The restaurant scene at Panama City Beach grows once more with the opening of The Rusty Grill in 2022. This family-friendly dining spot has coastal and Southern cuisine on its varied menu to appeal to everyone.
The unusual name and the dining spot’s history both come from its owner, Rusty Enfinger. He wanted to create a place for dining where everyone, young and old, could come and have a good meal and a great time. After months of planning and preparation, The Rusty Grill opened weeks ahead of schedule.
When you enter, you’ll feel like you’ve gone into a cool mechanic’s garage. Inside the metal trim, old traffic lights, and vintage oil advertisements enhance the feeling. Seating in the restaurant includes counter seats, indoor tables, or outdoor tables on the patio. The deck has a covering to protect diners from direct sun and rain while allowing fresh breezes from the nearby beach to blow in. Both the patio and interior of the restaurant have several TVs lining the walls. Plan to stop by here when you want to watch live sporting events with other enthusiasts.
The menu has a good variety and includes options for almost everyone. Kids can choose from selections on the children’s menu. Meatless options on the main menu, such as the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich, appeal to those who have special diets. The special appetizers also are hearty enough for a meal. You’ll find loaded waffle potato fries, spinach artichoke dip, Rusty’s wings, and fried pickles on the appetizer menu. These dishes are ideal for sharing with your table or to nosh on while watching a sporting event on one of the TVs.
Options on the menu celebrate the best of coastal and Southern cuisine. For example, you’ll find fried pies and fried seafood, both of which are popular throughout the South. Chicken baskets, fish tacos, burgers, and salads round out the menu options.
Most foods at The Rusty Grill come from in-house seasoning blends and recipes, so you won’t find the same flavors anywhere else.
When you visit, try one of the following superstar dishes from The Rusty Grill menu:
Fried Pies
Fried pies add an extra layer of decadence to a standard pie. Those at The Rusty Grill appear on the dessert menu and are a great way to finish off your meal. Make sure to save room for these tasty treats. Fried pie flavors include apple, coconut, peach, cherry, and chocolate.
Ice Cream Floats
Nothing cools you off from the Florida heat quite like an ice cream treat. The Rusty Grill offers ice cream floats made with Coca-Cola brand sodas and chocolate or vanilla ice creams. These old-fashioned treats are the perfect end to a hearty meal.
C-Mac’s Burger
If you like your burger all the way with extra toppings, order a C-Mac’s Burger at The Rusty Grill. This burger comes with all the standard trimmings. Plus, you get a fried egg, bacon, and a house-special C-Mac sauce. This burger will keep you going all day long.
Fried Shrimp Basket
Of course, when you visit Panama City Beach, you must have some of the tasty seafood dishes, and fried shrimp is a staple along the coasts of the South. The Fried Shrimp Basket at The Rusty Grill is a satisfying, simple meal that comes with six big fried shrimp, two hush puppies, a side, and a drink for one low price. If you’ve never tried hush puppies, they are small balls of fried cornbread dough that are perfect flavorful additions to any fried seafood plate. Sides include Southern macaroni and cheese, green beans, fresh vegetables, salad, mashed potatoes, or fries. You can also order hush puppies as a side dish or add them to any meal that comes with a side.
When you want a family-friendly restaurant with satisfying burgers, coastal cuisine, and Southern food, stop by The Rusty Grill in Panama City Beach.
Insider Tips:
-Keep coming back to The Rusty Grill. The owners will expand the menu in the coming months, so you’ll enjoy more options.
-To keep the restaurant family-friendly, they do not serve any alcohol.