Gulf Shores restaurants/activities help...

[CadaverDawg]

[SUB]I know there have been threads on this topic, but it's always good to get a fresh list in case any new restaurants have opened or certain ones have turned ******.

I'll be down there with a large group of family (all ages) next month, and was hoping for some good restaurant and activity suggestions. Looking for suggestions on food, in-shore fishing charters, mini golf places, other recommended activities. Any of you tried things like Pontoon rentals, jet skis, dolphin cruises, etc? Are they fun/worth it? I'd love to be able to steer the group towards some of the better options so I don't end up putting a whiffle golf ball down a rotten piece of green ply wood with a plastic putter next to a scum filled gold fish pond for our activities.*

Thanks in advance![/SUB]

 

[57stratdawg]

I'm posting this with my toes in the Gulf Shores sand. Had dinner at Doc's seafood the other night. It was good. Always try to do Mikee's seafood too. It's always been solid. I saw a Beach and BBQ place that looked solid, haven't been there yet though.

It's pretty crowded down here. Weather is beautiful today though. Looks good through the weekend too.

 

[civildawg88]

cosmo's and get their red fish

 

[MaroonNation]

Any resturant not named Shrimp Basket is overpriced and over rated.

 

[CadaverDawg]

I'm posting this with my toes in the Gulf Shores sand. Had dinner at Doc's seafood the other night. It was good. Always try to do Mikee's seafood too. It's always been solid. I saw a Beach and BBQ place that looked solid, haven't been there yet though.

It's pretty crowded down here. Weather is beautiful today though. Looks good through the weekend too.

Nice! What's the water look like?

 

[Lawdawg.sixpack]

Adventure Island, the Track, or the pirate-themed place across from the track for putt-putt and go-karts. All solid, I believe. Don't do putt-putt at the Wharf, unless you just have to kill some time there.

For jet-skis, ride to Orange Beach and rent at either Zeke's or San-roc Cay (both on the bay). I'm sure you can call ahead and get a reservation.

 

[57stratdawg]

Seen better, seen worse. 6/10.

 

[Apoplectic_Objurgator]

[SUB]I know there have been threads on this topic, but it's always good to get a fresh list in case any new restaurants have opened or certain ones have turned ******.

I'll be down there with a large group of family (all ages) next month, and was hoping for some good restaurant and activity suggestions. Looking for suggestions on food, in-shore fishing charters, mini golf places, other recommended activities. Any of you tried things like Pontoon rentals, jet skis, dolphin cruises, etc? Are they fun/worth it? I'd love to be able to steer the group towards some of the better options so I don't end up putting a whiffle golf ball down a rotten piece of green ply wood with a plastic putter next to a scum filled gold fish pond for our activities.*

Thanks in advance![/SUB]

Drive to Pensacola

 

[Dawg1976]

I like Cosmo's and it's sister restaurant Cobalt's. Shipps Harbor Grill is good too. All will be busy. Better go early or late. Oh yes, one other I like is Fisher's at the Orange Beach Marina.

 

[rem101]

Big Fish is the best restaurant in Orange Beach. Cobalt 2nd. But Cobalt has better view since Big Fish is in a shopping center.

 

[whosyourdawgy]

Just got back to work. We tried a hole in the wall place under the bridge at Perdido called Fishermans Corner. Gotta Cajun themed menu of seafood. It was very good. I was burnt out on seafood and went with filet and it was pretty damn good. Cobalt is an excellent choice as is Big Fish. There is a place on down from Doc's called Cayman Grill that is really good too.

 

[coach66]

Good for you, headed down there the 16th, enjoy.

Nm

 

[CadaverDawg]

Nm

Thanks you too, man. Hopefully we'll get some good weather and clear water. That's all we really need right.

 

[jdbulldog]

Wolf Bay Lodge is very good. There are two, and our favorite is the one north from the beach...near Lambert's.

 

[ronpolk]

Thanks you too, man. Hopefully we'll get some good weather and clear water. That's all we really need right.

If you're concerned about clear water then you need to drive another hour or so.

 

[Rushisaband]

Big Fish is by far the best! Then Cosmos! Shrimp Basket doesn't even use local seafood so stay away! Cobalt is also very good! Can't go wrong with The Track but it will be crowded!!! Go to Brick and Spoon for breakfast! You are welcome!!!

 

[dickiedawg]

DO NOT miss Desoto's seafood kitchen for lunch.
We've been the last 3 years and didn't go there until this year. We won't miss it again.

My Father In Law's favorite place is Tin Top in Bon Secour. It's a little bit of a drive, but it's upscale food in laid back atmosphere and just quality all the way around.
They've got a nice patio we always sit out on but we've only been in early or late season so it may be unbearable in July.

Another recommendation for Doc's, they say their fried shrimp is the best in the civilized world and I don't dispute it.

We also try to find a day for the outlet malls in Foley and hopefully Lambert's Cafe, but if it's a short trip I wouldn't sacrifice a beach day.

 

[dickiedawg]

Big Fish is by far the best! Then Cosmos! Shrimp Basket doesn't even use local seafood so stay away! Cobalt is also very good! Can't go wrong with The Track but it will be crowded!!! Go to Brick and Spoon for breakfast! You are welcome!!!

Brick and Spoon is a great rec for breakfast, too. I so wish Starkville had a similar place and I think it would kill it.

 

[57stratdawg]

No doubt. It's legit. Better than Another Broken Egg, IMO.

 

[Dawgbite]

Been in OB since the middle of last week and riding home as I type, wife shouldn't have offered to drive. We ate at a couple of new places, Luna's which is next to Cosmos , same guy, is what I would call fancy comfort food. Highly recommend the Mac and cheese with blackened chicken or shrimp. Great beer selection also. Our new favorite place for casual food is the Anchor Bar about two miles past Docs on Canal, take a right past the fire station. It's the same owner as the Brick and Spoon. Great burger and the Briscuit Tater Tots belongs in a IMPP thread! The tourist haven't found this place yet so keep it quiet, small inside but big deck overlooking the bay.

 

[Dawg1976]

For breakfast I like Ducks Diner the best.

http://www.ducksdiner.com/

 

[Dawgbite]

On a related note, ate lunch at Shipps today and an Ole Miss grad noticed my State phone cover laying on the table right before he asked if I wanted fries or slaw with my shrimp poboy. It's the small things in life......

 

[was21]

second that

 

[nsvltndog]

If you are in a condo and have a kitchen with a stock pot I would highly recommend driving over to Bon Secour to buy a bunch of royal red shrimp at Billy's Seafood or another one of the dockside seafood markets there. You'll likely be tempted to supplement your order with other great seafood that you see while you are there. You can get the Royal Red's at Blalock's in Orange Beach and likely similar places in Gulf Shores for about twice the price. Those Royal Reds are really good eating - kind of a shrimp equivalent of lobster - and extremely easy to cook yourself.

 

[coach66]

That's what makes the world go round.

Im ready ready

 

[Digging dog]

Good info here. Thanks. Heading down in 2 weeks.

 

[wdawg44]

Heading to OB on the 16th. I always make a trip to Joe Patti's and load up on seafood then the Greek market across the street for some feta and good cheap olive oil. I'm gonna have to check out Bon Secour.

 

[MaroonNation]

Shrimp Basket doesn't even use local seafood so stay away! !!

I would venture to guess that most of the places listed in this thread do not as well.

 

[CadaverDawg]

Thanks for all the useful info in this thread.

Does anybody have any recommendations on a good entree at The Gulf? I know we're going there to eat one evening. I've heard it's pretty good

 

[Dawgbite]

Thanks for all the useful info in this thread.

Does anybody have any recommendations on a good entree at The Gulf? I know we're going there to eat one evening. I've heard it's pretty good

We have tried it several times and have yet to have a good meal. It's a cool place to have a beer and watch the boats coming back through the pass but the food isn't special. Others may have had a better experience but I won't be giving them any more of my money on food.

 

[nsvltndog]

Think of The Gulf as kind of like eating at a Chipotle on the Beach. The menu has more than Chipotle, but that was how I felt about it. You can get burgers, fried grouper sandwiches, taco bar, etc. I've never had anything bad there, but you really don't go for the food. My main staple there is typically the grouper sandwich.

The area back behind it where you sit and eat is a great atmosphere along the beach and certainly kid friendly. Make sure you go after the sun goes down b/c you will be sitting outside. I think your group will enjoy the evening as long as you aren't expecting world class dining.

One restaurant I haven't seen listed is Bravo Tacos in Orange Beach. It's at the corner of Canal Road and 161. It's a great place to pick up lunch - traditional tacos for the kids and more interesting fish and shrimp tacos for the rest of the crew. Nothing overly fancy, but good eating if the crew is ready for something besides seafood one day.

 

[MaroonNation]

As far as things to do I haven't seen one person mention the Naval Air Museum at Pensacola Naval Air Base. That is the premiere thing to do if you are in Gulf Shores. And it's free. It's a 20 minute drive from Gulf Shores. It is the best air museum in the world in my opinion and I have been to several in multiple countries.

 

[klong-dog]

*Mikee's
*Doc's... both locations, prefer the bigger one on 59 though.
*Shrimp basket

 

[512taylor]

Naval Air Museum in Pensacola

 

[rem101]

Take the older ones (21+) to flora bama either Friday or Saturday at 530 for Big Earl. He'll be in the bama-dome. Music, crude humor and bushwackers is hard to beat.

 

[Wooly17er]

I've seen news reports lately that make me think that part of the Gulf of Mexico has turned into a literal turd bucket.

 

[fishwater99]

Been to Billy's, it's worth the drive..

 

[kired]

We'll be down in a couple of weeks and I'm planning on driving over to Pensacola on the 24th to watch the Blue Wahoos vs Biloxi Shuckers --- maybe see Woodruff or Evan Mitchell pitch. But I'm mostly just taking the kids to watch baseball and fireworks afterwards.

I've never tried it since my kids are too little, but I've heard the ziplines in OB are awesome.

 

[Coast Dawg]

for kids

Was down there last month and heard about this thing at The Hangout for our 5 year old. Good for young kids http://thehangout.com/assets/2016/05/Pirates-and-Princess-Menu.pdf

They do another thing at the Hangout where they turn an area on the west side into an entire wall of soap suds. blowing thick bubbles out of these tubes fills the outdoor area with 3ft+ of bubbles/suds. kids loved it but be prepared to clean up before getting back in your car... we had a change of clothes.

This was my first time eating lunch lunch there (we caught the very end of the breakfast P&P thing) and I was expecting it to be a total tourist trap type food but the seafood was actually good.

If you want a good fresh red snapper meal, try the Fish Trax basket at LuLu's. I had it in May and it was really good.

I've seen Doc's mentioned several times and I know people that swear by it. I'm not impressed with their fried seafood at all. thick batter that comes out heavy and greasy. The place is almost always crowded but I cannot see why based on the food