Uncontained Alfresco Dining

The Gulf is a beachy outdoor dining venue.  They have two locations.  One in Fort Walton Beach, FL and the other in Orange Beach, AL.  The restaurant is cleverly constructed using old shipping containers painted with a beautiful deep ocean blue color.  The landscape includes silky soft grass, soaring palm trees, powdery sand and a captivating bayfront dining experience.  There is a short bayside boardwalk to enjoy a walk along the water and a boat accessible dock for their watercraft patrons.  You have a variety of choices for seating, such as picnic tables, high-top or low-top tables, and sofa loungers.  Many of the tables are covered by umbrellas to protect from direct sunlight and some large enough for communal dining to share the experience with friendly strangers.  The menu selection is average, but it changes seasonally and sometimes even daily, so there are opportunities to try something new throughout the year.  They focus on sourcing many of their ingredients locally, which means a fresh taste is to be expected.  The ordering process is very casual.  There is a walk-up window to place your order.  They give you a number to place on your table for the servers to bring your food out to you.  We chose to sit at a covered picnic table so I could go barefoot with one foot in the silky grass and the other in the powdery sand.  It was relaxing and therapeutic to have a double dose of grounding for this nature girl.  Our dining experience began with the Coconut Fried Fish Bites, a signature item and local favorite.  I was excited to try it, because you typically only see coconut shrimp offered on menus.  The fish was Mahi Mahi hand battered with a delightful coconut breading.  The breading was a little heavy, but you could still taste the coconut.  The texture was very crunchy, but thankfully not oily.  It was good, but like most small battered items, the protein gets a little lost within all the breading.  It was served with a Sweet Fire Aioli for dipping which complimented the coconut flavor well.  Next up was the Grilled Grouper Sandwich served with lettuce and tomato with a separate order of fries.  The grouper was lightly but superbly seasoned and simply melted in your mouth with its delicate texture.  The fries were average, but still hot and fresh.  While there was an outdoor bar and music to liven things up, our experience was extra special as we got to watch military jets from Eglin Air Force Base flying overhead with their maneuvers almost the entire time we were there. It was a personal treat for me as I love to watch military planes zip through the blue skies.  Unfortunately, we never saw our server again after we had received our food.  We dumped our disposable dinnerware in the garbage and made our way out after enjoying a quick walk along the boardwalk and inspection of the fish swimming around the boat dock.  Though the service was almost non-existent, the food was good, and the atmosphere was spectacular.  I would definitely go back again for the ambiance and the curiosity of what’s new on the menu.

Summary

Restaurant Name: The Gulf

Address: 1284 Marler Ave, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548

Service – Below Average

Food – Good

Portion Size – Average

Menu Selection – Average (Seasonal offerings bring variety and new culinary opportunities.)

Dietary Options – Gluten Free, Approximately 70% Biblically Clean

Cost/Value – Moderate

Ambiance – Casual, Beachy, Bayfront

Parking – Free. Sufficient Availability.

Reservations/Waitlist – None

Suited Type of Patron – Adults and Children

Signature Dishes – Coconut Fried Fish Bites, Lobster and Shrimp Roll

Special Features – On-site Gift Shop. Private event hosting from corporate to weddings.