#49 of 95 30A Restaurants

Shades Bar & Grill

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Shades Bar & Grill — Where to Go for Drinks, Food, and Fun in Inlet Beach, Florida
Local Expert's Rating:
4.5 / 5
The Bottom Line:

There’s no better place to go after a day exploring Inlet Beach than Shades Bar & Grill. They will get your energy back up with tantalizing dishes plus all the drinks you could ever want. No matter what you order, you can cozy up to the bar, grab a quiet table inside, or chill outside on the patio while you get your fill.

- The FloridaPanhandle.com Local Expert Team

Just a few blocks from the waterside at Inlet Beach, Florida, you can find Shades Bar & Grill awaiting your arrival. Although it was once a hidden treasure, it has gotten far too popular in recent years to hold that title. Thankfully, their dedication to making awesome food and drinks is still alive and well, though it could take a bit of a wait to get your fill. The weekends, in particular, are busy as all get out, especially during the tourist season.

Each time you arrive at this restaurant, you’ll get a chance to choose between their bar, indoor table, and patio seating. Once you get settled in, the menu you receive will largely depend on when you arrive. They have dedicated lunch, dinner, and late-night menus to change things up a bit each and every day. With a full-service bar onsite, you can also order up glass after glass of beer, wine, or cocktails.

All of the bartenders, waitstaff, and hosts make it their mission to make you feel right at home. They proudly transform fast friends into members of the Shades family. You can trust that they’ll learn your name, remember your favorite orders, and check in on how you’re doing with genuine interest. You might have to wait a bit for your food to arrive on their busiest days, but you can rest assured that they are doing their best to provide you with the ultimate dining experience.

Their most popular menu items include:

Volcano Shrimp
If you’re not sure what appetizer should kick off your meal, you can never go wrong with the Volcano Shrimp. They take this delicacy of the Gulf Coast and flash fry it to perfection to start things off. Then, they toss it all in a sweet and spicy sauce to remember.

Chicken Nachos
Loyal patrons cannot resist an order of their Chicken Nachos and for good reason. This appetizer starts with a huge pile of tortilla chips that are covered in queso cheese. Over that, they take it to the next level with grilled chicken black beans, pico de gallo, and lettuce.

Grouper Tacos
If you don’t want the flavors of the Gulf to end with the nachos, treat yourself to a taste of the Grouper Tacos. They expertly prepare the grouper until it’s light and flakey, then pile it inside flour tortillas. It’s finished with a generous portion of pico de gallo and shredded cabbage plus both chipotle aioli and lime and cilantro cream.

If you love this restaurant, you can make them a part of your next special event by renting their private party room. Depending on the weather, you can bring 40 to 70 people out to celebrate the occasion with great food and drinks galore. You can flip on the TVs, play round after round of cornhole, and chow down on your favorite dishes all night long. They will bring in their event menu or provide the full catering spread to best suit your wishes. You can even order custom wine and beer as long as you put in your request well ahead of time.

Insider Tips:
– If you want to save some money, consider joining the loyalty program. They offer a 5% credit on all your purchases plus triple credit during happy hour.
– Discounts abound during happy hour, which they offer Monday through Friday from 4 pm to 6 pm.
– They offer a different daily special every day of the week, so make sure to ask before you order.