#168 of 198 Destin Restaurants

Buffalo’s Reef

Buffalo's Reef - Family-Friendly Wing and Burger Joint
Local Expert's Rating:
4 / 5
The Bottom Line:

Buffalo's Reef serves up wings and other all-American comfort food in a casual, down-home atmosphere. Expect hot, fresh food, a family-friendly atmosphere, and a decent beer menu to round out the meal. 

- The FloridaPanhandle.com Local Expert Team

It’s hard to beat a really good platter of wings and curly fries, and Buffalo’s Reef serves ’em up fresh and hot day in and day out. Don’t expect much from the looks of the place; when you pull up, the tin-roofed building doesn’t necessarily make you think you’re in for the meal of your vacation. But the food speaks for itself. Guests rave about the wings, which are among the largest in town, and the burgers, fries, and other kid-friendly favorites make this one of the most popular family restaurants in Fort Walton Beach. 

Expect a welcoming, casual atmosphere at Buffalo’s Reef. It’s a great place to grab a cold beer and some deep-fried comfort food. This is a great alternative to the big-name wing restaurants, and it’s been a local favorite for years. Prices are on par with other area restaurants, and you’ll find a good variety of sauces on the menu, along with house-made blue cheese dressing. Buffalo’s Reef has a good variety of beer available to pair with your meal and a variety of kid-friendly favorites–from boneless wings to chicken tenders and smiley fries. 

Some of our menu favorites include: 

Wings 
Of course, wings are going to top the list at a restaurant known for its wings. Choose from traditional or boneless wings, and you can expect that each one will be tender, juicy, flavorful, and oversized. Wings are available in quantities of 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, or 100. They also come with several sauces ranging from mild to spicy. 

The Combo Basket 
Can’t decide what you want from Buffalo’s Reef menu? The combo basket features wings, fried shrimp, and chicken tenders. It is served with your choice of potato salad, mac salad, or cole slaw. 

The Jalapeño Burger
All the burgers on the menu are solid options. Although, one fan favorite is the jalapeno burger, featuring sliced jalepeños, pepper jack cheese, and French fried onions. It’s hard to beat the flavor combo, especially given the quality of the all-beef patty. 

Grilled Chicken Salad
Most menu items at Buffalo’s Reef are deep-fried, but there are a few exceptions. The grilled chicken salad gives you a lighter meal that doesn’t skimp on flavor. The grilled chicken fillet is tender, flavorful, and juicy. Additionally, it tops a fresh tossed salad complete with tomato, lettuce, onion, green peppers, sprouts, cucumbers, and croutons, along with your choice of dressing. 

The kids’ menu is also very reasonably priced and well-rounded. Featuring burgers, mac and cheese, fries, chicken tenders, and corn dogs topping the list. There’s something at Buffalo’s Reef for everyone in the family. It’s a no-brainer when you have a large group to please. 

Location
Buffalo’s Reef is located in Fort Walton Beach, just off Eglin Parkway Northeast across from the Ross Dress for Less. It’s easily accessible from practically anywhere in Fort Walton Beach, including most of the main hotels. Parking can be a bit tight, especially during peak times, but it’s not usually too hard to find a spot. 

Insider Tips:
-Wings are cooked to order, so expect to wait 20-30 minutes for your meal to come out. The wait is well worth it. 
-Ask for outdoor seating if the weather is nice. You’ll enjoy fresh ocean breezes and a view along with your meal.