The Best Restaurants In Panama City Florida

Located in the Panhandle of Florida, Panama City draws a mostly southern crowd from the ‘Bible Belt’ of the US and states below the Mason Dixon line. With strong influence from Louisiana, Creole recipes and fresh-catch fish and shrimp boats, there is no lack of excellent seafood. Here are our top 10 choices for the best dining in Panama City.

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David’s Sno-Balls

Located on Back Beach Road, David’s Sno-Balls brings a piece of New Orleans to Panama City Beach. From the menu, order the roast beef Po-boy, the muffelata and the stuffed key lime sno-ball for dessert. There is also coffee and beignets all day long.

Casual fine-dining venue Firefly specializes in locally caught seafood, mouthwatering steaks and even has a sushi bar. Tables are set under a romantically lit-up oak tree, which make it an excellent date spot. From the menu, say yes to the crawfish and lobster crusted halibut, venison in cranberry sauce, or spicy tuna roll.

Saltwater Grill

Upon entrance to the restaurant, the 25,000-gallon tropical saltwater aquarium will catch your eye at Saltwater Grill. Enjoy seafood and steak cuisine as well as live entertainment from the piano bar. Order the mixed grill, which is a great surf & turf combination of beef tenderloin, scallops and shrimp; or the redfish étouffée.

Jesse’s Place

Jesse’s Place is a quaint, family-owned-and-operated restaurant that seats about 35 people and serves breakfast and lunch. The restaurant offers vegan and vegetarian options as well as a traditional breakfast and lunch menu. Pick the breakfast burrito or chicken and dumplings for lunch for a tasty bite.

Surfside Shrimp Company

At Surfside Shrimp Company, food can be taken to a casual table inside or on a patio just outside the restaurant. This place is a fresh-catch seafood market and on-site oyster and seafood bar. This no-frills storefront gives way to thrills for the taste palate. Go for the eat and peel shrimp, Apalachicola oysters and the bacon-baked oysters.

Hunt’s Oyster Bar

Hunt’s Oyster Bar has been serving the locals of Panama City for more than 45 years. This family-owned-and-operated restaurant serves excellent fried fish and other seafood specialities. If you feel like trying a local menu favorite, go for the alligator tail and frog legs.

Finn’s Island Style Grill

Family-owned-and-operated by a salt-water-loving husband and wife team, Finn’s Island Style Grill was aptly named after their firstborn child. Rumored to have the best fish tacos in Panama Beach, Finn’s motto is to keep it simple, fresh and consistent. You can’t go wrong with that. From the menu, try the fish tacos, of course.

Another Broken Egg

Another Broken Egg has been serving breakfast, brunch and lunch in Panama City for more than 15 years. Cuisine made from fresh ingredients and creative recipes make for breakfast classics, brunch dishes and lunchtime favorites. From the menu, order biscuit beignets, blackberry grits, sweet potato pancake, or lobster and shrimp roll sliders.

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Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

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