Located in the heart of the Emerald Coast, the city of Destin, Florida is a popular vacation destination for travelers seeking an oceanfront getaway. With large beaches that stretch for miles and lots of kid-friendly activities, your family is bound to work up an appetite by the end of each day. Fill yourselves up with fresh seafood and American cuisine at eclectic eateries and beachfront restaurants near your Destin vacation rental. Add these top 10 family-friendly eateries to your Destin itinerary.
1. The Back Porch
When venturing from your Destin vacation rental for a bite to eat, satisfy the seafood lovers in your crew with a meal at The Back Porch. Give the kids something to view and eat with the colorful decor of this eatery and the fresh crab cake sandwiches as the specialty. Cater to the kids with the variety of a kids’ menu that includes fried popcorn shrimp, grilled fish, pepperoni pizza, and chicken tenders.
2. Cheeseburger in Paradise
Let your kids sink their teeth into the best burger they’ve ever eaten when taking the family to Cheeseburger in Paradise, a popular chain owned by Jimmy Buffet. With the singer’s classic tunes playing in the background, your kids can dive into burgers or opt for corn dogs, quesadillas, mac ‘n’ cheese, or chicken fingers for lunch or dinner.
3. Fat Clemenza’s
When you’re craving an authentic Italian meal, head to Fat Clemenza’s, a family-friendly restaurant that features a variety of Italian dishes. The kids can choose from calzones, sandwiches and pasta, or create their own pizza. There’s something for mom and dad, too, with the restaurant’s famous eggplant parmesan with just enough spice to satisfy the adults.
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4. Lighthouse Restaurant
Enjoy the scenery and historic look of the Lighthouse Restaurant while eating the scrumptious broiled lighthouse crabby cakes that have gained popularity from Destin diners. If the kids are not up for the Captain’s Seafood Platter, they can choose a variety of meals from the kid’s menu that include cheese sticks, hot dogs, and popcorn shrimp.
5. Pickles Beachside Grill
After a day of building sandcastles and splashing in the ocean, stay beachside and enjoy lunch or dinner at Pickles Beachside Grill with the kids. This grill with a laid-back vibe is located within Seaside’s central shopping area and serves up hot dogs, fish sandwiches, burgers, and of course, their famous fried pickles. Stop in this casual grill straight from the beach for dinner or take a break from basking in the sun and satisfy your taste buds with a snack or lunch.
6. Pompano Joe’s
You don’t even have to leave the beach to sink your teeth into fresh seafood and American cuisine when dining at Pompano Joe’s in Destin. Beyond the crab cakes and coconut shrimp, which are specialties for locals and tourists, you can also absorb the sweet and savory BBQ chicken available at Pompano Joe’s. Featuring a full kids menu that includes corn dogs, chicken fingers, cheeseburgers, and popcorn shrimp, this beachfront restaurant offers plenty of tasty options for the kids.
7. The Sugar Shak
Top off the day with a dose of sugar when traveling to Rosemary Beach, just minutes from your Destin vacation rental. The Sugar Shak features a full-service variety of ice cream treats for the kids to enjoy, ranging from ice cream sundaes and concretes to single or double-dipped cones. Mom and dad can also pick up some saltwater taffy and choose from the variety of candy for sale to take back to their vacation rental. The Sugar Shak also operates a gift shop, so you can pick up a few souvenirs.
8. The Surf Hut
Teach the kids how to surf during the day and then head over to the Surf Hut to celebrate their success with a scrumptious, sea-inspired meal. Dubbed as a seafood lover’s haven, The Surf Hut serves up fried shrimp, tacos, and oysters on the half shell. If the kids opt out of a seafood meal, let them savor the ribs, shish kabobs, burgers, and sandwiches available at this trendy eatery.
9. Barefoot BBQ
When you’re still sporting swimsuits and have sand clinging to your body, then an outdoor eatery, such as Barefoot BBQ, is the perfect choice for your family meal. Offering barbecue in Caribbean, Texas, and southern styles and homemade sauces designed to satisfy your sweet and tangy preferences, Barefoot BBQ offers something for all ages. Grab a rack of ribs for the entire family or opt for brisket or barbecue nachos. The eatery features outdoor picnic tables so you can devour the barbecue in a casual setting with the kids.
10. Graffiti
If your family has varying tastes, then sample the variety at Graffiti, an eclectic eatery in the heart of Destin. Sample the chicken and artichoke pizza, a greek salad or let the kids savor the chicken parmesan and fettuccine Alfredo. The cedar planked salmon and wild buffalo meatloaf are popular on the menu, as well as the caprese.
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