98 Bar-B-Que cooks up some of the best-tasting barbecue and gumbo in the Destin area. The Seeling family has been in the Emerald Coast’s foodservice industry for three and four generations, and they know how to do barbecue well. With multiple People’s Choice Awards to its credit, this cookhouse is the place to go when you have a hankerin’ for some meat.
The meats at 98 Bar-B-Que run the standard barbecue gamut. There’s pulled pork, pulled chicken, beef brisket, smoked sausage and ribs, and everyone comes slathered in mouth-watering sauce. Go with your favorite, or get the Combo Platter if you can’t quite settle on just one. Sandwiches are also available for lunchtime or if you’d prefer a slightly smaller meal.
The meats are accompanied by a solid array of appetizers (five), salads (four), desserts (two puddings) and sides (nine). These all tend toward the Southern and New Orleans styles of cooking, but there’s enough variety that everyone can find something to their liking.
In particular, don’t pass up on a chance to try the gumbo. It specifically is one of the house’s award-winning dishes, and a cup is a perfect complement to some down-home barbecue. (Get a bowl only if you’re really hungry, for those platters of meat are large).
Drink options include sodas, lemonade, Gatorade, draft and bottled beer, and house and premium wine. A Kids Corner offers six kid meals that come with an entree and fries for $6.95. Prices for adult meals range from $9.50 to $12.00 for sandwiches and $15.50 to $17.50 for most plates.
When you’re in the mood for some meat, 98 Bar-B-Que is where the locals advise you to go. Stop in for a fully slathered meal, and you’ll undoubtedly see why this place is so popular.
A few of our favorite menu items at 98 Bar-B-Que include:
Gumbo
The Peoples Choice for the 2009 Great Southern Gumbo Cook-Off, this is as authentic and tasty as the dish gets. Order a cup no matter what else you’re getting. Go for the full bowl only if you’re very hungry.
Pulled Pork Sandwich
A barbecue restaurant can be judged by its pulled pork, and the Pulled Pork Sandwich earns high marks. Pair it with the fried okra for a truly Southern combination, or get Cole Slaw for a more traditional duo. Either way, it’s all good.
Combo Platter
When the meat is this good, it can be hard to decide which one to get. With the Combo Platter, you don’t have to. Choose two of our favorites from the list of ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, pulled chicken, roasted chicken or barbecue chicken.
Chris Clark Salad
The menu is a bit sparse on vegetarian-friendly options, but the quality of the Chris Clark Salad more than makes up for the lack of choice. Lettuce, cabbage and carrots are topped with hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes and strawberries. Pecans and walnuts add an extra crunch.
Bread Pudding
Bread pudding is as NOLA as gumbo is, and anyplace that has award-winning gumbo is bound to have some good pudding. Order the Bread Pudding that comes with praline sauce for the perfect dessert to your meal. They say it’s large enough for two, but you won’t want to share.
Insider Tip:
– Want to catch the big game? You can still enjoy your barbecue while the action is on. There are plenty of large-screen televisions throughout the place to ensure you can see what happens.