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Port St. Joe is an unusual city in the Florida Panhandle where the Emerald Coast meets the Forgotten Coast. It’s on the Gulf of Mexico, but because of its land formations, it’s a watery paradise.

A narrow strip of land called St. Joseph Peninsula juts out into the gulf forming St. Joseph Bay. Much of the peninsula is undeveloped and part of the nine-mile-long St. Joseph Peninsula State Park.

There are even more opportunities for watery fun with the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway that flows through Port St. Joe as it makes its way from St. Marks, Florida to Brownsville, Texas. And then there is Indian Lagoon.

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So, if you enjoy swimming, kayaking, fishing, boating, or any water fun, this is the place for you. You can take a pontoon boat eco tour of the gulf or kayak the bay.

We had a majestic Bald Eagle fly over our heads as we were preparing for a kayaking into the bay. Our kayak guide, Kevin, told us it is not unusual to see manatees in the bay.

Here is a collection of some of the best Port St. Joe restaurants you can choose from during your visit.

14 Must-Try Port St. Joe Restaurants:

Mill Mercantile and Social

105 Good Morning Street

(850) 899-9149

During most of the 20th Century, the huge St. Joe Paper Mill was the town’s main industry. In the 1990s, it shut down and the town began to get more tourists. Beach rentals and second homes sprung up overlooking the bay and gulf.

Mill Mercantile and Social, in Windmark Beach, offers groceries, some interesting candies, local goods, package liquor, and wine, along with freshly made coffee and handcrafted cocktails. I had Malibu rum and pineapple juice, and it was so smooth.

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Mill Mercantile pays tribute to the old mill with a mural on its wall and a black and white arial photo of the mill. Usually, it has live music Thursday through Saturday and often has events like music bingo or cornhole tournaments on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Cape San Blas Inn

4950 Cape San Blas Rd

(850)-229-7070

If you are looking for a place to stay that also has good food, Cape San Blas Inn is perfect. It backs on the bay with the gulf across the street.

Each of the seven rooms has everything you need for comfort. My room was the Scallop Shell Room. It’s on the first floor, so no lugging luggage upstairs, and it has a screened patio facing the bay.

The Turtle Shell Room is the fanciest, with a screened porch facing the bay and a king-size bed plus a queen-size leather sleeper sofa for extra guests. All the rooms have either a king or queen bed, private bath, Direct TV with HBO and Cinamax, Wi-Fi, beach towels and chairs, and guests have use of bikes, kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and a hot tub on the dock over the bay.

Their breakfasts are special. I asked the owner, Britt, which were most popular, and he said, “The most popular are quiche, breakfast casserole, omelets, and eggs benedict.”

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I loved the quiche, but my favorite was Grandma’s Blueberry French Toast Casserole, a fresh blueberry-covered bread-pudding style dish. All are served with fresh fruit and bacon. The oranges, pineapple, and strawberries are fantastic.

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They serve Starbucks coffee starting at 8 am. Since I am a tea drinker, I loved the large choice of teas. My favorites, Earl Grey and English Breakfast were there.

We ate breakfast in the common area with a bay window overlooking the bay, but there are also outside tables on the back veranda where we enjoyed some catered meals.

Skully’s Low Country Boil

5544 Cape San Blas Rd

(850)-247-3077

One of our catered meals was from Skully’s Low Country Boil. They do only two meals, the low country boil which includes shrimp, potatoes, corn, and sausage or a shrimp gumbo.

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Remember the old saying “Jack of all trades, master of none.” They have mastered the art of the low boil. The shrimp were huge and well-seasoned. The corn was fresh and juicy. The potatoes were well done, and the sausage reminded me of my old home place of New Orleans.

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For those looking for the same experience, they have a restaurant. It’s outdoor-only seating, but they serve free beer and sodas and have music while you wait. They serve plates that feed one to coolers that feed 20. It is a cash-only restaurant.

Indian Lagoon Oyster Company

2795 Indian Pass Rd.

(850)-333-4220

I remember a time many years ago when all of Florida’s bays and salt water were filled with fresh oysters there for the picking. Not anymore. Pollution, hurricanes, and over-harvesting have depleted one of Florida’s greatest dining treats. Some enterprising souls found a way to fill the void.

Indian Lagoon Oyster Company call themselves oysterpreneurs. They provide delicious oysters while helping the environment. They treated us to oysters they shucked on the back veranda and Gayle Johnson, Director of Operations at Indian Lagoon Oyster Company, told us some of the story of how they began growing oysters in 2020.

In December 2020, Florida Wildlife Commission banned wild oyster harvesting in Apalachicola Bay until Dec 2025 due to dwindling numbers of oyster beds caused by over-harvesting and pollution. Farm-raised oysters do not pollute and they are not raised, as are so many fish and shrimp farms, in tightly confined ponds and fed hormone products to make them grow fast. By contrast, the oyster beds in oyster farms are in the open waters of the bay.

Gayle invited me to visit their family-run business, which uses the latest sustainable farming techniques to yield some of the best-tasting oysters on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

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Loving oysters as I do, I had to take her up on the offer. When I visited the oyster farm, which has just moved to a new location at the end of Indian Pass Road, I was greeted by Oyster Perle, their resident mascot. She is a mix of golden retriever and black labrador. Gayle told me, “She was the only black one in her litter.”

Gayle showed me how they meticulously clean each oyster bag before they put small oysters in them and place them in the lagoon to grow.

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They grow fast, and the bags need to be brought in and emptied regularly so they do not become overcrowded. I saw the spinner where they separate the oysters based on size. The bags of tiny oysters are then taken out and placed in the bed.

One of the oystermen who took me out to place some bags in the beds told me, “A single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day. They also eat algae and microorganisms to help keep the lagoon clean.”

They supply many of the local restaurants. Gayle said, “We sell to the public. They need to contact me (at least a day ahead) to hold their oysters as we sell out daily. We offer both 50 count and 100 count bags of oysters.”

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Weber’s Little Donut Shop Cape San Blas

4975 Cape San Blas Rd

(850)-340-3552

Just across the street from Cape San Blas Inn, there is a small donut stand with a connection to the inn.

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The original owners, George and Betty Weber, came down from Ohio and were innkeepers for the inn for five years. George developed the donut recipes and founded the original Weber’s Little Donut Shop here in Cape San Blas. It did so well they opened a second one on St. George Island.

Today, the Cape San Blas shop is run by their son Glenn and his wife Peggy. Glen’s sister, Wendy, was the innkeeper at Cape San Blas Inn for 13 years.

My favorite donut there is the chocolate-covered one.

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Two things that are important to know about the donut shop. It’s cash only, and they close when the donuts are sold out. You won’t be surprised they sell out when you see the lines in the morning.

LongBills

7650 Cape San Blas Road

(850)-250-4310

LongBills tells a fascinating story of resilience. In October 2018, Hurricane Michael devastated the panhandle. Toucan’s on the Beach was a popular hangout in Mexico Beach, a few miles from Port St. Joe. The hurricane destroyed Toucan’s but the owner, Patrick Lee, did not let it destroy him. He opened LongBills in Port St. Joe.

On the front porch wall, there is a bright red and orange mural with white clouds that tells the story. “With a gust of misfortune, a toucan flew out and a longbill flew in.” Another portion of the mural states, “Sun shines. Wind blows. Rain falls. Water flows.”

They specialize in fresh seafood but have lots of other interesting choices, including pizza. I was tempted to try the Wonkee Donkee, a half-pound all-beef hot dog with chili, cheese, slaw, onions, sport peppers, lettuce, and tomato.

Instead, I chose the Fried Oyster Basket served with fries and coleslaw. For appetizers, we shared Smoked Fish Dip, served with fresh corn chips and fresh sliced jalapeños.

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Quatros Locos Tacos and Cantina

7650 Cape San Blas Road

(850)-899-9014

Quatros Locos Tacos and Cantina is a Mexican restaurant specializing in traditional Mexican street food. Since it was a beautiful day, we chose patio dining. It’s just across the street from the lighthouse, so we had a great view.

The menu is extensive with tacos, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, chimichangas, and others. The quesadilla served with shredded chicken, sour cream, guacamole, and pico de gallo was tempting but I was not too hungry. I choose street tacos with grilled chicken served with rice and refried beans. It was the perfect size and very tasty.

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Since there were seven of us, we went with the 88 oz. Margarita Towers. We had a lot of fun clowning around with that tower of Margarita.

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Krazyfish Grille

113 Monument Avenue

(850)-229-7878

Krazyfish Grille was once an old Shell Gas Station. Today, all that remains of the station are one of the old roll-up doors. In its place, you can dine at a fantastic restaurant that serves some tasty seafood.

The man behind the story was Mark Haddock. Because of his fishy name, his friends nicknamed him “Fish” and some tacked on “Crazy.” It was only natural to use the name when he opened his restaurant. He jazzed it up a bit with a logo of a fish that is half grouper and half piranha and wears sunglasses.

Since his motto was, “Feed your inner beach bum,” it’s no surprise to see fishing gear, boats, paddles, surfboards, and other water-related items inside.

Mark passed away in 2022 but his wife, Kaye, with the help of their son, Grant and a great staff, carries on the tradition. The table where we were sitting had three surfboards on the wall behind us. Grant told us when he used any of the surfboards, his dad made him clean all the wax off before he hung it back up.

Since Mark loved to travel and picked up many ideas for his recipes from his travels, the food is varied.

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I loved the Capt’n Krazyfish Oysters. They are like Oysters Rockefeller on steroids, large oysters topped with Louisiana boudin, applewood smoked bacon, sharp cheddar Jack cheese, a few jalapenos, topped with a giant shrimp, with just a touch of their garden picked pepper sauce added. Of course, they also serve regular Oysters Rockefeller.

They do a terrific number on their shrimp as well. I had a hard time deciding which I liked best. Krazyfish Bang Boom Pow Shrimp take first place because of the just-right amount of heat and sweet, but the Buffalo Shrimp and Coconut Shrimp are close seconds.

The menu includes lots of other items in case someone doesn’t like seafood. Drinks are colorful and plentiful.

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My choice was a Pineapple Pirate made with Captain Morgan, coconut rum, grand marnier, pineapple juice and a touch of grenadine in a tall ice filled glass. Perfect for a hot day.

The outdoor dining area is worth a visit just for the décor. There are white wood rockers with sunshine yellow pillows to sit and relax. If you want to work off some of the food, there are cornball games. The dining area is fenced with a white picket fence around pastel-colored tables and chairs with large sun umbrellas to keep you in the shade.

Their fountain is beautiful and hilarious with a metallic bird wading in a cement pool that overflows int a larger pond below. The sign is what gets all the attention. Among other things it forbids in the pond are “Fornicating,” “Spear fishing,” “Skinny dipping,” and many more improbable things.

The patio welcomes your four-legged friend to enjoy a meal with you.

Sand Dollar Café

301 Monument Avenue

(850)-227-4865

The Sand Dollar Café offers to “put some south in your mouth.” They do just that.

It’s not fancy and has the food set up cafeteria style.

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Then you can either sit inside or out on the patio. We had breakfast there, and I had Biscuits and Sausage Gravy.

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It was truly a classic. I had a side of fresh fruit with it and the fruit was fresh.

Some of my friends had the Shrimp and Grits. It’s one of their specials served both for breakfast and lunch. Their menu changes daily depending on what is fresh at the markets. Owners Scott Warren, the chef, and Alexander Neville, the general manager, want everyone to feel welcome and feel like they are at home.

Indian Pass Raw Bar

8391 Highway C-30A

(850)-899-9001

The sign on the cracker-style building that houses the Raw Bar says, “Indian Pass Trading Post.” When you step onto the porch, you feel that old Florida vibe. The building was originally the commissary for the turpentine operation that was a big business here in the early 1900s. The building dates to 1929. In the early 1930s Mrs. Gypsie McNeill, the current owners’ great-grandmother, served meals and catered dinner parties in the east portion of the store.

The Raw Bar began in 1986 after hurricane Kate devastated the McNeill family’s wholesale oyster businesses. They decided to use their oysters, that no longer had a wholesale market to open the raw bar.

It has one of the most unique operating models I ever encountered in a restaurant. There’s an honor system for the drinks. You just go back to a refrigerated wall and open the glass doors to choose what you want to drink, from soft drinks to beer and bottles or cans of wine or cocktails. Tell a server what you picked and give them your order and find a seat where you can. The place is popular with locals and often filled with happy diners telling fish stories.

The menu is small but oh so fresh. It’s mostly seafood, naturally– oysters on the half shell- with a few hamburgers or hot dog choices for non-seafood patrons.

I had the Steamed Crab Legs served with Corn on the Cob, and a small serving of Seafood Gumbo. The gumbo was delicious, but those crab legs were out of this world.

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One of our new local friends recommended Strawberry Shortcake Cheesecake for dessert. It was fresh and made with three different layers: one cheesecake, one shortcake, and one topped with strawberries. I heard the Key Lime Pie was equally delicious.

They are big on music and have a stage and seating outdoors. Besides local artists playing here, they are usually the host of the final day of the Blast on the Bay. During this premier songwriters festival, many Nashville songwriters tell their stories and play their songs.

Shipwreck Raw Bar

7008 W. Hwy 98

(850)-6470-5050

Considering all the water surrounding Port St. Joe, no surprise there is another raw bar. Shipwrecked Raw Bar is a more modern version. I love the beach mural on its wall.

Their menu is extensive and mainly seafood. Drinks range from soft drinks to beer and wine choices. They are open all day. We visited for lunch, and I had a Basket of Fried Crab Claws with creamy cheese grits and a salad.

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Outside, be sure to check out the two cute selfie opportunities. There is a ship where you can stand in the bow and a pirate and mermaid with face cutouts to take seafarer images.

The View at St Joe Bay

51 Goodmorning Street

850-899-9029

As much fun as casual dining is, sometimes you want that luxury dining experience. Never fear. You can find it at Port St. Joe. The View is in Windmark Beach area, an upscale beach community. It overlooks the gulf, so at sunset, you have a fantastic view from the rooftop dining area. If you are looking for fancier steaks or lobster, dine in the downstairs restaurant. But if you want to be almost outdoors and watching the water, choose the rooftop.

We chose the rooftop and didn’t regret it. It’s set up on two sides of the building so there were just a few tables and the bar on our side. Our choices were still delicious, and the servings were generous.

We chose several dishes and shared. Peel and Eat Gulf Shrimp, Lobster Mac and Cheese, Lobster Lettuce Cups, Rock and roll Crunchy Shrimp, Fried Calamari, and a View Burger fed all seven of us well.

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Drinks ranged from cokes to any kind of cocktail you want. Our server was great, and near dusk, a musician, Martin Rodriguez, began to play. He knew how to get the most out of a guitar and his repetiteur was quite varied ranging from Daryl Hall and John Oates’ “Maneater” to Hank Williams “Jambalaya.”

Pomodoro Italian Grill and Bar

700 Country Club Rd

(850)-227-3427

Pomodoro Italian Grill and Bar is another choice for luxury dining. It’s located at the St. Joseph Bay Golf Club. It serves a variety of classic Italian fare like Capellini Scampi, a shrimp and angel hair pasta dish and Ossobuco e Pasta, veal with spaghetti.

We shared an El Pomodoro board with some excellent cheeses, pastrami prosciutto, and olives.

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For my entrée, I chose the Fettuccine Alfredo with Shrimp served with toast. It was very tasty and filling.

We shared some of his Pane al Parmigiano, delicious bread sticks flavored with garlic, and served with marinara sauce. I had to try their Crème Brulé for dessert.

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Surprisingly, the chef who owns Pomodoro is not Italian. Alejandro Arreguin grew up in Mexico City and also owns Quatros Locos Tacos and Cantina. He told us, “I spent a lot of time working in Italian restaurants in San Diego before moving to Port St. Joe. I love Italian food.”

The restaurant is beautifully decorated with murals that he told us were painted by his son with spray cans.

Sugar Shack PSJ

319 Reid Avenue

(256)-572-9868

If you are looking for a light dessert, stop at Sugar Shack PSJ and have an ice cream. They have some unusual flavors, like their adult ice creams, Butter Bourbon pecan, Strawberry Daiquiri Dream, and Irish Coffee.

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Besides ice cream, sodas, and milkshakes, they have other treats, like cheesecake and brownies.

Conclusion:

When you have had your fill of dining, you may want to visit a few special places in Port St. Joe. The Welcome Center is a great place to get information or just relax. I loved their photo op where you can take a photo with several St. Joe related props, and have it sent to your email, or a friend’s if you want to make them jealous.

Just a short distance away, the Cape San Blas Lighthouse offers a chance to work off a few calories from those rich meals by climbing the 98 feet to the top.

Two other places you want to visit are the Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Rescue Center. Especially for families with kids, since it is not only an education about turtle nesting and hatching, but you get to meet and touch many of the turtles.

For history buffs, the Florida Constitution Museum State Park tells the story of Florida’s entry into statehood right here in Port St. Joe. St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve protects the wild lands from development and is a hiker’s paradise. They do offer tram tours on certain Thursdays.

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