We just got back from an amazing vacation on the Flora-Bama coast! I am so sad that it’s over, but I can’t wait to tell y’all all about it. And that includes telling you all about the best seafood in Orange Beach, Alabama!
As you probably know, we are huge foodies over here. And I love me some good seafood. You just can’t get fresh seafood like this at home and we definitely had some amazing seafood during our stay.
So if you’re planning a trip over there, or wondering if it’s worth it to go, I’m here to give you all the details. If you’re looking for some great seafood here in the gulf of Mexico, I’ve got you covered!
Keep on reading for all my tips, recommendations, and personal experiences from all the restaurants we ate at while on vacay! It’s your ultimate guide as to where to get the best taste of the Gulf Coast!
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Flora-Bama
Our condo was conveniently located right beside the one and only Flora-Bama Lounge, Package, and Oyster Bar. Which was amazing because it made for a great quick and easy lunch spot.
And not only do they serve amazing food, but offer an incredible array of live music as well. When we first got down there, our condo wasn’t quite ready yet, so we decided to go ahead and check out the Flora-Bama while waiting. And we were not disappointed!
I got their Blue Chair Bay Shrimp Tacos which were filled with their famous fried shrimp and Blue Chair Bay Key Lime Sauce. Let me tell you, this was so good that I got it multiple times during our stay there! My husband got the Build Your Own Bama Burger, which he loved as well.
Both came with delicious, crunchy french fries as well. And since we were waiting on our room to be ready, we were able to enjoy all the live music playing too.
They have plenty of seating options here, whether you want to be outside near the water on a picnic table, or inside listening to the music.
This original oyster house was constructed in 1978 and has always been a staple for good live music and fun. You’ll definitely want to check this iconic place out if you ever get the chance to visit Orange Beach!
Flora-Bama Ole River Grill
The Flora-Bama franchise also includes the Ole River Grill and the Yacht Club too. They are also conveniently located across the street from the Flora-Bama Oyster Bar.
So again, within walking distance for us which was so nice. We never made it to the Yacht Club during our week there, but we did try the Ole River Grill out.
This waterfront restaurant was also incredible and blew me away with their red shrimp and grits dish. The shrimp was again so fresh and the cheese grits were so creamy and delicious as well. My hubby got the Fried Gulf Fish Basket which was also delicious.
We also shared an appetizer of their famous key lime fried shrimp basket too. If you can’t tell already, I love both key lime and shrimp obviously! The combo just can’t be beat when it comes to the best seafood options here in Orange Beach!
Crabs On The Beach
If you know me, then you know I love me some good ole crab legs! There’s nothing like dipping some fresh crab meat into some melted butter! Am I right or what?!
So one day during our stay, we decided to drive down to Pensacola, Florida and check the area out. A little back story, my hubby did an internship here when he was in college. So it was definitely fun for him to go back and check out his old stomping grounds!
The drive is only about 30 minutes away from Orange Beach, Alabama so it’s not bad at all. Plus, we decided to go on a rainy day so that gave us something fun to do.
And since I was craving crab legs, we saw the Crabs On The Beach restaurant and knew we had to go there! We started out with their appetizer of “Great Balls of Fiery Crab” which were crunchy and creamy and full of crab meat!
They also give you their honey rolls on the house to start with too. Then, we both got the crab combo which included a combination of Dungeness and Alaskan Snow Crab Clusters.
And I’ve got to say, the Alaskan ones were definitely my favorite. The meat was sweeter and so, so good! If you love crabmeat like I do, you should definitely check this place out!
They have a whole assortment of crab claws, crab cakes, and basically anything you can think of with crabmeat in it!
Doc’s Seafood Shack
Another delicious seafood restaurant we loved in Orange Beach, Alabama was Doc’s Seafood Shack. They had a variety of menu items and all their seafood platters came with a complimentary bowl of their seafood gumbo too.
We started with the dynamite shrimp as an appetizer which is a big customer favorite there. And then we decided to each do a build your own seafood platter and choose our favorites.
I ended up with some crab cakes and fried fresh fish. Both were so yummy and it also came with a ton of french fries and hushpuppies too. This seafood feast was so much that we had enough leftovers for lunch the next day too.
Tacky Jack’s Seafood Restaurant
Tacky Jack’s Restaurant has a fun atmosphere that the whole family can enjoy! It’s quirky and colorful and right on the water too!
If you’re looking for some of the freshest seafood, they have that right here! We both got the blackened grouper, and you could tell it was so fresh!
However, I will say, the sides were just okay. Nothing too special with their green beans and rice. But, the grouper was amazing. And their firecracker shrimp as an appetizer was delicious as well.
The Gulf
Another really cool place to visit whether for dinner or drinks is The Gulf. The view here is absolutely incredible! We loved sitting outside by the water and watching the sun set.
There was even a cool pirate ship tour that passed by on the water while we were there too. I would definitely come here on a nice night so you can enjoy the outdoor seating.
But if not, they have plenty of indoor seating too. They even have a fun photo booth too where you can take some fun pictures together!
Zeke’s
Zeke’s was recommended to us as a local favorite restaurant. And it was pretty good! We had the fried grouper bites appetizer which was absolutely amazing.
The fish was so fresh and fried perfectly. The sauce drizzled on top complimented the grouper well too. It also included a fresh tomato and cucumber salad on the side which was a nice touch.
For dinner we both got shrimp scampi and while it was very good, it wasn’t my absolute favorite shrimp scampi I’ve ever had. I wish I got the pan-seared Mahi Mahi instead! And I think I liked the appetizer better than the actual entree too.
But, it was definitely worth going to and I would love to try something else over there again. The casual atmosphere was really cool too.
There was a lot of seating both inside and outside and the view from the outside was beautiful, but very hot too! This was actually our very last meal of the trip, but I wished we saved Cobalt’s for last since it was so good! See my review of it below!
Cobalt
I’m saving one of the best seafood restaurants that we ate at for last! Cobalt did not disappoint at all!
We asked some locals for their favorite restaurants, and this came up as number one and I can see why! I think it’s one of the hidden gems to Orange Beach!
This place definitely made a lasting impression on us and we will be back for sure! The whole dining experience was wonderful and the food couldn’t be beat.
We started out with some amazing dinner oysters. If you don’t like raw oysters, don’t worry, they have a combination platter of baked oysters that are incredible! They included Rockefeller, Creole Casino, and Garlic Parmesan Chargrilled oysters.
I, of course, have had oysters Rockefeller before, but this was my first time trying the other two. And they were so unique and full of flavor. We both absolutely loved them!
Their dinner seafood menu is also full of great entree options. Again, we both got the same entree, great minds think alike, right? The Bronzed Gulf Grouper was to die for!!
It was served over parmesan risotto and topped with cajun cream sautƩed blue crabmeat. Definitely a delicious way to get your seafood fix!
Well, I hope you enjoyed my review on the Best Seafood in Orange Beach, Alabama! Have you ever been to any of these places before?! If so, I’d love to hear which one you enjoyed too.
And, if you’re planing a trip to the Flora-Bama shore soon, you will love it! Let me know if you want any more tips or recommendations for your vacation. I’d be happy to help out!Ā
It seems like there are some great places for those who love to dine on fish and shellfish in Orange Beach. I can see why people would love to visit here too as the scenery seems wonderful!
Yes, it was a wonderful vacation! So many fun things to do and great places to eat as well!