50 Best American Restaurants near Okaloosa Island

“My husband and I come to FWB often and stay here at the Holiday Inn or Hilton next door (depending on points, price, availability, etc); however, we ALWAYS eat at Riptides in Holiday Inn.

This past week, we enjoyed some takeout so we could eat outside. Terry was our server. She was very helpful, cheerful and accomodating. We came in the afternoon when it was a little slower so Terry and Toya both chatted with us while we waited. Very friendly! We also MUST give a shout out to Joe in the bar. Though we didn't go to the bar this week, we often do and Joe is great! He's been there a long time and he remembers us when we visit throughout the year. That truly makes us feel so welcomed. In all, the entire staff has always made us feel welcomed and appreciated.

As for the food items, we've enjoyed all the different items we have tried. My favorites are the sweet potato tater tots, margherita flatbred (with balsalmic), and the spinach artichoke dip. Husband faves is the seafood basket. He has had it fried and grilled and does feel the grilled is better (if you are trying to decide). Runner-up items would be the cuban sandwich and the killer club. Again, we haven't had anything bad, but those are my go-to's :)

I've actually never tried their burgers so not sure there and only have had the breakfast once. It is your general buffet with a few hot items and a selection of breads, yogurt, cereal, etc etc etc.

I also want to comment on another review I read about the sticky floors. That is pretty common in that area I believe as the salt water is constantly getting tracked in and it will dry and can leave a sticky residue. Just my two cents :)“

“Mother Earth's cafe is an absolute gem! From the retro ambiance to the friendly service, everything about this place feels welcoming. I ordered the Philly cheese steak omelet, and it was perfect with fluffy pancakes, flavorful hash browns , and eggs cooked just right. Their coffee was rich, and the refills were constant. Portions were generous, the food was fresh, and the prices were fair. I’ll definitely be back at this Cafe. It is a must visit!“

“Everything was great just try it“

“great service and great food“

“My wife and I had dinner here and were impressed with our server. She was very friendly and attentive. She made our experience a very enjoyable time.“

“Breakfast was delicious. Staff were so friendly and helpful. Ate there twice. Didn’t realize they closed at 2pm and showed up 10 minutes before they closed and they seemed more than happy to serve us. Great place with sweet and funny staff. Will definitely return next trip to Destin.“

“Delicious food & beautiful back patio!“

“Do not recommend for your event! Will not show up and will stop making contact when trying to confirm. We booked them July 18th for Halloween Night Event in our neighborhood. I messaged to confirm on October 28th. They replied back that they would get back with me to confirm but they did have someone booked on that night-although they thought it was in Milton not Crestview. We never heard back from them again after several attempts. This left us shuffling for a different truck to come so we had someone here which thank goodness we found a last minute truck available. Poor business communication. Will not recommend to anyone if you are wanting a reliable food truck who will show up!“

“Absolutely an overlooked restaurant, don’t assume because it’s inside a resort that the food is not as good, it’s owned by fuddpuckers. The burgers are outstanding as well as the fish tacos. Definitely a must, if your staying at the Sandestin resort do not ignore this place.“

“Food,cleanliness,great staff, atmosphere nice and comfortable.“

“Lekker broodje op. Verder gewoon goed. Veel keuze en allemaal wel vers.

Vegetarian options: Keuze zat voor onze konijnen

Dietary restrictions: Wat je maar wilt.

Parking: Gewoon grote parkeerplaats voor de deur

Kid-friendliness: Nee die horen hier niet thuis

Wheelchair accessibility: Ook dit is mogelijk“

“We started with the Crab cake appetizer, lots of favor and decadent. Our entrees were the Bric a Brac chicken and shrimp scampi. The chicken was very juicy and the mashed potatoes were phenomenal. The shrimp was fresh, it had nice texture and the pasta was cooked perfectly. Finished with the Key Lime Pie, OMG don’t pass it up.“

“What a nice and friendly server.“

“The food is absolutely AMAZING, but the service is EVEN BETTER, a couple of friends and I went and sat in to this establishment. Pimlada was outstanding from beginning to end!! Please continue to have this great spirit float around your restaurant. Definitely coming BACK!“

“The setting and the food are incredible! Tonight I had the lobster tacos for dinner with the e tuna dip for an appetizer to share, but honestly I could have just eaten my weight in hush puppies and strawberry butter. Our server Mackenzie was fantastic! Friendly, fast, and kept us well supplied. Also, she recommended a fantastic drink!“

“Fabulous ambience, very creative island-centric vibes menu for drinks. Flavors were great – though for my frequent traveling, exploring new coffee shops being my most consistent venture, I will say these are among some of the most expensive brews I've come across, at least relative to size. Staff seemed all on different pages. I noted differences they were having in running operations. One barista sat reading her book while I asked 3x to place my order. I work in a cafe from time to time, so I know it could've just been a "SHE'S on the register, I'M only doing drinks today"... but still, when a guest is standing right in front of you with no other employee, obviously speaking to/repeating themself to you, if you absolutely truly cannot assist them, at the very least say, "Sorry, I don't know how to [XYZ]."“

“The food is consistently good. The salad bar,(my favorite) is kept clean and well-stocked. Our server was a delight. I went with church folks that seem to go there often.“

“My husband had raw oysters and said they were some of the best he ever had. He then got the blackened grouper with an amazing sauce. I had the chicken alfredo and it was delicious! We had a great server, TJ!“

“Great food! Great staff! Fantastic atmosphere! Never have had a bad meal here, everything is delicious! I highly recommend trying this out if you live or visiting Destin!“

“Twisted Grape is a nice spot with good service and a wide selection on their menu. While nothing really stood out during our visit, I have to say their mac and cheese was very good and definitely worth a try.

Overall, it’s a solid place to visit, and I’d come back again, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression. If you’re in the area, it’s worth checking out, but don’t expect anything too extraordinary.“

“We were looking for some local brunch restaurants that offered more than just your average waffles and eggs and stumbled into this place. This restaurant is located in a resort area and right by the water. The food here was fantastic! We got the orange butter shrimp and crab cakes for our appetizer and I must say both were positively delectable. For the entrees, we got the flounder/crab meal. Both were very good, but we felt like there was an excessive amount of oil and butter in the dishes. The lemon butter sauce that the angel hair pasta was prepared with was very overwhelming. However, the taste was still delicious and we still really enjoyed our meal. There was a short wait of 10 minutes and during this time we wandered the area looking at the marina and boat tours. We were seated at an outside table overlooking the dock. Overall I’d definitely recommend it to others around the Destin area looking for an above average brunch meal.“

“Alex M was our waiter tonight at the wharf 850. We had excellent service, and he was very friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu. I would definitely recommend this restaurant and waiter for anyone visiting in Niceville Florida.“

“Stephanie is very personable and has great humor! Very professional! Awesome server!“

“This place is Amazing! Live music, super friendly and kind staff, { I would tell you how kind my waitress was, but I wouldnt want anyone to try to take advantage of her) I regret that I didnt have proper tip money, but i will make it up to her. There is a beach, cornhole, i think horseshoes, it is child and dog friendly. They even brought ny Stanley his own bouwl. Next review will have photos, Go there as soon as you can. You wont be dissapointed,“

“Great staff and good vibe“

“Our favorite Tuesday place to go. Any day is good. Always friendly waitstaff.“

“Excellent customer service“

“Best food ever! Just like home cooking.“

“My mom and I stopped in while traveling, and the staff made us feel instantly welcome!!! The food brought back favorite childhood memories of mom’s/grandmother’s cooking when mealtimes were a time to gather and chat with each other. It was so good, we went back again!!! Thanks everyone for great memories and fantastic meals!!!“

“To whom it may concern, my name is Mr Woodbury. I on 12/14/24 had lunch at the Ft Walton Beach establishment. My server was a young man by the name Ethan. The most professional and attentive server I have ever had while dinning at Ft Walton Beach Sonny's. After taking my wife and I order Ethan not once would pass by our booth without checking in on how we where doing.
I've traveled around the world as a Marine and eaten at a many of restaurants. Ethan along with outstanding food and service truly gave us the greatest of experiences.
Thank you Sonny's and thank you Ethan !!
GySgt Woodbury USMC Retired

Kid-friendliness: Just a awesome atmosphere. Loved it.“

“Me encanta todo de este lugar!!!“

“I came here with my son tonight & it was a lovely experience! Kassandra was our waitress and she took great care of us! The food was so good and fast. She made sure we had everything we needed! The host was also extremely welcoming and kind as well! I really enjoyed my experience tonight! We left with full bellies and smiles. Thank you Kassandra & thank you BWW! <3“

“beautiful restaurant, piano player was great, service and food was definition of amazing...we worth the drive!!“

“Great service, this is the first place my son picks to eat every time. Staff always goes above and beyond to make sure my kids have a great experience. Also you can never go wrong with a chocolate chip waffle.“

“The best fried chicken I've ever had!! The gizzard are a must to bring back home for my parents. Danny's sauce is truly magical!! Love our trips to Niceville, Danny's get our business every time!!“

“Friendly faces,clean environment“

“Pretty good food, little pricey, but good food.“

“Busy night, but Cece took great care of us. She handled all her tables really well. My steak did come out raw at first (straight up cold raw when I poked it) but she corrected it immediately. Great service and good food when all is said and done.“

“never had a bad meal all is good just sit and enjoy“

“My mom and I went into the WH Shalimar on Saturday(8/10). It’s our favorite, but that team was absolutely AMAZING! They were helpful, polite, and working together. So……WH Shalimar, FL keep doing what you’re doing, it’s working.“

“I've been to a lot of breweries. I can say without a doubt this is one of the best. Their beers are top notch and the atmosphere is excellent. Staff and other "regulars" are super fun! We will be back next time we're in town! Thanks!!!“

“Kayleigh (I hope I’m spelling her name right) is absolutely amazing! My family and I found this place on google and decided to try it, at first we were a bit nervous because we have an autistic son and weren’t sure we’d be welcome. We were greeted and served amazingly by Kayleigh the entire time! My son eventually had a small emotional outburst and knocked over a glass of water making a small scene and I immediately was reduced to tears because I could hear the other patrons talking about us, immediately I felt humiliated and maybe we were at the wrong place. Kayleigh came out and helped me wipe up the water with towels and was so incredibly kind and understanding!! Thank you Kayleigh! You are a gem!“

“Aloha Fridays at the Crew Bar. Wear Hawaiian shirts“

“Awesome place to dine the staff are polite professional. We visited on their initial opening and have been going back regularly. The crestview location is excellent can’t wait to see it grow.“

“Great sports bar that has the best wings and pizza in town! A large selection of drafts, and the attached Speakeasy provides great entertainment & an excellent variety of cocktails. Service was quick and attentive. Will for sure stop back in when in Niceville.“

“the server MS TABITHA, the most pleasant, courteous efficient, bright smile & bright attitude of any server I have encountered n a very very long time as well as the fact that we have eaten out at fancy restaurants since this past Sunday n no one comes close to Ms Tabitha in the way she performs her duties Joe's Crabshack is blessed to have such a dedicated employee. Ms Elizabeth Benoit Breaux BRIDGE LA“

“Best blue cheese all time!! Great food, service and management! Coming from Oklahoma, we wanted to watch the OU TX game and we loved it!!“

“Food is good, servers are exceptional but the owners are disrespectful, rude and unappreciative of their waitresses and customers.“

“Culver’s hooked our pup up! She’s in pup cup heaven.“