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1. Crab Trap Seafood and Oyster Bar

1450 Miracle Strip Pkwy, Okaloosa Island Boardwalk, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 · 850-301-0959

User Rating:  Rating: 3 / 5   (Rate It)

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Avg. Entrée: $$$16 - $30
Reservations: Not Accepted
Dress: CC: Casual
Outdoor Dining: None

A beachfront location on the Boardwalk makes this air-conditioned place incredibly convenient for Okaloosa Island sunbathers. Adorned with surfboards, metal palm trees and wooden fish, the restaurant has a casual feel appropriate to the seafood-based menu. Sandwiches and pastas feature grouper, tuna, and amberjack; seafood baskets brim with fried shellfish. Steaks, chicken and oysters prepared a number of ways are also available. Plus, fresh, crisp salads are a cool way to beat the heat. Hearty eaters will appreciate the all-you-can-eat snow-crab legs special; the servers will haul them out until you cry "uncle."

2. Ciao Bella Pizza da Guglielmo

29 Hwy 98, Destin, FL 32550 · 850-654-9815

User Rating:  Rating: 5 / 5   (Rate It)

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Avg. Entrée: $$$16 - $30
Reservations: Not Accepted
Dress: CC: Casual
Outdoor Dining: None

DESTIN. Reasonable prices, a casual atmosphere and authentic Italian food combine to make a terrific lunch spot. Specializing in pastas, this family-run eatery serves up linguine, ziti, ravioli, tortellini and gnocchi with a variety of sauces and accompaniments. Pizzas, too, entertain fresh toppings, including prosciutto, spinach, capers, olives and fresh mozzarella. Everything is meant to be eaten with friends, and many of the dishes are served family-style. Daily specials are also on order, although they change regularly. You'll also find sinful desserts (including gelatos) to tempt your palate, plus a selection of coffee drinks.

3. Donut Hole

635 Hwy 98 E, Destin, FL 32550 · 850-837-8824

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Avg. Entrée: $$1 - $15
Reservations: Not Accepted
Dress: CC: Casual
Outdoor Dining:

DESTIN. Sheathed in weathered clapboards and shaded by live oaks, this dim, cool eatery is a local favorite. A simple interior of tiled floors and wooden walls sets the scene for uncomplicated food and large portions. Breakfast is served all day and features eggs combined with bacon, ham, pork chops, steak or sausage. You'll also find omelets, egg sandwiches, eggs Benedict, pancakes, waffles, doughnuts and a glass case filled with pastries. Their specialty is the (tongue-in-cheek) "diet" plate, which comes with fried eggs, cheese, sausage, gravy and home fries.

4. Buster's Oyster Bar and Seafood Restaurant

125 Poinciana Blvd, Delchamps Plaza, Destin, FL 32541 · 850-837-4399

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Avg. Entrée: $$$16 - $30
Reservations: Not Accepted
Dress: CC: Casual
Outdoor Dining: None

DESTIN. Frequented by locals, this casual place is a favorite destination for watching the big game. Sixteen TVs, including two big screens, bring the event to you, and everyone takes part in the festivities. The menu leans heavily towards seafood, which can be prepared in a number of ways, including steaming or broiling. Steaks, sandwiches and hamburgers are available too, along with a children's menu. Buster's is also known for "oystermania," a happy hour event where you can get good deals on oysters by the dozen. Along with drink specials, it pulls in eager crowds who can't get enough of the delicacy. Look for it daily from 5pm-6pm.

5. Vin'tij Wine Boutique and Bistro

10859 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Ste 103, Destin, FL 32550 · 850-650-9820

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Avg. Entrée: $$$16 - $30
Reservations: Recommended
Dress: CC: Casual
Outdoor Dining: None

DESTIN. Recently named "Restaurant of the Year" by the Northwest Florida Daily News, this fashionable place deftly manages to do everything right, from cuisine to service and decor. The menu offers such treats as garlic roast quail with oyster dressing, pecan roast chicken breast with tomato chutney and parmesan grits or the house crab cakes, which come with wild greens and a caper-lemon butter. Even better, the menu suggests particular wines to accompany each dish, highlighting the flavors of the entree and making for a complete culinary experience. Select a bottle of wine from the store to drink with dinner, and only a $5 corkage fee is added to the retail price.

6. Boathouse Oyster Bar

288-B Harbor Blvd E, Destin, FL 32541 · 850-837-3645

User Rating:  Rating: 5 / 5   (Rate It)

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Avg. Entrée: $$1 - $15
Dress: CC: Casual
Outdoor Dining:

DESTIN. Unassuming and relaxed, this simple, waterside eatery doesn't buy into the commercialization found so frequently at beach resorts. It doesn't pretend to be fancy, and it doesn't expect its clientele to be either. Grafitti marks the walls, and physical comforts are at a minimum. It does, however, have a great view of the harbor and is known for its fresh, cold oysters. The cheeseburgers, huge and juicy, aren't too shabby either, and the gumbo is award-winning. Live music during the week adds an energetic note of local flavor.

7. Lucky Snapper

76 Hwy 98 E, Destin, FL 32541 · 850-654-0900

User Rating:  Rating: 4 / 5   (Rate It)

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Avg. Entrée: $$$16 - $30
Reservations: Not Accepted
Dress: CC: Casual
Outdoor Dining:

DESTIN. Tucked between the harbor and a sprawling magnolia tree, the Snapper is open to sea breezes and the call of seagulls. Inside the vaulted space, ceiling fans stir the air, and laughter floats from table to table. Guests try out seafood po' boys, fresh fish and smoked pork and ribs, or they opt for one of the blue plate specials, which range from crab cakes to Caribbean chicken and a vegetable plate. Throughout the space, diners have views of the water and boats sailing into the marina. In the evenings, live bands play both upstairs and at the bar downstairs.

8. Marina Café

404 Hwy 98 E, Destin Harbor, Destin, FL 32541 · 850-837-7960

User Rating:  Rating: 5 / 5   (Rate It)

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Avg. Entrée: $$$16 - $30
Reservations: Recommended
Dress: BCBC: Business Casual
Outdoor Dining:

DESTIN. Recipient of numerous awards, this fantastic restaurant couples imaginative cuisine with impeccable service and a stunning view of the harbor. The menu, which changes daily, culls inspiration from a variety of traditions, resulting in Japanese barbecued salmon, grilled filet medallions with crawfish barbecue, and Dijon and rosemary-rubbed lamb chops. Gourmet pizzas and pasta dishes also feature cross-cultural influences. A cocktail lounge greets guests with contemporary jazz, and the deck is incomparable for outdoor dining. A large wine list and a selection of premium cigars heighten the pleasure of the entire experience. From 5pm-6pm, main course dishes are 2-for-1, and the bar offers excellent happy hour specials.

9. Destin Chops

414 Harbor Blvd, Destin, FL 32541 · 850-654-4944

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Avg. Entrée: $$$16 - $30
Reservations: Recommended
Dress: BCBC: Business Casual
Outdoor Dining:

DESTIN. Dark, gleaming woods and pink-toned marble envelop guests at this fashionable restaurant that looks out over Destin Harbor. Recipient of numerous awards, the steak house offers top-notch cuisine, service and ambience. Numerous varieties of meat fill the menu, most notably a celebrated prime rib, filets, lamb chops and veal. Seafood is prominent as well and can be topped with any of their signature sauces. Savory side dishes, such as grilled asparagus and roasted garlic mashed potatoes, satisfyingly accompany the main course. The early evening dinner, served 5pm-6pm, includes prime rib or the catch of the day, salad, veggies and potato for $14. In the lounge, guests thrill to find single malt scotches, a martini menu and premium cigars. They're perfect ways to extend an evening you're just not ready to end.

10. Magnolia Grill

157 Brooks St SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 · 850-302-0266

User Rating:  Rating: 5 / 5   (Rate It)

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Avg. Entrée: $$$16 - $30
Reservations: Recommended
Dress: BCBC: Business Casual
Outdoor Dining:

MIRACLE STRIP PARKWAY. Occupying a home built in 1910, this charming restaurant surrounds diners with built-in bookcases, turn-of-the-century memorabilia, and black and white photographs. Its menu features steaks, seafood and a host of Italian dishes, including veal marsala, and shrimp scampi over pasta. There's also prime rib, blackened amberjack, fried oysters and filet mignon. Guests may dine in a variety of rooms inside, including a glassed-in porch, or sit outside on the tree-shaded deck. For a sweet finish to the meal, opt for one of the rich desserts, such as Key lime pie, turtle cheesecake or death-by-chocolate brownie pie. Lunch dishes $6-10.

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