Destin, FL has a lot of retirees and the Panhandle has become quite a densely packed destination for many vacationers. As such, it’s also attracted some mighty fine chefs and the money to back some exclusive and very fine restaurants to the area. Many of these focus on making dining a very romantic affair since many honeymooners take their trips to this Panhandle area of Florida. A lot of the Bay area and beyond still has some old Florida flavor and many residents have lived there for generations. Beach Walk, Marina Cafe, Criolla’s, and Cafe Thirty-A are among the best and most romantic destinations for dinner for two a couple could find anywhere.
http://www.cafethirtya.com/ Cafe Thirty-A is a beautiful Stucco building with Spanish tile roof tucked away along the romantic and scenic coastal road, 30-A, in Seagrove Beach. The road runs from the busier Highway 98 that is the central artery through Destin. This restaurant exudes the “island” atmosphere so common in many of the restaurants of the area. As a top “fishing village,” Destin didn’t really begin to see serious development until the 1960s, and seafood was incredibly delicious and fresh. It still is, only now there is an abundance of imported meat from overseas and lots of very fresh cold-water fish like salmon to add even more of a challenge to the award-winning chefs here. The airy, vaulted ceiling and soft peachy colors lend a light-hearted tone to dining at Café Thirty-A. The menu is eclectic but features excellent preparations of locally caught, fire roasted or grilled seafood and organic meats and poultry. Entrees range from around $27-$37, and the choices are really varied from Grilled, Range-Free Lamb Rack to Macadamia-Crusted Cobia. Take a look to see what a great variety they serve. They’ve won the North American Restaurant Association’s Five Star rating for excellence as well as Wine Spectator’s Award for Excellence. After dinner, take a barefoot stroll along the beach of Seagrove, just across the road, and top off a romantic evening listening to the surf lap the white sandy shore. Call (850) 231-2166, ext 1, for reservations and information.
http://www.beachwalkcafe.com/
The Beachwalk has about the most romantic location possible, right on the beachfront which practically merges with the open deck. Have coctails while you watch the soft seaoats and seagrass lean in the breezes, listen to the gulls and marvel at water that reminds one of the deep Carribean. The restaurant has won numerous top awards since its inception in 1998, and for good reason. The chef-owned restaurant in Crystal Beach has a reputation to keep up. It has. The signature tuna is a culinary work of art. The smoked tomato shrimp and the habanero shrimp display the marriage of exotic spice and freshest of seafood. The food here has a definite hint of Louisiana spice, coupled with an Asian influence in many dishes. Chef Timothy Creehan even serves another specialty, New Zealand Venison in a creamy tomato, garlic, wine and butter sauce that is like nothing else in the whole area! Beachwalk even has its own sommelier, unlike most restaurants in Destin, and the wine list has received many accolades, as has the food. Any couple dining here would experience the quintessence of a romantic evening–perfection in every detail. Make reservations by phone or by email: (850) 650-7100 and info@beachwalkcafe.com.
Criollas is the only Destin area restaurant to have received Wine Spectator’s “Best of Award of Excellence” continuously since 1999. Since 1991 it has been recognized as one of Florida’s Top Ten Best Restaurants and Johnny Earls has even been featured on Discovery Channel’s “Great Chefs of the South!
http://www.criollas.com/. Located near the road entering this historic little town of Grayton Beach (Called by a major newspaper poll one of the best beaches in the whole country), Criolla’s was built in the dignified but casual architecture that is so soothing in this coastal area of the Panhandle. A romantic dinner here would almost be forced, since the food is so delicately and expertly prepared with real creativity. For instance, there’s the New World Adobo Rubbed Elk Filet and the Pan Seared Red Snapper dusted with fennel. The absolutely fresh seafood and all other ingredients are mouth watering. Everything is subtle, from the soft interior to the blending of flavors–all rounded off by the ambiance of the small town old Florida on Highway 30-A, that travels right along the beach area off Highway 98. Dining here is not cheap, but it’s well worth the visit for special occasions like a proposal dinner or an anniversary, or just a romantic evening with the best wine and food available in all of Florida. After dinner, take some wine and go for a romantic walk along Grayton Beach and enjoy the lapping of the water while your toes sink into powder-fine white sand.
