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Food & Fun Here's the good news: You won't find a McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's or Pizza Hut within 10 miles of Santa Rosa Beach. Here's the better news: There's a wide variety of good and great food very close by. Here are some of our favorite places for . . . Breakfast
The Red Bar -- in downtown Grayton Beach is a ramshackle joint that comes alive for lunch and evening entertainment, but it also has a great Sunday brunch with terrific eggs Benedict. The Donut Hole -- On 98 just west of Thompson Road. A lot of locals start their work day here with loads of eggs, pancakes or waffles. Check out the giant sweet rolls. Miss Lucille's Gossip Parlor -- in Gulf Place is a friendly place to get fresh coffee or a cappuccino and a cinamon roll or scone. There's free Internet access using Wi-Fi or Miss Lucille's PCs.
Lunch
Elmo's Grill -- is on the south side of 30A, west of Oyster Lake. This is a fast and family-friendly place where fish sandwiches and fries are served on picnic tables on the screened-in porch or available for carry-out. Amore -- in Gulf Place features gourmet pizza, pasta and fancy sandwiches served on an outdoor deck overlooking the great lawn. They also deliver. Dinner
The Red Bar -- in the center or Grayton Beach. The menu is limited -- three specials each night -- they don't take credit cards, and there's duct tape on the seats. But the food is good and pleantiful, the crowd is always friendly and the music matches the mood. Here's how Southern Living rated the Red Bar and other Grayton Beach restaurants. Smiling Fish Cafe -- easy walting distance at 30-A at 393 in Gulf Place. It's a good place for good food served inside or at the quiet outdoor tables. Goatfeathers -- South side of 30A, east of 393. There's a fresh seafood market on the ground level and a large seafood restaurant upstairs. If you like Red Lobster, you'll like Goatfeathers. The Love Shack -- is a new bar and restaurant set up resort-style next to the pool at a condo development on the bay side north of US 98. We've only been there in the off-season, but I bet the place rocks in the summer.
For more upscale dining, try Basmati's, on 30-A for Asian cuisine and sushi, Cafe Provence on 98 for French cuisine, Fish Out of Water in Watercolor, and Cafe 30-A, between Seagrove and Rosemary Beach. More Eats When the women hit the outlet stores in Sandestin, the guys head across the street to Buster's. It's loaded with TVs, always tuned to the games, and has great early-bird prices on raw oysters. For fast carry-out lunch or breakfast sandwiches, there's Sally's convenience store in Blue Mountain Beach. For the Health of It at Blue Mountain offers natural foods and a juice bar. Blue Mountain also has a well-stocked liquor store and the best nearby wine shop is Chan's store in the new Publix shopping plaza on 98 on the east side of Sandestin. Gotta have your Starbucks? There are a couple in Sandestin and one at Grayton Beach. I'm just fine with the coffee at the Tom Thumb convenience store that's a two-minute walk from the house. Want more? Click for Google's list. After Hours
Both Gulf Place and Seaside sponsor free family-friendly concerts and festivals on the public squares. Seaside sometimes shows outdoor movies, including The Truman Show, which was filmed there.
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Santa
Rosa Beach isn't exactly hopping after sunset, and that's one of the
many reasons why we like it. Does buying a video at the Tom Thumb
count as nightlife? 