Shrimp Basket—a chain established in Alabama and now in operation throughout five states in the American Southeast—offers a wide range of unpretentious bites in Navarre likely to hit the spot for a casual meal out on the Emerald Coast.
You’ll find plenty of “turf” in this surf-and-turf hotspot, from salads, cheeseburgers, and no shortage of chicken to the classic Southern appetizers of hushpuppies, corn fritters, and red beans and rice (embellished with some grilled Conecuh sausage). But the mainstays of the Shrimp Basket menu, as the restaurant name should suggest, come with under-the-sea pedigree. That includes the signature side: shrimp slaw.
We’re also talking such extremely munch-able starters as lump crab cakes, Boom Boom Shrimp, fried crab claws, oysters on the half-shell, and a seductive Seafood Queso Dip (yours to be seduced by via the crunchy vessel of tortilla chips).
The Gulf Coast spirit runs strong through the soup end of the menu, what with the seafood gumbo (anchored by blue crab and Gulf shrimp alongside okra, bell pepper, tomatoes, and other sidekicks) and the shrimp étouffée.
The heart of the Shrimp Basket menu is—prepare to be shocked—the various fried baskets, which include everything from popcorn shrimp to crawfish, plus the primarily seafood-oriented platters and house specials.
In terms of platters, you can choose to have your shrimp, whitefish, catfish, or chicken breast grilled or blackened. The specials include some more Southern staples, including shrimp and grits and the Low Country Boil for Two, plus blackened redfish (dressed in the Shrimp Basket seafood cream sauce) and mahi-mahi (dolphinfish) tacos.
The Louisiana flourishes also include shrimp, catfish, oyster, or crawfish po’boys, which—mind you—can (and probably should) be ordered overstuffed. For dessert, meanwhile, you’ve got Key Lime pie or Funnel Cake Fries to tempt you.
There’s a full kid’s menu at Shrimp Basket very likely including something even a picky youngster will eat: from shrimp, fish, chicken strip, and grilled cheese baskets to chicken or cheese quesadillas.
Now let’s take a closer look at a few diner favorites on the menu at Navarre’s Shrimp Basket!
Hushpuppies
A deep-fried ball of batter? Sign us up! This iconic Southern side, which has its origins in indigenous North America, goes perfectly with a main course of seafood, and Shrimp Basket does the venerable tradition justice.
Stuffed Crab Basket
Speaking of hushpuppies, they show up in this swoony basket of gently fried, hand-battered crab, plus such other reinforcements as shrimp slaw, French fries, and a corn fritter.
Blackened Redfish
One of Shrimp Basket’s house specialties, this entrée presents rice-nestled blackened redfish doused in the restaurant’s shrimp-and-crab seafood cream sauce.
Low Country Boil for Two
For two or even three, in fact: Taking its cues from Carolinian and Georgian cuisine, Shrimp Basket’s Low Country Boil for Two blends seasoned, steamed, peel-and-eat shrimp with Conecuh sausage, corn, and new potatoes with a welcome side helping of shrimp slaw.
It’s not fancy-schmancy, but Shrimp Basket very often hits the spot exactly when you and a gaggle of friends or family members find your tummies growling after (or in the middle of) a beach-hopping day in Navarre.
Insider Tip:
The daily specials offer all-you-can-eat dining, so don’t be afraid to bring your appetite…