Cape San Blas is a thin sweep of land along Florida’s Forgotten Coast that mainly houses state parks and preserves. Views of white sand beaches and the Gulf of Mexico greet you at most Cape San Blas vacation rentals. Moreover, freshly caught seafood at family-owned eateries offers a taste of casual beachfront living. Visitors typically head to mainland Port Saint Joe, situated about 20 minutes away, for a wider variety of cuisine. Find a blend of coastal fare, Southern comfort food, and Mexican street food at these 11 kid-friendly restaurants on the Cape.

1. Indian Pass Raw Bar

Oysters and shrimp are the star attractions at this classic seafood shack. Karaoke singers and live musicians play tunes on the front porch while guests feast on large portions of crab-stuffed shrimp and oysters steamed in a delicious coating of butter. The menu is small but packs a punch. The picky eaters in your family can enjoy burgers, hot dogs, and corn on the cob as the seafood lovers choose between steamed crab legs and seafood gumbo.

2. Sand Dollar Cafe

Start at least one vacation day with a hearty breakfast or lunch from the Sand Dollar Cafe, where the buffet menu changes daily. Country plates, photos, and memorabilia line the walls and shelves, enveloping you with a sense of Southern heritage and hospitality. Kids can’t help feeling at home as they dig into plates of shrimp and grits, breakfast casserole, and biscuits and gravy. You never know when the cafe might be serving special dishes, such as flank steak, chicken marsala, or bacon mac and cheese, so call ahead for the daily menu.

3. Mr. G’s Smokehouse and Seafood Grill

Formerly a food truck, Mr. G’s is a small grill shack that specializes in seafood tacos and pulled pork and brisket sandwiches. Benches with straw umbrellas capture an island vibe, providing the perfect setting to chow down on bay shrimp, rock lobster, and ahi tuna tacos. If your kids are less adventurous, treat them to smoked sausage, hotdogs, or honey barbecue chicken with potato salad.

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4. Joe Mama’s Wood Fired Pizza

Sometimes, all you need is a laid-back pizzeria to keep everyone happy. Joe Mama’s offers ambient indoor dining with gourmet and custom-ordered pizza straight from a wood-fired oven. Stick to staples like pepperoni and sausage, or try tasty premade combinations, such as the popular Tre topped with arugula, provolone, basil oil, and a mushroom trio. You can also create your own combinations to satisfy the whole family.

5. Skully’s Low Country Boil

One of the few restaurants on the cape proper, Skully’s is a down-home gem where table etiquette doesn’t matter. Diners stop by to eat gumbo or share family-style buckets of shrimp, sweet corn, sausage, and potatoes all mixed together. The outdoor seating is pet-friendly, and if you’re lucky, the owner might have time to chat or play guitar.

6. Sand Bucket Smokehouse and Grill

Located less than 10 minutes from the area’s cluster of vacation rentals, the Sand Bucket is a popular spot for Southern barbecue. The restaurant offers big smoked meat combos that are perfect for families, whether you love baby back ribs, brisket, pulled pork, or chicken. Burgers and seafood sandwiches round out the menu, and you can start off the meal with fried mac and cheese or hush puppies for an unforgettable burst of flavor.

7. Pepper’s Mexican Grill

The colorful room, hanging lights, and exposed ceiling beams with decorative parrots immediately tell you it’s going to be a fun fiesta at Pepper’s. Take your pick of cantina staples, such as chicken and shrimp fajitas, enchiladas, and rice and beans. Few kids can turn down a juicy plate of steak and chicken nachos or a cheesy quesadilla, and you can finish off your meal with crunchy churros and banana burritos.

8. Sunset Coastal Grill

Sunset Coastal Grill offers an amazing view of a bayside pier for a pleasant distraction while you wait for your meal. The restaurant is ideal for foodies who want a more upscale meal in a casual setting. Kids are free to pick old favorites, such as pizza, fish fingers, and mac and cheese, while teens and adults dine on lobster bisque, seafood linguine, and blue cheese-topped ribeye.

9. Cone Heads

Be sure to visit this bayside restaurant and ice cream parlor when you’re traveling along Cape San Blas Road. Downstairs, you can choose from more than 20 flavors of ice cream or drink mouthwatering floats, from the vodka-spiked twisted lemonilla for adults to the classic creamsicle for kids. Head upstairs for salads, sandwiches, and seafood baskets. Locals swear by the creative burger menu, which includes a surf and turf patty topped with shrimp and pepper jack cheese.

10. Provisions

Provisions is the place to go for scrumptious American and Mediterranean cuisine. Steamed mussels, grilled entrees, creamy pasta, and specialty salads provide a well-rounded selection of traditional dishes to satisfy just about any palate. Expect a strong showing of coastal flavors, whether you choose snapper picatta, shrimp carbonara, or ahi tuna pasta. Toddlers can dine on mini servings suited to their tastes, including Pickie’s Pasta, Buddy Burgers, and Bird’s Nest chicken and potatoes.

11. Krazy Fish Grill

The name says it all. Krazy Fish is a lively open-air grill known for its playful decor, live entertainment, and drool-worthy seafood. The restaurant hosts a weekly sushi bar and sandwich bar, but you can stop by anytime for delicious crab cakes, jumbo Gulf shrimp, or blackened fish. The Caribbean-inspired tacos, Mahi Mahi dip, shrimp and grits, and Po’ boy sandwiches attract a lot of repeat diners, but the eatery also has plenty of refreshing salads, burgers, and meat entrees to try.


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