Best seafood in Miramar Beach/Destin area (restaurants, price)

[mannyp02]

We're staying in Miramar beach for the week and want to go out for some great, fresh seafood, specifically chargrilled oysters, crab legs and scallops. We've seen lots of places that look good but we're traveling with an 11 month old; we're only gonna be able to get one or two dinners out so want to make sure we make good selections lol any recommendations are greatly appreciated. TIA

[slduvall]

Well, most locals don't eat oysters in the summer...unless they are shipped in from somewhere else. The water is too warm. Scallops this time of year are coming from elsewhere too. Local scallop season and by local I mean over in Gulf County (there is no local scalloping) hasn't started yet. If you are ordering crab legs and expecting the big long ones, they would most likely be frozen. Local crabs don't have big legs. You can get amazing crab claws around here.

OK...all that being said you can get great grouper and other local fish as well a shrimp just about anywhere. Getting into those restaurants is tough. My favorites are Boschamps in Destin, Dewey Destin's and for super casual but decent food the Surf hut.

Places like the Crap Trap, Pompano Joes and the Whales tail along Scenic Gulf Drive are so, so crowded and overpriced. And parking is horrible.

[jbb303]

I like Captain Dave's (it's in Mirimar) and Dewey Destin's. We're trying Boshamps for the first time on our trip in a couple of weeks. Add AJ's and Back Porch to the avoid list mentioned above. Whales Tail is good for a quick burger and a fruity drink if you're on the beach close by, but I've never tried their seafood. The thing I've found with seafood in Destin is that it's all pretty similar. The only bad experience I've had was at the Shrimp Basket. Long wait, slow service, it is a little cheaper, but you get what you pay for in quality.