Bijoux Destin delivers a white-tablecloth, fine-dining experience in Miramar Beach just outside Destin proper. With culinary inspiration taken from the Big Easy and from the rich seafood bounty of local Gulf waters, this formal restaurant makes a fine choice for a fancy dinner out—maybe with that special somebody?—any night of the week.
Kick things off with a glass of fine wine, a cocktail, maybe one of the bar’s well-curated lineup of Scotches, and ease into a starter: Fried Green Tomatoes, maybe, or the Tuna Carpaccio, or perhaps the Blackened Brie plated up with toasted walnut bread, local honey, and pickled grapes. A New Orleans flourish among these first-course bites? The Crab Beignets, made from jumbo lump blue crab with a curry aioli and Granny Smith Apple Slaw.
The brine’s bounty is all over the menu, including among the salads: One comes with crispy, tempura-fried oysters in the starring role. But you’ve also got such entrees as Rack of Lamb, Roasted Airline Chicken, and the Cowboy Ribeye. Other dishes include Grouper Almandine, Ahi Tuna, and Gulf Shrimp and Grits.
If you’re going the full-on fine-dining route as at Bijoux Destin, you’ll want to save some room for dessert, right? That’s certainly a good strategy here, what with such offerings as bread pudding, cheesecake du jour, and housemade ice creams and sorbets.
If you want something a bit lighter, the restaurant serves artisan cheeses with local honey, fruit and nuts, and toasted bread.
We’d be remiss not pointing out the Bijoux lounge’s bar menu, which includes such small-plate delights as Angus Beef Sliders, Tempura Fried Asparagus with lobster and hollandaise, Seared Gulf Fish Cake, and Cedar Key Clams paired with prosciutto, sage, tomatoes, and grilled French bread. These come at a reduced price before 7 PM: Bijoux Destin’s take on happy hour.
Now that we’ve broadly surveyed the menu, it’s time to zoom in on a few really noteworthy dishes here at Bijoux Destin!
Lobster Spring Roll
You could come here for a libation and this killer starter alone and still likely leave raving about Bijoux Destin. The Lobster Spring Roll gets its magic from tempura-fried Maine lobster tail nestled with spicy Thai peanut sauce, wasabi aioli, and a green tea soba noodle slaw: downright heavenly!
“Black Skillet” Filet Mignon
One of the absolute starts of the Bijoux Destin menu has nothing to do with seafood: the exquisite “Black Skillet” Filet Mignon, served with buttermilk Gruyere mashed potatoes, smoked-bacon-braised kale, roasted garlic butter, and a natural jus.
Seared Diver Scallops
That said, if you are in the mood for some seafood, maybe go the shellfish route with Bijoux Destin’s Seared Diver Scallops, which you’ll enjoy alongside griddled cheddar polenta cake and charred corn salad with chimichurri and cherry tomato confit.
It’s mighty fun to spend most of your Destin-area vacation sporting beachwear, but every once in awhile the mood or a special occasion calls for something a little ritzier. Bust out some nicer duds and head for Bijoux Destin for Emerald Coast-style fine dining with some New Orleans spirit!
Insider Tip:
If you’re a regular visitor to Destin, an oenophile, and you trend toward the VIP side of things, heads up: Bijoux Destin offers a wine locker for storing specific customer favorites.