Best Seafood in Fort Walton Beach
Fort Walton Beach, Florida, is a great place to soak up the sun, try out some watersports, and so much more. When you parasail in Fort Walton Beach, you are able to see all the places around the area. Another way to explore the area on water is to rent jet skis in Fort Walton Beach. This gives the whole group a chance to dive deeper into what the city is all about. After your jet ski rental in Fort Walton Beach ends, it is time to find some food. You definitely can find different varieties of food here, with seafood being one of the more popular types of food to try. Fort Walton Beach has some of the best seafood restaurants, due the close proximity to the water. Here at Xtreme H2O Fort Walton Beach, we know the importance of our guests finding the best that the area has to offer, so we curated a list of the best seafood restaurants in Fort Walton Beach.
The Shack
The first place that has some of the best seafood is The Shack, which has been around for over 25 years and serves many seafood favorites. One of our favorite features of this restaurant is that you can arrive by car or by boat. Each dish is fresh for everyone to enjoy the experience and the seafood options are endless! From the appetizers to the entrees, there truly is no wrong choice. Some favorite appetizers are the crab dip, smoked tuna dip, drunken mussels, and shrimp cocktail. These are great to share with friends or to keep all to yourself. The Shack offers classics like shrimp & grits, fish tacos, and a fish dinner. If crab is one of your favorites, then you have plenty of options to choose from. Whatever seafood you choose, make sure to try one of the signature cocktails and to enjoy the view.
The Crab Trap
The Crab Trap is a place, fondly known by locals for having the best, you guessed it, crab. There are all kinds of crab options, as well as other seafood, to choose from. What is unique about this place is that the seafood you eat here is from its very own wild fish processing facility, the Seafood Commissary. You can find The Crab Trap while walking around the Boardwalk. The seafood gumbo is one of the top dishes to try. Hence, the name The Crab Trap is famous for its delicious seafood, especially the crab. Some favorite crab dishes are the snow crab legs, Alaska Dungeness crab, Bairdi crab dinner, and Alaska red king crab legs. These meals are shareable, or you can have them all for yourself. The local fresh seafood continues to bring everyone back for more. With this restaurant, the variety of crab and other seafood is excellent for the whole group to enjoy. The best way is for everyone to pick a meal and then share it so you can try all the seafood.
Rick’s Crab Trap
Continuing with the crab theme up next we have Rick’s Crab Trap. You can find this seafood restaurant up north of Fort Walton Beach, but trust us when we say it is worth the drive to get there. There are many dishes here that locals come back again to eat and everything is fresh. From starting with handmade crab cakes to trying out the smoked tuna dip, the options at Rick’s Crab Trap are limitless. Some of those food items are steamed seafood options. Each steamed seafood plate comes with broccoli, corn, and new potatoes. There is no wrong choice when eating at Rick’s Crab Trap!
Floyd’s Shrimp and Steak House
Floyd’s Shrimp and Steak House is a seafood restaurant you do not want to miss. It offers the best of both worlds: seafood and steak. You can find the restaurant right in the middle of The Boardwalk! Besides the seafood, one of the best parts of this place is the view while dining. This local place has been open since 2003 and is still more vital than ever! Floyd’s Shrimp and Steak House has unique all-you-can-eat specials to try. These specials feature shrimp, fish, hushpuppies, and so much more. You just must try it out yourself! Again, just like the previous places, you can find fresh seafood to devour here. Some favorites include Kickin’ Shrimp, bacon-wrapped shrimp, raw oysters, fried cold water lobster tail, and the mahi-mahi sandwich. These items are just the beginning of the favorites. Now, all you and the group have to do is head over to see just how good it is!
Angler’s Beachside Bar and Grill
Now, let’s head over to the pier for even more food. The options at Angler’s Beachside Bar and Grill are a bit more upscale regarding restaurants. It is upmarket, but not in an expensive way. When arriving here, you will first notice the view of the Gulf of Mexico. Eating at a restaurant with a view makes the place ten times better. There is something for everyone in the group to enjoy. During the week, Angler’s Beachside Bar and Grill hosts lunch and dinner. While on the weekends, theywill have breakfast with a special brunch on Sundays! Now, with the seafood being this close to the gulf, you will get the best of the best, which means fresh. Here are some favorite appetizers and entrees you dig into: Pow-Pow Shrimp, sesame seared tuna, coconut shrimp, oysters, shrimp and grits, seafood Alfredo, and the crab cake dinner. The options are endless here at Angler’s Beachside Bar and Grill!
The Gulf on Okaloosa Island
Saving the best for last, The Gulf on Okaloosa Island serves a great variety of seafood. This is a relatively new restaurant, but it is hitting the marks in Fort Walton Beach. The menu is ever-changing, featuring what is fresh that day and the freshest seasonal ingredients. Basically, what you are eating is local. Many of the items on the menu are sharable, so feel free to get many to split with friends. Here are some fan-favorite meals to try for next time: the smoked tuna dip, lobster shrimp roll, bayou crab cakes, ahi tuna salad, shrimp tacos, grouper Sandwich, and the seafood boil. If these options make you hungry, head over to The Gulf on Okaloosa Island to see what they offer!
Eating the Best Seafood in Fort Walton Beach
Across the area, there are so many places to eat. With the list above, you can try out some great seafood. All these restaurants will make you want to come back more than once to try all they offer. Now head down to Fort Walton Beach, Florida, for some of the city’s best seafood!