If you love the signature flavors of New Orleans and the fresh catches of Panama City Beach, you’re in luck: you’ll find both elements in abundance at the aptly-named Bayou on the Beach. This charming restaurant might not offer Panama City Beach’s best views, but it makes up for the hole-in-the-wall atmosphere with its memorably delicious meals.
Seafood dominates the Bayou on the Beach menu, but it’s little like the cuisine you’ll find elsewhere in Panama City Beach. Cajun flavors spice up a variety of dishes, delivering a much-needed dose of the bayou to the Emerald Coast.
Kids love Bayou on the Beach, in part because the eatery’s menu actually includes a decent selection. Beyond usual options such as burgers and chicken, the children’s menu also includes fried fish, popcorn shrimp, and even gator bites. What’s more, young visitors automatically receive fries and dessert.
While your kids enjoy their favorite treats, you can relax with a refreshing cocktail. The restaurant’s specialty drinks menu includes a few classics, along with unique selections you won’t quickly find elsewhere. Prices are reasonable, so feel free to order a second drink. Otherwise, you’ll also find a few red and white wines, plus several beers from local breweries.
While Bayou on the Beach’s best seafood dishes are available to-go, you’d do yourself and your loved ones a disservice by skipping out on the in-restaurant experience. The establishment has a down-home style that forces you to relax and live in the moment.
A few of our favorite menu items include the following:
Fried Boudin Balls
A true Louisiana classic, boudin balls can mark the perfect start to a memorable Bayou on the Beach experience. This mouthwatering appetizer features pork and rice boudin sausage, which is rolled and fried to perfection. A house remoulade sauce is served on the side for your dipping pleasure.
Baked Pepperjack Cheese & Bacon Oysters
Just one of several memorable oyster options served on the half shell, this recipe delivers a notable bite. Jalapeno cheese and habañero chili lend the oysters extra spice, while chopped bacon makes the dish that much more memorable. Feel free to order either a full or half-dozen.
Seafood Platter
Satisfy your strong appetite with a huge platter referred to on the restaurant’s menu as the ultimate “combo of the waters.” Get ready to eat your fill of fish, crawfish, shrimp, and oysters. Depending on your preferences, these can be grilled, blackened, or fried. On the side, enjoy hush puppies or a fried peewee roll, along with a salad and your choice of several additional sides.
Beach Burger
Not a fan of seafood? No need to worry: you’ll find several sandwiches and other dishes worth trying at Bayou on the Beach. This burger is arguably your best bet, however. It features a grilled and seasoned patty served on a toasted bun and topped with bacon and smoked gouda cheese. Additionally, like all of the restaurant’s sandwiches, this burger comes with lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles. Side options include slaw, Cajun fries, and sweet potato fries.
Creole flavors elevate the cuisine at Bayou on the Beach, where you can enjoy sizable servings of delicious seafood and Louisiana classics. Stop by to learn why Cajun is all the rage in PCB.
Insider Tips:
– If you’re short on time or hoping to enjoy your meal elsewhere, feel free to order your favorite menu items to-go. Bayou on the Beach offers convenient online ordering via GrubHub. You’re also welcome to place an order over the phone.
– Don’t forget to stop by the restaurant’s small shop, where you’ll find a wonderful selection of home decor and other specialty items. Known as the Steamers & Mercantile, this attached shop also provides selections from the steamed menu to-go, plus cookies and other sweet treats.