50 Best American Restaurants near Valparaiso

“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!“

“Needing a break from the heat and large crowds, my friend and I stopped in, on a whim. We were given 2 seating options and chose to wait for the table that was finishing up, as it was located in the smaller section of tables to the right. We were seated after a very short wait on the patio, where we were given waters and menus to peruse. This worked out perfectly and gave me time to select a lovely French Rose’ called “Nature’s Revenge” which I highly recommend. It was served in a beautiful crystal glass that looked like it was plucked right out of a speakeasy during the roaring twenties! We decided to skip the entree’s so that we could try a few appetizers and enjoy dessert. Both were phenomenal! Apologies for not remembering the names - the first was a flatbread with fig; the 2nd, little pieces of corn that looked like pickle spears. Both were bursting with delightful flavors that had my mouth watering for more! The desserts were even more delicious. The cheesecake was a surprising Philly/NY style blend with strawberry swirl. The tiramisu was, dare I say, the absolute best I’ve ever had!! The flavors of the tiramisu were perfectly balanced and light. I was a very happy girl! The staff was also top tier! Our hostess and server were friendly, warm and made excellent suggestions. Ashley, the general manager, is another reason we will be back often. From checking on guests to supporting her staff, it was clear that she set the standard for others to follow. With it being the busiest weekend in summer, we thought going out to dinner was a gamble but we won big with this choice. Thank you Ashley & staff for an amazing experience! We will be back. Often!“

“Great experience at Fudpucker’s Destin! Much to do to keep the kids, teens and adults entertained while we wait! Awesome drinks, food and service. Will definitely be back when we visit the area again!“

“Food is delicious! Service is great! Our favorite place in Niceville. Love the filet and lava cake and more.“

“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!“

“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.“

“The staff is so friendly here and the food is AWESOME.“

“Delicious food & beautiful back patio!“

“Chicken Po-Boy is 💯🔥💯🔥💯🔥💯“

“Beautiful restaurant and wonderful service from hostess to our server, Candace.“

“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.“

“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.“

“Wanted to try a new place while on vacation. Came across this gem. Loved the decor, service was great, drinks were good and the food was sooooooooo delicious! Recommend the calamari for your appetizer! Best we had during our whole 9 day vacation! Will recommend people go here!“

“The waitress was very friendly and did a great job, but when I ordered the STEAK nachos I didn't realize there would only be two small pieces of steak on them, and they were cold. The rest of the food was good especially the burger and fries.“

“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!“

“the nest food truck around. the biscuit and gravy is my favorite but the burgers and everything else is just as amazing 👏 🤩“

“Our experience at FatBoys was outstanding! Madden, our server, quickly fixed the flickering lights, which was a huge relief for our autistic son. The hostess and team (Camille, Emma, Pam, and Emilee) were incredibly kind and attentive. The food was fantastic—we loved the steak and cheese eggrolls, the perfectly cooked bacon burger, and our son enjoyed the lumberjack burger. Everything was hot and delicious. Highly recommend!“

“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!“

“Second year eating here and they have great service and our waiter Brandon was very professional and constantly made sure we were satisfied! Highly recommend!“

“Kristen made great drinks and great atmosphere“

“great place for food and drink. Both are amazing.“

“Fun place for kids (if your kids want to wain about 1-1 1/2 hours) good food. The kids meals come with a bucket and shovel. We waited outside and the adults can have a drink while they wait because there is a bar. Good walking distance from Destiny By The Sea. On the way back we caught sand crabs on the beach. (we walked back on the beach) I have also been to the one in Pensacola Florida and it deserves the same amount of stars.

Parking: Small parking lot

Kid-friendliness: Good for kids“

“Amazing owner and staff. Thankful to have this group in our community.“

“The Harbor Tavern is one of my absolute favorites! Great vibe and kid friendly! My family took Destin Harbor Haulers to dinner and we had yet another amazing time at the Harbor Tavern! Thanks to Chris with the Destin Harbor Haulers for getting us there!“

“Came here for our wedding anniversary and it did not disappoint the service was great and the food was so very very delicious!! Will be coming back thank you to Ron and Lexi at the Destin Florida location for such a wonderful first experience at millers ale house !“

“Tiffany is an amazing server she recommended lemon blueberry mimosas which were fabulous, and also recommended the beignets. She made our first visit at another broken egg very good. Thank you Tiffany. We will definitely be back before we leave Destin“

“Culvers is our “go to” place with the grandkids.“

“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.“

“Excellent customer service“

“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,“

“Friendly , no waiting , sweet waiter is Tabitha , affordable compared to the tourist area .“

“Wonderful local coffee shop. Good atmosphere and great food and coffee.“

“Best food in Fort walton bch by far well worth the price I love the Place !“

“Birthday dinner with the fam was great!“

“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.“

“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.“

“The service was good and the wine was great. We got a charcuterie board and the Brie from France was hands down the best cheese I’ve ever had. The reason I’m giving 4 stars is because the small charcuterie board was $30 and I understand the cheese is gourmet, but I still thought that was overpriced. Overall good experience, but expect to pay a little more than you may have thought.“

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

“Me encanta todo de este lugar!!!“

“We just had lunch at the Destin Cracker Barrel. Our server was Kash and she was brand new at the job. She is a true asset to your organization. She is precious and so friendly and helpful. We’ll surely return and hopefully she’ll be working again.“

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

“We ordered from Sarah K’s to be delivered to our weekend beach rental. The food was delicious and in the fridge when we arrived. We highly recommend!“

“The food was great and the service was awesome, it was my birthday n our waitress was so sweet she even put a candle on my birthday pie that I had to get to go because I was to full to eat it there, they made my day feel special“

“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!!“

“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.“

“We had such a wonderful time at this restaurant! From the moment we walked in, we were warmly welcomed. The service was attentive, and every member of the staff was friendly and professional. The food was absolutely delicious, fresh, full of flavor, and beautifully presented. The atmosphere was cozy yet elegant, making it perfect for both a casual meal or a special occasion. Everything exceeded our expectations, and we left with full hearts and happy stomachs. Highly recommend!“

“The salt and vinegar wings are to die for. Our server was great and made sure we had everything we needed. The bottomless apps are a steal, my kids ate so many cheese sticks it was awsome😋. This place great for a night out with the family or a work luncheon.“

“Free food when the guy gets the order wrong“