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1. Felix’s Fish Camp
2. Schooner’s – The Last Local Beach Club
3. Señor Frog
4. Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Restaurant- Panama City Beach
5. Pompano Joe’s
6. Runaway Island
7. Off the Hook
8. Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant
9. Panama City Index

Felix’s Fish Camp

After we left New Orleans we headed east along the coast towards Panama City Beach. On the way we stoped at our favorite rest stop, Buc-ee’s, for refueling and using their sparkling bathrooms. If your are in the southwest, where Buc-ee’s originated, and now in some parts of the south, don’t miss a chance to stop here. Gas prices are lower than most. 120+ pumps, gifts galore, a bounty of food choices, and their always clean bathrooms. And it is always crowded.



We stopped on the way for lunch at Felix’s Fish Camp in Spanish Fort, Alabama. It’s on the Mobile Causeway. Felix’s is much like hundreds of restaurants along the coast – rustic and big, with a lots of window overlooking the ocean. The waters in front of the restaurant was full of pelicans, a few gulls, and a lone cormorant. They vied incessantly to roost on one of the dozen or so lone wooden piles poking out of the water. I enjoyed watching them attempt, time after time, to urge another pelican off the pile, most of the time failing and forced to land in the water beside the pile. It was quite comical.



We were seated at a table with a good view of the water. Our server was Chris, a nice well spoken lad, with a very deliberate way of speaking – a little contrived to me.



Mrs. G ordered the crab cakes and a side of a baked potato. I had the white fish stuffed with crab meat and a side of very well done turnip greens. Both pretty good – not over the top though.

While we were waiting for our food, I went to the restroom to wash my hands. I couldn’t resist taking a picture of the custom faucets made out of common plumbing parts you could find at any hardware store.

After a refreshing lunch, and another dose of ocean peace, we headed for our destination. We have been here several times. The following restaurants I gathered for various visits here.

Schooner’s – The Last Local Beach Club

Schooner’s is about 30 minutes to the east of the hotel, in Panama City proper. The lobster festival going on at the time caught my wife’s attention. They were going to make a lobster sculpture in the sand and serve special lobster dishes.



The parking lot is minimal. We had to go around the parking area a couple of times. On the second go round we spotted a car leaving and took his place. We checked in and gave the lady our phone number. We were told the wait would be for about 30 minutes for a table with a view of the ocean. We wandered through the restaurant and out the back towards the beach. The entire restaurant was open to the outside air and the breeze flowed through, keeping it nice and cool inside.



A band was doing mic checks on a stage set up facing the restaurant. They were very loud and not very good – at least on the few songs they sang. Fortunately they finished before we finished our meals and it wasn’t so noisy. The restaurant was loud enough.



We shared a bowl of lobster bisque as our appetizer. Mrs. G had the lobster salad and I had the lobster flatbread and a side of black beans and rice. Both pretty good and filling.



After we ate and paid our bill we walked to the west on the backstreet and then back to the car. This street seems to be full of rental condos and houses.

Señor Frog

On this day we lingered on the pier for a while, enjoying the lovely ocean views and braving the strong winds today. We walked east on the coastal road towards Señor Frog’s. It was a long walk–longer than we expected. And the weather was warm. We were seated on the back patio. We asked for table away from the wind, which turned out to be too shielded from the wind and we were hot. So we moved further out on the porch. The server was okay but not impressive. We both ordered the pork platter. A plentiful meal. I enjoyed it. A bit pricy, but this is the beach.

Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Restaurant- Panama City Beach

We walked over to Margaritaville next door to out hotel. We looked at the menu, then decided to check out Hook’d Up across the street, right on the beach. My wife scouted the seating area, nixed it, and we went back to Margaritaville.

I jokingly introduced myself as Jimmy Buffett, saying I’d like a nice table on the patio. She smiled, then said she could get us a table in about 15 minutes. “Should I put you down as Jimmy?, “ she asked. “No, use Randino,” I replied.

As we waited, I went outside and took some photos of the exterior.

Denise, a veteran server, asked us what we’d like to order. We ordered a seafood platter with a house salad side, and shared it.

It was quite good. The fish filet, which I expected to be bland, was delicious. Two types of shrimp, crispy fries, and some tasty sauces. Our favorite was the orange one – a kind of creamy cocktail sauce with a dash of cayenne.

Margaritaville is a fun place to eat and we’ll be sure to return again, either here or at one of the 27 stand alone restaurants in the USA – mostly in Florida but also in Tennessee, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Ohio, and New York — as well as in Southern states like Georgia and Oklahoma.

Pompano Joe’s

After we walked it for a while, observing the fishers on the pier, we headed back to lunch. Mrs. G picked up a magazine and clipped a coupon for a Reggae Egg Roll at Pompano Joe’s across the street. We walked into the nearby Pompano Joe’s and asked for a table on the patio. The host was not interested in accommodating us. He said there was one server there; but he could sit us inside. We promptly left. Who would want to eat inside on a beautiful day like today at the beach?

Our reception today was quite the opposite. The hostess was friendly and sat us near the entrance to the patio, where it was very windy. I asked if we could sit at the other end and she said sit anywhere we liked.

Even though we didn’t order 2 entrees, Brian got us the coupon for the appetizer, a $17.49 item on the menu. They were very tasty. Mrs. G ate one and I ate the remainder by the end of the meal. No take out for us tonight.

We ordered an entree of Garlic Crusted Grouper. It came with a baked potato, veggie medley, and hush puppies. Too much crust but the fish was good.

Runaway Island

Runaway Island was right on the beach. We sat in the shade and it seemed cooler than we expected, what with the wind blowing and all.

We ordered some good food, after ordering our drinks. I ordered a cup of gumbo and a Fish And Shrimp Platter. My wife had the Lunch Special. Both were good, but nothing special (no pun intended).

We took some fries home for the evening meal. We weren’t that impressed with this choice.

Off the Hook

We went to lunch this day at a restaurant situated on the Grand Lagoon. There is a large marina at the bridge here with many pontoon boats for rent. The shuttle/ferry for Shell Island leaves from here.

We sat a table designated for 5 or more, but with a good view of the water and boats. Our server made sure we knew we were at a table for 5 or more, then said we could stay there because they weren’t that busy. An understatement. By the time we left no one was sitting at the tables at the water edge.

The menu here is slight. I assume that the kitchen here is small. Our meal was served in plastic baskets with plastic silverware. Our drinks came with in a plastic cup. My wife ordered a shredded pork sandwich and I got a patty melt. I liked my sandwich. The hamburger was large and tasty. Mrs. G’s BBQ was spicy; an option on the menu choice.

After paying for our meal, we walked on the walkway at the base of the bridge. The walkway wraps around both sides of this half of the bridge. The shuttle came and went during our short walk.

Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant

Sharky’s is about a mile to the east of our hotel. We walked along the highway. On the way we stopped in at the Hampton Inn and walked around the lobby just to see what it was like.After we left there we both commented about what good choice Mrs. G had made to stay at the new Embassy Suites. Better in every way.

Our server at Sharky’s was Cindy. A very enthusiastic veteran server. She explained why they only serve drinks in plastic cups. Glass cups would be too much of a liability.

There is a small playground immediately below us on the beach, with swings and slides.

We ordered Nachos for me and Mrs. G had the Beach Burger.

So, now that you’ve read this, what’s your favorite eating spot in Panama City? Leave a comment below, for all the world to see. Ciao, Randino

Panama City Index

Panama City Part 1 – The Embassy Suites Hotel | Sunsets and Small Discoveries: Our Return to Embassy Suites Panama City – The Inquisitive Retiree

Panama City Part 2 – What To Do When You Visit Panama City – The Inquisitive Retiree

Panama City Part 3 – Restaurants – The Inquisitive Retiree