10 Places Where Locals Love to Eat in Destin

The Donut Hole is lauded by both locals and visitors, and for good reason. The longstanding Destin staple with a handful of locations has been serving up all-day breakfast, entrees and bakery items for years, to rave reviews. Of course, the doughnuts are the main attraction. Make your selection from the glass case and devour them alongside your dinner, or grab them in a white paper bag to go.

You’ll find all the doughnut classics, such as maple and chocolate glazed, and with strawberry and blueberry filling. If you plan to stop by for a full breakfast, be sure to arrive early; the lines can start as early as 8 am.

The Dewey Destin’s brand encompasses a handful of restaurants, most dedicated to fresh Florida seafood. It makes sense, given the Destin family’s long success in the fishing industry. And if you think the name is a mere coincidence, think again; Dewey’s great-great-grandfather founded Destin in 1835.

The original location is a simple shack on the water, but the flavours are anything but ordinary. Place your order at the window and take an outdoor seat overlooking the harbour. The small menu includes tantalising options such as fried gulf shrimp, steamed snow crab legs, grilled sea scallops and key lime pie.

Walk into Harry T’s Lighthouse, and the décor will probably be the first thing that’ll catch your eye. The walls are filled with circus and sports memorabilia. But the focus isn’t just on the casual eatery’s fun vibe; the seafood menu will soon take up all your attention.

Choose from fresh favourites like grouper and snapper, both served with risotto, or stuffed shrimp wrapped in bacon. If there’s someone in your party who doesn’t enjoy seafood, however, they can rest easy, and choose from the standard American fare, including burgers and salads.

While it might seem unusual, locals claim McGuire’s Irish Pub is the place to go for pub food in the area. It offers authentic Irish cuisine like what you’d find in any Irish neighbourhood in the Northeast.

The menu features corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie, fish and chips and other delicacies you’d expect from an Irish joint. You can even find New York cheesecake and Yankee pot roast on the menu. And don’t forget the Irish cocktails, ales and, of course, Guinness.

Brotula’s Seafood House is a casual, family-friendly and locally-owned eatery that specialises in local flavours and an awesome brunch menu. The name “brotula” even refers to a delicacy, the bearded brotula, or cusk eel, that’s considered a “best kept” secret among the locals.

The dinner menu includes lots of fresh Gulf of Mexico seafood, such as gulf grouper with orzo and baby shrimp, and blackened red snapper with creamy grits. There’s also some New Southern cuisine, for classics with a twist, like the country meatloaf that features a blend of beef, pork and veal, covered with mushroom gravy and served alongside mashed potatoes and southern collard greens.

Louisiana Lagniappe is the place to go if it’s creole cuisine you crave while in Destin. For more than 30 years, this restaurant has served up Gulf-caught seafood with a creole twist, in an upscale environment that’s good for both date nights and family events, paired with beautiful views of the waterfront.

Menu favourites include the classic jambalaya, grouper louisianne and barbecue jumbo shrimp – all served with homemade hushpuppies, twice-baked potatoes and salads. Celiacs and health-conscious diners aren’t left out of the fun as the restaurant offers an extensive gluten-free menu and even a healthy kids’ menu.

Jackacuda’s Seafood & Sushi departs from the standard Floridian seafood fare and offers a more Asian style of seafood, though the restaurant still incorporates the local catches. Think sushi rolls, poke bowls, fried rice and ramen.

For travellers who’ve been to several seafood spots around the area and are tiring when it comes to fried and grilled fish, this is the place to go. For those who aren’t a fan of fish at all, the dinner menu also offers southern-style macaroni and cheese, steak and even pork chops.

To Destin locals, Mimmo’s is the place to go for authentic, high-end Italian cuisine. One of the most in-demand restaurants in the area, the classy and modern atmosphere is suitable for date nights, or an evening out with friends. But at the same time, it’s not too stuffy that kids will feel out of place.

Try Mimmo’s famous Italian garlic rolls to start, served with a garlic butter sauce, and then move on to your selection of pasta; veal, lamb and chicken dishes; or pizza. The classic Mimmo’s pizza is topped with imported prosciutto, tomatoes, mushrooms, mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce.

Beach Walk Cafe may be located within a luxury hotel, but that certainly doesn’t stop the locals from enjoying this fine-dining restaurant. Maybe that’s because it’s the most award-winning place in the area and the only fine-dining restaurant in Florida located directly on the Gulf of Mexico.

The limited menu includes truffled marsala chicken with English pea risotto and shaved truffles, blackened diver sea scallop pasta with wild mushrooms, asparagus and red peppers, and grouper vince with crispy potato cakes and a honey Worcestershire sauce.

Callahan’s is a casual diner and deli in Destin. Locals love the low-key atmosphere and simple eats, from the classic spinach salad to the soups of the day. Choose from an array of sandwiches, hot dogs and burgers during lunchtime, or try heartier favourites in the evening, such as pasta or steak.

The restaurant offers a “cook your catch” service as well, where you can bring in a freshly caught fish and have it prepared to your liking. You can also choose your own steak from the deli case, and have it cut and cooked to your preferences.