Orange Beach, Alabama is squarely on the Gulf coast, and the food here is well over its weight. I have been consuming this strip of eateries over the years and I am still discovering new places that are giving me a blowout.
It is not a rehashed list derived from the Google Maps reviews. These are the restaurants in Orange Beach that I have literally sat in, ordered from, and returned from. I would like to show you the important ones.
What Makes the Food in Orange Beach So Good?
The short answer? The Gulf of Mexico is close at hand. The beginnings of food in Orange Beach are the availability of some of the freshest seafood in the country. Shrimp boats are just docking just minutes from most of these restaurants and most of the kitchens here are sourced right off the local fishermen in Bon Secour.
But it is not just seafood. The Orange Beach food scene brings together the southern comfort food and Creole spice, Key West attitude, and grit of the Gulf. There will be a loaded po’ boy and a waterfront view dry-aged steak. It is that range that makes me go back each time.
Must Try Foods Before You Leave Orange Beach
You must know what you should order to eat when you sit down before I run through certain restaurants. The best food in Orange Beach will always revert to some of the signature dishes that make locals go insane.
- Royal Red Shrimp: These are deep-water shrimps, which taste more of lobster than the normal Gulf shrimps. Sweet and dainty and like nothing you see up north. Have them roasted in butter.
- Bushwacker: This is the Alabama Gulf Coast signature cocktail. Imagine an alcoholic milkshake with rum, coffee liqueur, and coconut cream. Each restaurant boasts of having the best.
- Fried Crab Claws: Blue crab claws are battered and fried to a golden brown. Simple and addictive. These are found on nearly every menu on the coast.
- Shrimp and Grits: Southern cuisine, Southern style. Grits Creamy stone ground grits with sauteed Gulf shrimp on top. The version of Ginny Lane made it on the list of Alabama’s 100 Dishes to Eat Before You Die.
- Oysters: Oyster farms on Long Island grow small, sweet and briny ones. Have them raw, chargrilled or baked with garlic butter. There is no wrong or right way to go anyway.
Best Seafood Restaurants in Orange Beach.
The major feature here is seafood. These restaurants are the best seafood restaurants in Orange Beach in the event you have just a few nights.
1. Fisher’s Upstairs at Orange Beach Marina
In my opinion, this is the best restaurant in Orange Beach. Period. Chef Bill Briand has been a James Beard semifinalist for five consecutive years, and the attentive details can be felt in each dish. The menu is also varied according to the fresh and local ingredients.
Seat high up on the deck with a view of the marina. Have what the server recommends as the fresh catch of the night. The preparations of seared Gulf fish in this place are different. Word of caution though, the reservations are quick to go during the peak season so make a reservation at least a week in advance.
2. The Gulf
This one is a vibe. The Gulf Orange Beach is a shipping container restaurant directly on the beach. The lobster and shrimp roll is unreal, as well as their hand-cut fries and a cold local craft beer. The grouper sandwich and shrimp tacos are also sure things.
It is informal, outdoors and has the barefoot beachy sensation that does not fail. There are no reservations and you will just have to turn up a bit earlier than dinner rush and you will be waiting. Free parking is also a good bonus for customers in this area.
3. Perdido Beach Resort Voyagers
Voyagers is the place to be in case you would like to dine in Orange Beach. This is the place when you visit on an anniversary or on such a birthday. Dry-aged steaks, Gulf seafood that is sustainable, and a wine list that is actually impressive. The Gulf scenery as seen through the dining room is magnificent.
They do not mind allergies to foods and dietary restrictions. The reservations are mostly necessary, particularly in summer. The two to three weeks in advance should be made when you are visiting between June and August. Even frequent patrons find the seasonal menu to be fresh.
4. Doc’s Seafood Shack
Docs is one of my personal favorites when having a relaxing evening. The journey alone is justified by the boiled shrimp appetizer. They play live most of the nights, outdoor games such as corn hole, and a good grilled plate of shrimp which locals testify.
It is not a theme park but family-friendly. Children will be able to play around and you can have your meal and a cool beverage. The atmosphere is casual, the servings are large, and the prices are affordable in terms of value. A sure best places to eat in Orange Beach.
5. Louisiana Lagniappe
Gulf Coast is matched with Creole, and it is a good match at Louisiana Lagniappe. This establishment is right on top of the San Roc Cay Marina and serves locally sourced seafood in that New Orleans style. The crab claws here are a must and the entire ambiance is that of a night out.
Interior seating, hence it remains cool when it is hot in Alabama. The full bar serves good cocktails and the fresh fish specials are changed on a daily basis. This is where to eat in Orange Beach in case you enjoy your seafood with a Cajun kick.
Where Do the Locals Eat in Orange Beach?
Tourist destinations are okay, but where do the locals eat in Orange Beach? These are the restaurants that the people of Baldwin County go to randomly on a typical Tuesday evening. No pretense, just good food.
6. Cosmo’s Restaurant and Bar
Cosmo is located deep on Canal Road and it seems to be a secret despite its years of existence. The crab claws at the BBQ that are cooked in Creole butter are marvelous. Their banana leaf fish wrap even made it to Alabama Food’s top 100 To Eat Before You Die. That is not a small honor.
This is an eclectic menu which draws upon Southern, Caribbean, and Gulf Coast influences at the same time. Child friendly, affordable, and a place that you walk in and you automatically feel welcome. You will be wrong not to include this one.
7. Seafood Restaurant of King Neptune
This is a true mom and pop spot. The sources of Bon Secour Fisheries are as local as it can get, since King Neptune uses Alabama wild shrimp supplied by Bon Secour Fisheries. There are no fake Royal Red shrimp here. Sweet, lobster like, and cooked in a simple way so as to taste the shrimp.
You will find locals and visitors intermingling on the picnic tables outside. It is barebone, simple food in Orange Beach Alabama, and that is the reason why it works. This is where you should first experience Royal Reds in case you have never tried it.
8. Papa Rocco’s
The attitude here should be made out by the fact that it calls itself the home of warm beer and lousy pizza. Ever since 1985 Papa Rocco has been a local institution. The pizza is not bad, the oysters are fresh, and live music is almost free, every night.
Happy hour runs from 11 AM to 7 PM. No joke. This is their local hangout where people relax and it has a true neighborhood bar feel. This is not the place to have a fancy dinner, but in case you want a real Orange Beach Alabama experience, this is where you can have it.
9. The Sloop
The Sloop is the definition of a local dive and it is hidden beneath the Highway 59 overpass in the nearby Gulf Shores. They specialize in Philly cheesesteaks, which are out of the Gulf Coast but I have my word on this one. It is well-liked among residents and is largely neglected by tourists.
Small, eclectic and full of life. A type of place that you would never visit unless someone in your community informed you of its existence. So here I am, telling you. Go.
Family Friendly Places to Eat in Orange Beach
Traveling with kids? These are some of the restaurants in Orange Beach Alabama that make the entire family satisfied without compromising on the quality of food.
10. The Hangout
I am not lying, the food in The Hangout is not spectacular. However, the experience is quite a different thing. Hourly foam parties, live music, games and fun atmosphere that children love. It is located in the center of the major beach.
And when you have children below the age of 12, just go. The foam party will be discussed for months. The fried calamari appetizer is most likely the most delicious dish in the menu. Consider it to be entertainment with food as opposed to restaurant entertainment.
11. Luna’s Eat and Drink
Luna’s surprised me. It became a favorite fast. Outdoor sand box facility is available where children can play and the homestyle sides are actually good. The crab dip in this case is filled with real crab meat, a rarity as you would imagine.
The kids special shark beverages are a nice addition. However, the Southern comfort cooking is what makes this one of the best places to eat in Orange Beach with the family. Green beans, mashed potatoes, fried okra and well prepared fish. Actual food not merely deep fried everything.
12. Lulu’s
The place, where Jimmy Buffett has his sister, Lulu, is an experience. Good shrimp tacos, cool beverages and lots to get kids. It also located on the Intracoastal Waterway, such that the scenery is solid and the sun set on the deck is actually beautiful.
Expect a wait during summer. This place gets packed. Even still the atmosphere is tough to beat in respect of a family dinner. They contain beach area, arcade, and ropes courses among the kids. Woody worth doing at least once in a lifetime.
Best Breakfast and Brunch Spots in Orange Beach
It is important to get your day off on the right foot, particularly when you are on vacation. It is here that I take morning meals.
13. Another Broken Egg Cafe
Cinnamon roll French toast here is deadly good. In case you are more of a savory eater, the Bacon and Chorizo Omelette is a must-have. Pancake flights allow you to sample several flavors in case you cannot make up your mind. It is a reliable and a quality breakfast all the time.
During weekends, it becomes congested, and thus the early one comes, the better it is. But all the food is worth the wait. Coffee is solid also, which really stays the most important to me than anything at 8 AM.
14. Brick and Spoon
Brunch inspired by New Orleans was offered on a daily basis until 2 PM. The Bananas in pajamas (bananas surrounded in egg roll wrappers with Foster sauce) are comic and ridiculous in the most positive manner. Fries are breakfast fries with bacon, cheese bechamel and hollandaise to be shared.
This is that type of brunch place that one would like to stay. The cocktails are bold, servings are huge, and the atmosphere is that of a slow morning vacation should. Orange Beach has one of the superior food places that one can visit in case he or she is late.
15. Southern Grind Coffee House
Their Beachwhacker coffee beverage is formed around the renowned bushwacker cocktail but in coffee version. Cocoa, coffee and chocolate. It is the type of thing that you did not know you required. They also serve an entire breakfast and lunch menu other than coffee.
Their gift shop is also quite good when it comes to bringing home beach themed gifts. However, I am planning to come here to have the Belgian waffle with strawberries and a good latte. Tables indoors and out, not too full on weekday mornings.