Moved from Miami to Port St. Joe in 2005, Provisions provides some of the tastiest and most eclectic dining on the Forgotten Coast. The slightly upscale ambiance and warm service complement the wide-ranging, flavor-forward menu.
From the exposed brick to the intimate lighting, Provisions has a great, semi-fancy vibe with a more casual dress code and friendlier prices than an all-out fine-dining joint. This is a great place for a date, though the ambiance works just fine for family meals.
Cuisine-wise, Provisions emphasizes seafood while drawing inspiration from global cookery. Some of the stars of the show are the pasta dishes, including the popular Betty Spaghetti and one lusciously creamy Shrimp Carbonara. Sandwich-style options range from a knockout take on a Cuban—the Miami Vice, with roasted Mojo Pork combined with ham, pickles, and Swiss cheese—to Mahi-Mahi Tacos primed with chipotle aioli. Entrees include various steak plates (including the zesty Chimichurri Steak) to Snapper Picatta and Shrimp Scampi.
Provisions serves both basic house salads and more dressed-up roughage such as the Mediterranean Chop Chop Salad and the Tom Tom’s Thai Chicken Salad. Among the highlights on the appetizer menu are the Tomato Basil Bruschetta, Antonio’s Mussels, and the semi-decadent Goat Cheese Marinara Fondue.
For beverages, you’ve got a nice selection of wines, cocktails, and beers to choose from, plus non-alcoholic options such as soda, tea, and lemonade.
Don’t miss the Provisions Happy Hour from 3 to 6 PM, which offers both drink and starter specials that, together, can make for a happy time indeed.
Besides its restaurant, incidentally, Provisions also offers catering from Mexico Beach to St. George Island for events large and small.
Here’s a closer look at some of the real winners on the Provisions Restaurant & Catering menu:
St. Joe Sauté
A standout on the Provisions pasta menu, the St. Joe Sauté tops spinach fettuccine with shrimp, scallops, artichoke hearts, and Portabella mushrooms that have come sautéed in a sun-dried tomato/herb buerre blanc, everything finished off with crumbles of goat cheese.
Thai Angel
This pasta dish more than holds its own with the St. Joe Sauté, serving up wok-seared Asian-style chicken with thin-sliced carrots, scallions, and cabbage on angel hair in a delicious Thai peanut sauce.
Long Board Betty Burger
Sometimes the day calls for nothing more complicated than a burger, and Provisions makes a good one: a juicy Angus patty accoutered with caramelized onions.
Saint Joe Bouillabaisse
The shores of St. Joseph Bay are as good as any a place to tuck into a seafood celebration, and that’s just what this Provisions take on the seafood stew of Southern France is: richly endowed with shrimp, mussels, scallops, and snapper, presented with red potatoes in a saffron-tomato broth.
Whether lunch, dinner, or that enticing happy hour in between, you’re likely to come away from Provisions with a smile and a happily full belly.
Insider Tip:
If you’re feeling like a lighter (and slightly cheaper) meal, you can order the pasta dishes as well as the bouillabaisse in “petite” portion.