Opened in 2017 by the couple behind Rosemary Beach’s Restaurant Paradis, Back Beach Barbecue gives Panama City Beach its own authentic barbecue joint. Even if you didn’t know about it in advance, you might find yourself drawn in by the sight and smell of the smokers in full operation.
The spread here is attractive: an indoor area with garage-style doors for appreciating the aromas from the pit, and—better yet—an outdoor patio with both covered and uncovered seating. Part of the fun is watching the pitmaster helming the wood-fired smokers while you load up on the end result.
The lunch and dinner menus here are the kind of fairly pared-down offerings you expect from a Southern barbecue joint. You can order slow-cooked meats by the pound: Texas-style brisket, pulled pork or chicken, pork spare ribs by the half or full rack, turkey breast, homemade sausage, and a half-chicken.
Or take your barbecued meat in sandwich form, served on a bun with pickles and onions on the side with the option to top the whole affair with slaw.
Any barbecue aficionado knows that an intrinsic part of this meat-focused cuisine is actually the sides, and here Back Beach Barbecue doesn’t disappoint: You’ve got mac-and-cheese, redskin potato salad, BBQ baked beans, Brisket Brunswick Stew, Carolina collards, and the aforementioned slaw to choose from in single, pint, or quart quantities.
Helping round out the Back Beach Barbecue menu are the Brisket Chili, the Loaded Potato (they aren’t lying), and a chopped salad. Pickier-eating kids have their own fare, meanwhile—from hot dogs to grilled cheese and buttered pasta.
Finish off your barbecue bounty with a slice of Key Lime Pie or a heap of banana pudding.
Cold beer’s a must—both domestic and craft brews are served—and there’s a variety of sodas and other non-alcoholic beverages available as well.
In addition to its seven-day-a-week lunch and dinner, Back Beach Barbecue also offers a breakfast menu with eggy tacos and burritos as well as biscuits, cheese grits, hash, and the like.
Let’s have a look at a few specific Back Beach Barbecue menu offerings worth a spotlight:
Texas Style Brisket
This may be the all-out champ at Back Beach Barbecue: a brisket to really rave about, whether you’re enjoying it on a bun or ordering by the pound. If this is your first visit and you’re looking to get a sense of the place—maybe you consider yourself a barbecue expert to boot and you’re skeptical—the brisket’s the way to go.
Beef Ribs
Only available on Friday and Saturday till they sell out, the beef ribs are also worth writing home about at Back Beach Barbecue.
Pulled Pork Sandwich
Back Beach Barbecue’s pulled pork sandwich is pretty much soul-satisfying, not least when piled with slaw. You can add more meat for three bucks, too…
BBQ Baked Beans
It’s hard to pick one side to spotlight—from the potato salad to the Carolina collards, they’re all pretty much on the mark—but the BBQ baked beans just about take the cake.
Sometimes the mood for barbecue strikes, and strikes hard. In Panama City Beach, now you know where to go when that craving hits!
Insider Tip:
– Back Beach Barbecue isn’t the place to go if you’re looking for fancy full-table service: This is an order-at-the-counter, seat-yourself, and bus-yourself kind of place. But really, isn’t that what you want in a barbecue joint?