Best Restaurants Open for Newyears Eve this year in Destin – 2024

Another wonderful experience here. This is always a favorite with our kids. The meals were top notch. Our server was very good and took great care of our table. We will be back. The scallops were amazing!! The cheesecake and coconut cream pie were delicious.

We had an excellent experience. A large party of 10+ and the waiter was on point. Appetizers came out quickly and we didn't have one that the group did not like. I had the scallops with lobster tail and could not have been happier with my choice. If you save room, I highly recommend the blueberry bread pudding with vanilla ice cream. Overall, we had a great experience.

Had dinner in this restaurant, sat outdoor. The food was great. I just wished I had the lobster bisque hot enough for me to enjoy but it was cold when it was served. Service was excellent, we had Jessie whom very personable and knowledgeable in what they are serving. I was celebrating my birthday that night and he gave me a birthday dessert which was very much appreciated. Thanks a lot to you Jessie for putting extra mile in giving us outstanding service.

We really enjoyed our experience. We were fortunate enough to have a table by the railing. The views of the harbor were nice. Our waiter was friendly and personable without being intrusive. We all enjoyed our meals. We had some really good seafood. The desserts were average, so maybe get that somewhere else.

We went here on the recommendation of others. We were very pleased! Our server was very friendly, helpful, and took time to explain the menu and options to us first-timmers. The building and decor is just how you'd imagine a fish restaurant on the water would look; rustic, weathered, and simple. I Love it! The food was simply amazing. My wife and I both had platters which we were able to upgrade our fish to the catch of the day for a nominal price. Generous portions and reasonable prices. If you go away hungry that's on you. We were stuffed! If you're in Destin, make it a priority to stop here. You won't be disappointed.

Dewey's is not for the people that want fine dining with table cloth, but if you want great food sitting on a pier watching the boats go by, then Dewey's harbor side is the place. The chef really knows his seafood because the amberjack was perfection, and so was the steamer plate of shrimp my wife had. If you want fancy, go elsewhere, but if you want great food, you owe it to yourself to go to Dewey's harbor side. And try the smoked tuna for an appetizer.

We found this place by highway as we were passing through. Right on the beach and has fresh seafood. You can order and they will give you a number and deliver to the table. There are picnic style tables both inside and outside. Staff are very friendly and accommodating. We loved seating by the beach and enjoyed food. Only thing is that fried oyster had some shells mixed in. Overall it is really fresh and great seafood.

We had a terrible waiter, he was not social-able. Not friendly at all and made us feel very uncomfortable. However, the manager was able to give us a new server which made me feel a lot more comfortable. She was awesome. The grouper is very good. Not a fan of their side options. You can bring in your own catch and have it cooked! We thought that was pretty cool. A lot of history at this place. We learned a lot from the manager that helped us.

Dewey Destin’s Seafood Restaurant is perfectly located on a pier by the ocean. My lunch experience was truly unforgettable! I was captivated by the stunning views of the ocean. Sitting on the pier, I felt the gentle ocean breeze while being surrounded by a variety of fish swimming below and birds gracefully soaring above. The sound of the waves added a relaxing backdrop to my meal. The seafood was fresh and flavorful. I ordered the grilled swordfish of the day, which was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The accompanying sides of corn, red potatoes, and coleslaw salad complemented the dish beautifully. The combination of delicious food, beautiful scenery, and excellent service made this lunch one of my best dining experiences.

The outdoor dining experience was exceptional! The restaurant and service was second to none and over all a great experience! The food was good and from my perspective has a great taste. The only draw back was the crab was slightly over cooked! The shells were extremely soft and some of the meet was build out from the smaller areas.but overall a great flavor

The Crab Trap in Destin is a must-visit if you’re a seafood lover looking for a great meal with an unbeatable view! Nestled right on the beach, this spot offers stunning oceanfront dining that perfectly complements the delicious seafood on the menu. The atmosphere is laid-back and family-friendly, making it a great choice for both casual lunches and special dinners. The menu is packed with fresh, local seafood options—everything from fried shrimp and oysters to their famous crab legs. The Crab Trap Platter is a personal favorite, offering a little bit of everything, and it’s all cooked to perfection. One of the best parts about dining here is the setting. You can enjoy your meal while taking in the breathtaking views of the Gulf, whether you’re seated inside or out on the deck. The beach is just steps away, so it’s the perfect place to relax after a day of sun and sand. The service is always friendly and efficient, even during the busy season. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, The Crab Trap is a spot you don’t want to miss. I’m already looking forward to my next visit!

Our sever, Christopher was awesome! He took great care of us, kind, and joyful. The food was wonderful too! I highly recommend the smoked tuna dip (it has chunks of tuna with a great Smokey flavor) along with the real crab cakes!. We come here just for the dip & always order some for to go!

Grace was great servicing us today (Thursday). Parking was around $12. There is an automatic service charge of 20%. We came in right when it opened and got the AYCE crabs. The butter sauce was great, corn was yummy, and the crabs were also delicious! Grace was very attentive and made sure my crabs were always refilled before I even ask and same goes with my drinks. The bathroom was also clean and smelled like bath and body works~

In town to escape Hurricane Milton’s path and came back to Brotula’s for dinner. Jon was our server and the absolute best! We were quick to order starters and they literally came in less than 5min! While we were eating them we ordered the Solo and a pound of Local Shrimp as our entrees. Their Rajun Cajun sauce is SO good! Everything was boiled/steamed perfectly and service is quick! Highly recommend eating here if you’re in town!

The food was delicious. I got the burger. My wife got the AYCE crab legs. They offer them from 11am-3pm everyday. John was our server and he was great, he was chatty and didn't act like we were a burden. Will definitely go again!

This place was recommended and we did enjoy our food. It seemed they were trying to be a very upscale restaurant but it did miss a bit. The wine menu was basic with choices available at most grocery stores. The salad was served with dressing on the side served in a plastic to go container. The salad tasted like bag lettuce vs freshly cut. The chocolate lava cake did not taste freshly made. The staff was very kind and attentive. The redfish was delicious. We would return and it is worth a try. I would pass on the dessert.

Great place for some great food. Had the Shrimp and Grits and it was delicious. My wife had the grouper almondine and she loved it. Note for those with food allergies/intolerances...my wife has several (gluten, corn, soy, eggs). This restaurant is very good at accommodating these needs. Ask for Natalie...she will make sure your food is right. Highly recommend.

Everything was good, but not worth the price. They try to be an upscale restaurant, but they do some things that keep it from being worth the price. Here are a few. They asked us to pass plates and glasses back and forth along the table. They serve salad dressing in plastic cups with plastic lids like carry out. They served a frozen virgin cocktail in a plastic to go cup. The food is good but not great. I'm glad we went, but we would not go back. There is better seafood at a much better price. The hushpuppies are really good.

Good atmosphere, nice by the water. Lazy October afternoon, great temperature, breeze, no flies. Our server was excellent. Very friendly. Attentive. She is definitely an asset to this establishment. The strawberry margarita was good. Got a good buzz off of it. The food, however was very very underwhelming. We got the fish and chips. The fries were good. Hot. A bit chewy like they were over a bit, but I like them hot so that part was good. The fish looked like mass-produced fish sticks with a very thick batter, over cooked. No flavor. Fish was dried out. Hard , like hurt your teeth difficult to bite through hard as hell crunch. Very very disappointed. I know it's a chain, I should have known better. But it was lunch. So what the heck, right? Very very tourist magnet. I'll never be back for the food. Maybe sit outside and have a drink.

Good experience. Other places had a 20-30 minute wait. They sat us almost immediately. They were a little short handed by how busy everyone was but the server was knowledgeable and got our orders correct. Food was good. Views were good. If you need dinner with the kiddos, this is one chain restaurant you should give a try.

Service was great! My initial choice of margarita was not tasty and the waiter was able to find a better option with what I was looking for. Great views while you eat if you get the tables near the sides. Food was good, nothing out of the ordinary. Granted we did order just burger and chicken sandwiches.

This place had the best food and service! Meals were wonderful and came out piping hot! Emmy G, our server, was fabulous! She had time to chat, kept our drinks filled and was upbeat and so sweet. Not to mention our grandsons thought she was very pretty . Very clean, great views and love the dog friendly decor! Thanks for a great dinner. Farm to table & fresh catch of the day!

Let me start by this is gonna be an honest long review if you want details go ahead and keep reading… The family atmosphere is 10 out of 10 a local community member recommended this restaurant and for a honeymoon dinner. The owner went out of his way to make sure that we were treated 10 out of 10 ….for impeccable service….now let me get to the Michelin star and James Beard style kitchen and chef …..the food was 1000 out of 1000. The snapper was done so respectfully so fresh the oysters were amazing the sides every bit of the flavors were there the way the menu changed throughout each bite was incredible. The cocktails are on point they were generous pours flavors the mixed drinks perfect everything about this restaurant made the evening so special. I can’t recommend this enough. They have made a lifelong customer out of me, get there early sometimes but that’s because of how amazing. patio is incredible seating the inside is incredible. The whiskey selection that’s in the case has to be locked because it’s that rare and that great. Don’t forget about the tequila selection. The dinner the desserts the appetizers are so fresh so many ways. I’ve ate a lot of places, but this one was definitely top five in the country. I cant speak any higher of this restaurant …again due to the owner due to my friends recommendation and due to how we were treated. 1000/1000 worth every bit of the wait … do it and disagree I dare you.

Started with goat cheese, berry, pecan, mixed green salsa. Then had pan seared snapper over linguine. Ended w rustic cheesecake. My new favorite restaurant! Except I live too far away (West Texas,) to come here often. The food was high quality and each dish had balanced flavors. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Our first time here, and we loved it. Our food was delicious. We ordered blackened shrimp, popcorn shrimp, chicken tenders, and a chicken quesadilla. Our waitress was very nice, and she never let our drinks get below half full. Will definitely eat here again.

super cute place to go to. fed the little gators with a fishing pole that was fun, you can also pay for a picture to hold an alligator. food was also great. alligator bites was amazing. the server was so sweet definitely one of the best ones we had visiting Florida. I didn’t get his name.

Bring your permanent marker! This place is a lot of fun. You can feed the alligators, have your picture taken with one, sign your name literally anywhere and there is also a small play area for children. Very entertaining if you have to wait to be seated. We waited 45 minutes and when we were seated we saw 10 tables that were available. I think they purposely make you wait to spend more money. But it wasn’t a problem we had fun! The food was eh. You do get souvenir cup and kids meals come on a souvenir frisbee.

Stunning waterfront views, delicious seafood, and pretty good service! The oysters were fresh and flavorful, and the fish tacos had the perfect balance of spice and crunch. To top it off, the Key Lime pie was a delightful finish to the meal. The atmosphere here is just unbeatable, especially with such beautiful scenery . Highly recommend for a relaxing meal by the water!

Such an amazing dinner! Our group of 6 walked up to the sky bar and were able to sit down right away. The food was delicious! - oysters with Gouda and bacon (4/6 of my group have never had oysters, but we all tried them and all thought they were great. No weird fishy taste or texture at all) - spinach artichoke dip - coconut shrimp - mahi tacos - dessert sampler Preston was a great server! This place was so awesome! Atmosphere and live music was some of the best.

Great food and service. As a family of four we had the Grouper Moreno, Gulf Coast Snapper, Magi Sandwich, and Gulf Tacos. Our app of Smoked Mahi Dip and Raw Oysters was just as good. The Egde will become a regular stop on our annual trip.

I'm not a tough judge of food but very few places leave me speechless after the first bite. This food was amazing! The ribs was some of the best I've had and everything on the plate was good. The ribs was fall off the bone and the steak almost melts in your mouth. They bring the steak out sizzling and it was good. The atmosphere was so amazing. The Irish theme and money hanging everywhere makes a great experience. Any time I'm in Destin I'm definitely going back here

We were in town for our anniversary trip and a friend that lives here recommended coming here for lunch. Everything was delicious! It is rather dark in here, so if you need reading glasses, make sure to bring them. Needed my flashlight on my phone to read the menu, but that's my fault. I forgot my glasses. The waitress was fantastic, and I even purchased a gift card to send to my friend as I thank you. All of the dollar bills stapled throughout the whole place are amazing, and we even were given a marker so that we could personalize and add our own to the wall. Great spot to check out if you are in town.

Chris, our waiter was great. Very knowledgeable about the history,food, and drinks. Very unique place. Bring a dollar and sign it, and they will provide a stapler. Don't trust their AI because it told us music was at 7 when it was actually at 10.

I recently dined at The Back Porch, and it was a fantastic experience. The seafood was fresh and delicious, perfectly cooked, and full of flavor. The view from the restaurant is simply breathtaking – it's the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a meal with a stunning backdrop. The service was excellent; our server was attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed without any delays. Overall, The Back Porch is a must-visit for great seafood, incredible views, and top-notch service. Highly recommend!

The atmosphere is perfect beach views! Attire is relaxed as well. Food was amazing and the staff was super friendly. The fish was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Make sure to ask for vinegar (if that's your thing) when getting raw oysters. It didn't come with mine. Burger was said to be fabulous as well as the kids grilled cheese. Grilled shrimp Greek salad was also top notch.

This was definitely a great experience. I went and had the red snapper blackened on a sandwich. It was very tender and good but definitely would have been better over rice. Next time I'm done I'll definitely try it that way. The second day I went I had the fried grouper sandwich and it was definitely a 10 out of 10! I got some of the spicy sauce on the side and added it to it. That just took it over the top. The view of the beach and breeze you feel from the water makes this definitely 5 stars. Our waiter was good, timely and helpful. Anytime I'm in Destin, I definitely have to stop by the back porch! It's a must try for seafood.

Thank you, Dave & Jake, for the amazing birthday experience. 5 stars are rarely heard from me, but these guys made my day so memorable. They were full of fun & laughs and were the most gracious of hosts and tour guides for those of us just visiting. You don't want to Chute anywhere else on the Emerald Coast. See the best of the Harbor, Crab Island and more when you ride with Just Chute Me!!

Crew was great but it took three tries and nearly 30 minutes to get the chute opened. Air temp was in the mid to upper 60's so we felt bad when one of the crew members had to jump in the water to free up the chute ropes from the prop. It was smooth "sailing" after that and everyone had fun. You could tell the captain was very experienced. The other groups with us were very chill and we got to see several dolphins on our way back to the dock. I would recommend this service.

Captain Dave handled the boat flawlessly and confidently and I always felt safe. First Mate Brandon took first class care to get us into our parasailing gear. He guided us on how to sit on the gear and enjoy the parasailing. Brandon also took great pictures of our experience. They both were consummate professionals and I always felt at ease. They made it an incredible experience Registering staff at check in made it easy and straightforward and I received discount for being Local. Great Value and an experience for a lifetime. I will definitely do this again and ask for Captain Dave and First Mate Brandon. Top Notch

Absolutely amazing experience. A must for anyone with a bride to be bachelorette party! The captain was so kind and courteous. The first mate helped keep the boat clean and even made sure we didn’t have to go to the boat for more drinks. She would just bring them to us . 100% recommend! …

Service was excellent for our Bachelorette Party of 14!! Capt Al and Avery catered to all of needs. They went above and beyond to make our trip wonderful !!

We had a wonderful time last night on our Sunset Cruise. Captain AL and Lisa were the best!! The Yacht was awesome and had plenty of room for all 8 of us!!