#32 of 199 Destin Restaurants

The Ruby Slipper

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Ruby Slipper Café – Kick Off Your Destin Adventures with Brunch to Remember
Local Expert's Rating:
4.5 / 5
The Bottom Line:

Before you go enjoy all Destin has to offer, start your day off right with a visit to Ruby Slipper Café. Conveniently set along the Emerald Coast Parkway, this eatery proudly takes all the breakfast classics to the next level. Then, they serve them up with a side of New Orleans hospitality.  

- The FloridaPanhandle.com Local Expert Team

At the Ruby Slipper Café, they’re all about that brunch life, and they’re happy to welcome you through the doors to join in on the fun. Their Destin location on the Emerald Coast Parkway makes it easy to fuel up for all your adventures, too. All you have to do is walk through the doors and wait for a table to open up. As soon as that happens, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying true deliciousness.

Upon walking through the doors of the Ruby Slipper, you’ll usually find the place packed, especially in the early morning. Guests can’t help but gobble down their meals quickly, however, so you won’t have that long of a wait. That’s good because you cannot make reservations—not even for large groups. The closest you can come to reserving a table is by going to their website and putting your name on their online waitlist.   

As soon as your table at the Ruby Slipper is ready, your server will lead you through the diner-style eatery to your seat. You’ll then get an invitation to order drinks and an appetizer to kickstart your dining experience. They always have Nola-style coffee, orange juice, and other classic beverages available. But if you want to elevate your meal even more, turn your attention to their handcrafted cocktails instead. Their Ruby Mimosa, Peach Bellini, or other popular drinks never fail to delight with their bright, bold flavors in every sip.  

As you savor your starter and drinks, take your time pouring over the menu. Their offerings go on and on, ranging from ultra-sweet French Toast bites to luscious and savory Smoked Salmon Bennies. If you want something truly special, go with their Biscuits & Gravy, for sure. Their crew makes the dough from scratch and then keeps biscuits rolling out of the oven all day long. Nearly 40,000 biscuits a week land on their customers’ plates, making them a must-try experience at least once. 

No matter what you order at the Ruby Slipper, you can count on getting scratch-made food good enough to call home about. All their items are made to order using the freshest ingredients and time-honored recipes you’re sure to love.

Their most popular items are:

Pig Candy Bacon Bites
If you love sweet and savory flavors, don’t hesitate to begin your meal with the Pig Candy Bacon Bites. As the name implies, these little morsels feature Applewood-smoked bacon pieces enrobed in a sugary candy glaze. Do yourself a favor and make it two orders for the table because no one is going to want to share.

The Trifecta
When you simply cannot choose between their eight flavors of Bennies, go with The Trifecta. Upon doing that, you’ll get one each of their Eggs Cochon, Bayou Shrimp, and Chicken St. Charles benedicts. Each one gives you more than a taste of its flavorful hollandaise sauce, making it a great choice whenever you come into the Ruby Slipper.

Stuffed French Toast
Whenever you’re in the mood for sweetness galore, the Stuffed French Toast promises to satisfy all your cravings. This dish starts with brioche bread sliced thick and cuts through the middle to create a pocket. In that space, the chef adds the featured filling of the day, dips the bread in the batter, and then fries it until golden brown. Applewood-smoked bacon comes alongside to bring all the flavors together in an instant.

If you’re planning a big bash, think about getting catering services. Wow, all your guests with brunch favorites including their ever-popular Pancake Breakfast. You just have to let them know if you’d like your meals brought to your venue or if you’d prefer to rent out the restaurant after-hours. Either way, expect all the tasty foods and beverages to make your party the talk of the town forevermore.

Insider Tips:
-Before putting in your order at Ruby Slipper, flip through to their seasonal specials to see what’s on tap for a limited time.
-For a taste of all their bright Mimosa flavors, ask to get the flight instead of a single glass.
-Skip the alcohol while still enjoying refreshing cocktail flavors by ordering a mocktail instead.