Finding that perfect food and drink pairing can be an incredible experience. A big, bold red with a quality cut of meat is always good. Chardonnay with shellfish in a buttery, herbaceous sauce? Yes please! The best pairing of all, though, is enjoying both down on the water. 30A restaurants on the beach can give you that perfect experience!
The breeze, horizon, and the sound of the beach makes everything that much better, and enjoying the food and drink is no different! Lucky for you, Santa Rosa Beach and 30A restaurants on the beach are plentiful.
The next best thing to dining on a dinner cruise is dining beachside! Having enjoyed some fantastic meals up and down the Panhandle, we thought it a swell idea to share our picks for some of the best spots to grab a bite on or near the water in the area. Feel free to chime in and share your favorites, or even disagree, because here comes our list of the 7 Best 30A Restaurants on the Beach!
Table of Contents
- Surfing Deer
- The Perfect Pig
- Café Thirty-A
- LaCo
- Meltdown on 30A
- Angelina’s Pizzeria & Pasta
- Barefoot B-B-Q
Surfing Deer
Pictured above is some of the finest meat in town. Image courtesy of surfingdeer.com.
Inspired by local legend Cube McGee and his deer friend Bambi, the Surfing Deer is a Santa Rosa Beach-Seagrove Beach dining experience that you absolutely do not want to miss. Their seasonal menu means great meals sourced by the most thoughtful ingredients for that time of year.
With starters like Short Rib Bao Buns to fresh salads with duck and fine seafood entrees like Seafood Acadiana (assortment of shellfish with andouille and rice), the Surfing Deer delivers as one of the best 30A restaurants on the beach.
The Perfect Pig
The perfect breakfast to start your day. Image courtesy of The Perfect Pig Facebook page.
From the fresh baked bread with olive oil and balsamic to the plate of luscious crab cakes the size of your head, The Perfect Pig Gourmet Market offers some seriously delicious eats in a chic, swanky atmosphere.
One of TripShock’s favorite 30A restaurants on the beach, enjoy a drink and munch on one of several small bites or go all out with a signature, swine-themed entrée like pork tenderloin medallions served over creamy gruyere grits! Perfect Pig is also known to host live entertainment featuring music acts performing everything from jazz to folk.
Café Thirty-A
Pictured above is delicious fresh fish and shrimp. Image Courtesy of cafethirtya.com.
Of all the things to do in Santa Rosa Beach, locals will agree that a stop into Cafe Thirty-A is a must! Daringly innovative and equally spectacular, Café Thirty-A offers contemporary artisanal creations that hit all the spots. Offering a little bit of this and that, from pizza to seafood, stop on by and check out some of their appetizers like the not-so-traditional Beef Carpaccio or super fresh Tuna Poke.
At the end of the day, their fine seafood and meat mains steal the show, especially in tandem with awesome side dishes like truffled 3-cheese macaroni, oyster mushrooms, and crawfish tails! The only thing fresher than the delicious seafood at this 30A restaurant on the beach would be to go out and catch the fish for yourself on a fishing charter in Santa Rosa Beach!
LaCo
Pictured above is a delicious dish prepared by LaCo’s Latin Coastal Kitchen, Image courtesy of laco30a.com.
LaCo’s Latin Coastal Kitchen, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, specializes in Latin-inspired dishes with a twist. The restaurant prepares dishes from scratch with the freshest ingredients one can find. The menu offers some classic favorites such as quesadillas, fajitas, and enchiladas. Not only does LaCo serve delicious cuisine, but also offers some of the best drinks in town including sangria and house-made mojitos.
Meltdown on 30A
Image from Wikipedia
The Meltdown on 30A is technically a food truck--not a restaurant. Nonetheless, it is so delicious we could not help but put it on the list! Meltdown serves classic panini-style sammi’s as well as more experimental selections such as Muenster & Mushroom as well as the Red, White, and Blue.
Get on over for an All-American Grilled Cheese and bowl of piping hot Tomato Soup or mix and match selections with your group! This family-friendly Seaside, FL, attraction is not only delicious, but fun with a great atmosphere and good people. Whatever you choose there, you can’t go wrong!
Angelina’s Pizzeria & Pasta
Pictured above is tasty artisan pizza at Angelina’s Pizzeria. Image courtesy of angelinas30a.com.
Step inside Angelina’s Pizzeria & Pasta’s quaint digs for some seriously awesome Italian eats and great times. It’s easy to see why Angelina’s is one of the best 30A restaurants on the beach – Medium-thin crust pizza means it’s all about the ingredients, balance, and culinary craftsmanship.
Enjoy a beer or a glass of wine with a fat basket of breadsticks or one of their incredible seafood pasta dishes like classic Fettuccine Primavera. Or, go bold with a Rigatoni Bolognese or Veal Piccatta! No frills, just great food, and great customer service. Stop by any day for an exceptional dining experience!
Barefoot B-B-Q
Classic Southern sides and outstanding sauces are all made in-house. Image Courtesy of seasidefl.com.
Pet-friendly food trucks and dining areas are one of the many reasons to bring your dog on a 30A vacation! A perfect fusion of Southern, Texas, and Caribbean barbeque, Barefoot B-B-Q is another beachside food truck that we had to put on our list and share with the world! Incredible sauces and classic Southern sides are all made in-house every day and are perfect for snacking on the sand.
Enjoy fall-off-the-bone tender smoked meat selections like ribs, brisket, and pulled pork (the chicken is really good, too). Even better, get yourself a “Picnic Package” of multiple meats and sides and head on down to the beautiful sugar-white sands of 30A for an unforgettable day on the surf. For more information about the 30A area, click here: https://30a.com/.
