Uncle Buck’s Fish Bowl and Grill is the place to go in Destin, Florida, for food, drinks, and great times with friends and family. In addition to their restaurant space, they boast a billiards room and full bowling alley plus an arcade, climbing wall, bumpers cars, climbing ropes, and much more. They have a beautiful nautical theme running throughout their establishment, helping set the stage for hours of fun.
With so much to see, do, and eat, this restaurant can get really busy on both weekdays and weekends. An hour wait is not uncommon, though sometimes, it is possible to walk right in and get a table or a bowling lane. On rainy days, however, wait times can exceed four hours, so be sure to have some flexibility in your plans to account for the potential delays.
They do allow guests to order an appetizer while they wait, giving you a chance to sample their delicious dishes. Once you get a table or lane, you can dive into the rest of the menu, which is chockfull of imaginative creations. They have a little bit of everything here from pizza and burgers to catfish and alligator.
A look at their most popular dishes:
World Famous Islamorada Sandwich
The World Famous Islamorada Sandwich starts with a fillet of delicious redfish, grilled or fried to your liking. Upon placing the fillet on a bun, they pile it high with sautéed onions and American cheese. Then, they serve it up with French fries or house greens. You can opt for the gluten-free bun if you prefer. Alternative sides are available as well, including onion rings.
Wild Boar Burger
When you order the Wild Boar Burger, you are treated to something a little bit different and completely out of this world. The rich boar patty provides amazing flavor that pairs well with the bacon, pepper jack cheese, and jalapenos piled on top. Their signature sauce takes the flavor profile to the next level while the lettuce and tomato finish things off nicely.
Crab Cake Sandwich
As if crab cakes are not enough on their own, this restaurant serves them up on a bun with all the fixings. The crab cakes boast amazing flavor on their own, which is further elevated by their house-made tartar sauce. A little bit of tomato and lettuce atop their creation builds out the flavors, even more, creating a truly phenomenal dish. Gluten-free buns are available as well, though the crab cakes likely contain wheat.
Uncle Buck’s Fish and Chips
It does not get much better than classic beer-battered fish and chips and Uncle Buck’s definitely does not disappoint. They always use fresh cod cooked to a perfectly flakey finish for this amazing dish. Their beer batter is flavorful and crunchy to the last bite. Their fries are just as phenomenal, beautifully complimenting the fish. Tartar sauce rounds out this meal and elevates all the flavors in amazing ways.
Philly Cheese Steak Pizza
Uncle Buck’s has all the timeless pizza topping favorites on tap, but it is their Philly Cheese Steak Pizza that really takes the cake. Topped with flat iron steak, red onions, and green peppers, this pizza delights the senses with every bite. The alfredo sauce provides the cheesy kick everyone loves and perfectly balances the taste profile of this pizza.
Whether you are bowling, playing billiards, or just hanging out around the table, you can order whatever pleases your palate whenever you want. Your servers will bring it out to you when it is ready and top off your drinks as much as you please.
Insider Tips:
– When bowling with kids, ask for the bumpers to activate on their turns. The bumpers rise for the little ones and go back down for everyone else, keeping your whole group on the same lane.
– If all the bowling lanes are full, ask to be put on the waiting list to quickly secure your spot.
– Despite their online advertisements, this location does not have a large saltwater aquarium filled with ocean creatures.