There are lots of restaurants nearly all of whom offer great, fresh seafood.
On "the island" which means south of the Intercoastal Waterway, you'll find almost all local restaurants with very few chains. There is an array of chain restaurants including Longhorn, Outback, O'Charley's, Appleby's, Cracker Barrel and more as you go north toward Foley. If you are looking for something familiar, there is a Pizza Hut, a Hooters and a Waffle House in Gulf Shores. We hope, however, that you'll give some of our local restaurants a try!
This area is quite casual and you don't have to dress up to go anywhere but a few are not t-shirt and flip-flop casual!
Here are some of our favorites.
Family friendly:
Lulu's - family fun and good eats! Jimmy Buffet's sister's place!
The Hangout - family concerts and beach food
Original Oyster House - some of the best seafood on the island
DeSoto's - a local's spot for good seafood
King Neptunes - good seafood 'shack'
Tacky Jacks - now with 2 locations in Gulf Shores and 1 in Orange Beach all overlooking the water!!
Gulf Island Grill - Caribbean seafood
Sea-N-Suds - only right-on-the-beach dining!!
Live Bait - dinner and night life
West Beach:
Tequila's - downstairs at the Beachside Resort
Bahama Bob's - great burgers and seafood
The Wharf:
Rafters Sports Bar - come watch the game
Live Bait at the Wharf - great sushi and seafood
Villagio - beautiful dishes and white tablecloths
San Roc Cay:
Cafe Grazie - Italian seafood
Louisiana Lagnaippe - fine seafood dining on the water
Cosmos - on Canal Road in Orange Beach and their new sister restaurant Cobalt - which is next to Caribe Resort
The Restaurant at The Beach Club is very good and there is also an informal grill at their market. If you are staying there, you can also eat at the poolside Tiki Bar if your condo has membership (ours does)!
A little further north, we like The Tintop in Bon Secour and Jesse's in Magnolia Springs. Jesse's requests that you make a reservation. There are also some great places we can recommend along the Eastern Shore and in Fairhope.
They'll cook it for you:
Gulf Shores Seafood will steam shrimp or crawfish or do a low country boil for you (they also hand cut steaks)
Cosmo's does a great job catering and we also have an independent catering chef we recommend
A Specialty Bakery is our favorite cake bakery--beautiful and delicious for birthdays, weddings and more
