food place that ever gave us a pager to alert us that our burgers were ready. Since the night before, we had been at a regular restaurant that gave us little pieces of paper with numbers on them instead of pagers, I found this amusing.

While we were eating, we got to watch the folks outside on ladders (first and last pictures) repairing hurricane damage or putting up Xmas lights. I thought maybe one of them would fall and create a photo-op, but it didn't happen while we were there.

Favorite Dish: I had a bacon cheese Whataburger and Bob just had a plain Whataburger. The lunch cost $11.88.

A Mary Esther original, Daddy's is well-known for having the best barbecue around. At lunch time this place is packed with Air Force members from nearby Hurlburt Field, so it must be good. I've always stuck with the sandwiches such as smoked sausage and pulled pork, but I hear they also offer great ribs. All of this in an authentic run-down shack in a dirk parking lot along the highway. What could be better?

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A kind of a tourist interpretation of a NYC Irish Pub. The whole ceiling and most of the walls have dollar bills stapled to them hanging down like stalactites. There were stuffed animal heads on the walls It was so dark inside that I had to use flash, which I don't ordinarily do. The waiter had an attitude about that.

Their motto is Feasting, Imbibery & Debauchery They are open seven days a week. The photos of the entrance (inside and outside) are numbers 4 and 5.

In addition to a large eating establishment in Destin and one in Pensacola, there is a store selling souveniers and gifts (and they also sell them on line), and a brewery. They also sponsor a running club.

The dollar bills are explained as follows on their website:

"McGuire's Irish Pub first opened in 1977 as a small neighborhood pub in a shopping center. McGuire cooked and tended bar and Molly waited tables and greeted customers. When Molly made her first tip -one dollar- she tacked it to the back bar for good luck. Friends of the pub added to the collection and it soon became tradition. Today you will see over $250,000 one dollar bills hanging from the ceiling throughout the Pub, all of which have been signed by Irishmen of all nationalities.

Favorite Dish: Bob had a huge hamburger (one of over 20 on the menu - photo 2) which was $9.95, and I opted for a shepard's pie for $15.95 (photo 3) and we both drank root beer which they make on the premises. We also got a loaf of dark bread. Total after taxes and before tip was $30.63.

They also have steaks and seafood.

Anglers is a great seafood restaurant located in Fort Walton Beach on Okaloosa Island. I have been here many times since they opened in 1999 and I'm always satisfied. Anglers has seats indoors and along the water on the deck. Their menu has a variety of all things seafood from fried shrimp baskets to snow crab legs and everything in between.

Located on Okaloosa Island in FWB, this original location of Fudpuckers was established in 1986 and is famous for its unfinished, rough-around-the-edges look and feel. For food, they offer everything from seafood and chicken to steak and pasta. Fudpuckers also has a few bars and offers live music to keep the place interesting. There is another branch of Fudpuckers in Destin.

Don't confuse Fudpuckers with Fuddruckers, the cheesy international hamburger franchise with the classless 1950s look.

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After we ate lunch at What-a-Burger, which is the only fast food restaurant I've ever been in that gave us a pager so that we could come and pick up our orders when they were ready, we went back to the unit. That night we finally found our way to the Coach-N-Four which the lady at the condo recommended as having an Early Bird Special. And this time, they actually DID have Early Bird Specials.

The place was exceedingly popular and even though we got here early it was crowded with lots of families waiting in line and a lot of cars in the parking lot. We were given a little piece of paper with a number on it - no pagers here. We were called in fairly short order because most of the people there were large groups.

Favorite Dish: We both had the small (8 oz) ribeye ($12.95), which came with a salad, a side, and a little cup of lime sherbert. I also had the Cookies and Cream Cake for $4.00. We were quite happy with the food, and the total bill before tip was only $26.40.

However Groo says:
The coach n four is a ponderosa quality steakhouse. Meat cuts were thin and very fatty. The onion rings were over breaded and lacked flavor. Outback is a serious step up from this. If you are accustomed to steakhouses, this is probably not for you.

This a pretty cool place to visit if your going to eat or just visit the bar. Lots of interesting stuff hanging from the ceiling and on the walls. Especially at the bar..lol! Food is great and so is the service. The price is right and you get your monies worth here. Open 7 days a week too!

If you ever been to this area before you'll notice these establishments everywhere. I had breakfast here every morning with my co-workers. I found the place clean, cheap, and food wonderful. I found the coffee here excellent. So check them out!

Here's tip, when you come across a Waffle House menu, grab it. It may contain some coupons that will save you $$