When you plan your vacation to Panama City Beach you must treat yourself to the wonderful seafood dinners that await your visit. You will love our warm Southern Hospitality, hot she-crab soup, fresh fish and shellfish, and homemade desserts.

Save a couple of nights to enjoy a nice dinner and local music and entertainment.  And if you are bringing the little ones for vacation, you'll need to know which restaurants are 'kid friendly' and which ones cater to more adult tastes.

There are literally hundreds of restaurants in the area making it possible even for locals to try a new menu every week. For many families, going to the beach for summer vacation has become a way of life. We see church groups, civic clubs, business organizations, sororities and fraternities, as well as out-of-state families and international tourists returning year after year.

Here are some restaurants for you to enjoy!

Captain Anderson's Restaurant is #1 in my opinion when you want some fine seafood, excellent service, and pristine waterfront dining. Read my "local expert" feature article about this Panama City Beach tradition. Florida Classic and Open Hearth Seafood, Steaks, and Desserts. Excellent family friendly dining. 5551 N Lagoon Dr, Panama City, FL 32408, (850) 234-2225.

Kingfish Floribbean Cuisine & Sushi Bar

Kingfish is located at the Bay Point Marriott Resort on the Bay. Florida and Carribbean Cusine, Sushi, Steaks, Fish, Seafood, and Desserts. Family oriented restaurant style with excellent wait staff. 4200 Marriott Dr. 850-236-6075

30 Degree Blue

This upscale bar gets its name because it is located at 30 degrees north latitude overlooking the blue waters of the Bay Point marina and the Grand Lagoon on Panama City Beach, Florida. Beautiful views for adult tastes. Steaks, Seafood, Desserts, plus a full bar. 3900 Marriott Dr. 850-236-1115.

The Kingfish and 30 Degree Blue are both located at the Bay Point Marriott Resort and Golf Club.

Angelo's Steak Pit

Angelo's is also a tradition with families who vacation on Panama City Beach year after year. This western-style family restaurant is worth the wait if you like a big ole steak with all the trimmings. Bring the entire family. Steaks, Ribs, Seafood 9527 Front Beach Rd., Panama City Beach, FL 32417, 850-234-2531

Bay Street Deli & Bagel Bakery

This little deli and bakery is a favorite with locals and winter visitors. The bakery part is really important because they do their own baking... breads, bagels, cream cheese danish, muffins, and desserts. They make home made soups, quiche, chicken and tuna salads daily. The "mile high" New York style Ziggy Reuben is fabulous! They open very early for breakfast and ONLY serve breakfast and lunch. 7806 Front Beach Rd., Panama City Beach, FL 32407, 850-233-1755

Bayou Bill's Crab House

Located on the West End of Panama City Beach behind the new Winn Dixie shopping center, this is one of the most family friendly casual dining restaurants on the beach. Wear your beach clothes, bring the kids, and prepare yourself to eat too much fresh steamed seafood. Buckets of crab legs, corn on the cobb, and boiled potatoes are waiting to be served. Hickory Smoked Ribs, Steaks, Fish & Seafood, Cajun Cuisine, and Desserts. Located at 23100 Front Beach Rd., 850-235-1010

Boar's Head Restaurant

The Boar's Head Restaurant is a casual fine dining dinner house featuring fresh Gulf seafood and the finest Steaks and Prime Rib on the west end of Panama City Beach. For more than 30 years, they've been serving Fried Lobster, available as an appetizer or entrée. The Venison and Quail dinner is equally popular year round. Live music is available in the tavern Wednesday - Saturday at 6:00 pm. Families are welcome. Steaks, Fish & Seafood, BBQ, Desserts, and Expresso Beverages. 17290 Front Beach Rd., Panama City Beach, FL 32413, 850-234-6628

The Boatyard

This is a local's favorite inspired by the casual nature of coastal and island living with the rustic, open-air feel of the docks of Grand Lagoon,offering cuisine with the flavor of the islands. Great for large groups or families. The Boatyard is located on the docks of Grand Lagoon behind Capt. Anderson's restaurant. Dress is casual, and prices are reasonable. Open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week all year ‘round. Reservations are not necessary and plenty of boat slips are available if you are coming by boat. Steaks, Fish, Seafood, Carribbean Cusine, Desserts, and full bar. 5323 N Lagoon Dr., Panama City Beach, FL 850-249-9273

Breaker's Restaurant

This is one of the best GULF FRONT restaurants with an incredible view of the Gulf of Mexico from every table in the house. Their menu features local fresh seafood, angus steaks, and mouthwatering desserts. The new 40' bar is a major feature. They say they are the only gulf front restaurant that takes reservations. Call 850-234-6060. 12527 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, FL 32407.

Calypso Beach Cafe

Located across the street from the new Calypso Condo Resort, Recipes from New Orleans and the Caribbean are featured on the delightful menu at this restaurant that is open daily for lunch and dinner and offers something for everyone such as outstanding appetizers, delicious steaks, made-from-scratch soups and salads, fresh from the Gulf seafood, and award-winning desserts. A daily happy hour is also available, as well as an entertainment schedule. Located at 15812 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413. 

Captain Jack's Family Buffet

Panama City Beach's best seafood buffet is housed in an unusual building on Thomas Drive (next door to my office at Century 21 Ryan Realty). This buffet styled restaurant is hosted by renown local restauranteur, Jack Bishop, serving Panama City Beach since 1971. They serve three great buffets daily: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Crab legs are included with every dinner buffet. Adults Dinner Buffet is $23.95, Kids 3 & under EAT FREE! The breakfast buffet for Adults is $8.95, Kids 3 & under EAT FREE! 8208 Thomas Dr, Panama City Beach, Florida (850) 236-8555

Dusty's Oyster Bar and Dining

They're inexpensive and good! They have one of the best Grouper Baskets on the beach. Here's a quote from their website: "Home of warm beer, lousy food, ugly waitresses and Scotty'O, two time U. S. National Oyster Shucking Champion 1999-2000 & 2001-2002. Competing in Ireland for the world title as seen on Discovery Channel, Food Network and the Today Show. Try our world famous Fried Green Tomatoes. Happy Hour every day 2-6 $2.99 doz. raw oysters, $.75 draft. Come party with the crew and have an adventure on your vacation." Directions: HWY 79 to Front Beach, head East on Front Beach Rd located 1mile on you're left Rates: $8 daily Lunch and $12 daily Dinner.

The Treasure Ship 

Three restaurants and a gift shop in one big ship. This tourist event is located at 3605 Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach, FL 32408, 850-234-8881 on Grand Lagoon.

Main Dining Room offers a panoramic view of Grand Lagoon. They serve a traditional Angus beef steak and fresh local seafood harvested from the Gulf of Mexico.

Hook's Grille & Grog is a colorful dockside restaurant on the lower level of The Treasure Ship. They serve a "Bountiful Caribbean" cuisine with live entertainment, and a menu with a wide variety of appetizers, sandwiches, entrées and desserts. Captain Crabby's Bar is the more casual of the three Treasure Ship restaurants which offers a choice of either indoor or spacious open deck dining with a beautiful panoramic view of Grand Lagoon. 

Montego Bay Restaurant

Two locations on the beach, the same great menu. One is located at 4920 Thomas Dr. (Near St Andrews State Park), 850-234-8686; the other is located at 473 Bechrich Rd. (In Shoppes at Edgewater), 850-233-6033. Both serve a great menu of Steaks, Fish, Seafood, Carribbean & Cajun Cusine, and Salads.

Pineapple Willy's Restaurant

This is a fun place to be when you are serious about being ON the beach. There is an inside restaurant, a beachfront pier bar, and a sports bar with a whole lot of TVs. Pineapple Willy's claims to be the original home of the famous Jack Daniel's BBQ Ribs. They are located directly on the beach at the original Panama City beach "Pier 99" built in 1935. Willy's also features a sports bar inside on big TVs and projector screens. They have something for everyone including seafood, prime rib, salads, sandwiches, and a kids menu. Located at 9875 Thomas Dr., Panama City Beach, FL 32417, 850-235-1225

Saltwater Grill

This "dinner only" restaurant is truly unique in that it offers a panoramic view of a seven foot high, 25,000-gallon tropical saltwater aquarium. Both the Café Dining Room and Mermaid Room Piano Bar offer dazzling views of this tropical reef and its nonstop parade of exotic sea creatures. It's located on Middle Beach Road, also known as Hutchison Blvd, Panama City Beach, FL.

Schooner's Last Local Beach Club

Schooners, the Last Local Beach Club, is open 7 days a week from 11 in the morning till the wee hours of the night.  You can enjoy a delicious lunch on the beachfront deck - awesome any time of the year. Dinner is accompanied by some terrific bands on stage in front of a great dance floor.  You must experience at least one amazing sunset at Schooners!  Every day at sunset, they fire off the cannon... right on the beach facing the Gulf of Mexico! 5121 Gulf Dr., Panama City Beach, FL 32408, 850-235-3555

The Spicy Noodle Restaurant

Spicy Noodle serves Italian "Comfort Food with Attitude" and they are renowned for homemade bread, made from scratch daily and served with a signature olive oil dipping sauce. They are a "Kid Friendly" restaurant, with a separate menu for children 10 and under. Open daily 11 AM-9:30 PM. Located on the West End of the Beach on Hwy. 98, just west of Carillon Beach and the Phillips Inlet Bridge. 13667 Back Beach Rd. 850-231-0955

Pier Park

The newest mega attraction on Panama City Beach is Pier Park, a retail shopping extravaganza with some great places to eat!  Beginning with a steaming cup of coffee at Starbucks for breakfast, followed by juicy burgers and fries at 5 Guys Famous Burgers and Fries and ice cream at The Marble Slab Creamery, then on to a casual dinner at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville - this place has it all located at the Panama City Beach Pier between Front Beach Road and Panama City Parkway (Hwy 98).  

Smokin' Butts BBQ

If you're driving down Hwy 79 South from Enterprise, Alabama, you'll come right through the little town of Vernon, FL. If you're starving and can't wait til you get to the beach for lunch, stop for a pork BBQ sandwich and a glass of sweet tea!

You can't miss their signs right on Hwy 79!

THIS IS WHY YOU LOVE TO COME TO PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLORIDA!!

JAN EVETT, BROKER ASSOCIATE, CENTURY 21 RYAN REALTY, PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLORIDA