We love Gulf Shores, Alabama. The motto for the town is “small town, big beach” and while it is a tourist town, it also has a small town feel. Since we have a house here, we thought it might be helpful to write about our favorite dinner places.
Most of the places on my lunch list are also open for dinner although Kitty’s is not – they only do breakfast and lunch. So I am only going to list restaurants that I did not mention on the lunch post here.
Villaggio’s at the Wharf is one of our favorites. It is technically an Italian restaurant and has amazing brick oven pizzas and – my husband’s favorite – the seafood pasta. Everything here is good including the salads. My favorite salad is the scallop and arugula. So good! This restaurant is at the Wharf so you can go shopping or to the movies or just walk the marina before or after your meal.
GT’s on the Bay is on Canal road in Orange Beach. We eat here often because it is a huge restaurant and we can sometimes get in quickly even if they are busy. They are on the water and have a great pier to walk out on while waiting. They have outdoor seating and usually live music. The Steamer options here are really good – you can get shrimp or crab legs or both with the typical potatoes and corn. They also have a pretty good salad bar.
Louisiana Lagniappe is at San Roc marina in Orange Beach and has great views of the marina. They are a little more pricey but well worth it. I recommend the fish options.
Cosmo’s and Docs are on Canal road and are both very popular dinner locations. Doc’s has great fried food and Cosmo’s is know for their firecracker shrimp and barbeque crab claws.
If you get tired of seafood, there are other options. We like Cactus Cantina in Gulf Shores for Mexican food. I almost always get the grilled chicken or shrimp pineapple bowl. They cut a pineapple in half and fill it with fajitas stye meat and onions and peppers with some pineapple mixed in and rice and/or beans on the side. The standard options are really good also.
Papa Rocco’s is a well know pizza place on Gulf Shores Parkway and while they have a lot of other items on the menu, the pizza is great.
We also just tried Paula Dean’s restaurant at OWA. It was very good. They serve family style with platters of the meat you choose and your choice of multiple sides.
Other places to consider:
Big Mikes is very popular for steak. Get there early. They have long lines.
Mikee’s for excellent fried seafood right in Gulf Shores.
Island Wing Company if you are trying to avoid fried. I love the “no fry stir fry” shrimp (or chicken) and rice and vegetables but they have a really full menu.
And if you want to pick up food and take it home, Blalock’s Seafood in Gulf Shores has a two person shrimp boil with corn and potatoes. You can call them, tell them how much spice you want and what time you will pick it up. They also have fish and shrimp and crab legs to cook yourself. Pick up one of their frozen key lime or chocolate peanut butter pies to go also.
There are so many excellent places to try and I will keep this updated as new places open and we try new places.
Update: July of 2023
We are working our way through a whole new list of restaurants.
A little farther away in Magnolia Springs, which is about a 25 minute drive from Gulf Shores, is Jesse’s Restaurant. It has been a staple in the community since 1999 and the building has been there since 1922, operating as a store first. The menu has a wonderful selection of seafood and steaks with amazing sauces and sides. The food is definitely some of the best on the Alabama coast.
Coastal Restaurant has opened in Orange Beach! The most amazing views in the large two sectioned restaurant. One part is an open-air bar surrounded by both high-top and regular tables with great views. The other is part is a roomy waterfront restaurant. And the food is excellent! Great appetizers, salads, seafood tacos, fried shrimp and more. It is just a wonderful venue for enjoying the beach!