No more than a few hundred yards wide in most places, Perdido Key stretches some 16 miles, with almost 60 percent of it located in federal or state parks—making it one of the last remaining unblemished stretches of wilderness in the Florida Panhandle.
Yes, it’s a quiet slip of beach terrain, but Perdido Key has many restaurants to enjoy, regardless of whether you’re in the mood for quick and convenient take-out or for lingering over a dinner out with friends.
Here are a few of the restaurants in Perdido Key to enjoy.
Lillian’s Pizza: Rollin’ In The Dough Since 1989
Named a 2015 Readers’ Choice Winner by the Pensacola News Journal, Lillian’s Pizza, at 14514 Perdido Key Dr., is a favorite among locals and visitors.The dining space is sizable, and the menu is diverse. Guests can dine on starters like loaded potato skins and cheese garlic bread before enjoying salads, sandwiches, pasta and pizza. Sandwiches range from a classic club and Italian meatball to a Reuben or a muffuletta. Pasta dishes include everything from fettuccine Alfredo to pesto ravioli and build-your-own lasagna.
Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you the piece de resistance at Lillian’s is the pizza. Toppings run the gamut from the typical pepperoni and sausage to broccoli, artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes.
Some of the most popular pizzas are the Kansas City BBQ Chicken, Big Dave’s Meat Pizza, Pesto Pizza and Hawaiian Supreme.
Lillian’s is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily. For more information, call (850) 492-0131.
Shrimp Basket: Grillin’, Steamin’ & Fryin’ For You
Looking for quality seafood and friendly service? Visit the Shrimp Basket at 14600 Perdido Key Dr. Open for lunch, dinner and late night, this restaurant is especially popular among families with children and those dining on a budget.The menu encompasses a variety of original seafood dishes and local favorites. With choices ranging from oysters, shrimp and fish to crab claws and crawfish, the restaurant also serves po-boys, chicken and sandwiches. Another favorite is Shrimp Basket’s Roasted Red Pepper Bama Sauce over fettuccine pasta.
The all-you-can-eat steamed shrimp is served with shrimp slaw, corn and new potatoes. Hungry for some fried fish or shrimp? Get all-you-can-eat baskets full of the fried delicacies along with shrimp slaw, hushpuppies, fritter and your choice of new potatoes, fries or potato salad.
The Shrimp Basket originated in Gulf Shores, Ala., in 1993, just two blocks north of the beach. The concept of the first Shrimp Basket started in what once was a yogurt shop and is still going strong in Gulf Shores.
Shortly thereafter, the location in Perdido Key was opened successfully and was followed by 18 more, including two in Mississippi and in non-coastal locations in Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, Evergreen and Auburn.
Sister restaurants include The Steamer Baked Oyster Bar and Mikee’s, both in Gulf Shores.
Vallarta
Located at 3584 Perdido Key Dr., Vallarta serves authentic Mexican cuisine ranging from enchiladas and quesadillas to crispy flautas, tacos and more.The chefs use fresh ingredients to prepare each dish.
A kids’ menu offers a variety of dishes ranging from tacos, beef burritos and beef enchiladas to chicken fingers, pizza and quesadillas.
The Sports Bar of Perdido Key
Opened in August 2010, The Sports Bar of Perdido Key is on Perdido Key Parkway just over the bridge.The restaurant/bar combo has become a favorite spot for locals to watch the game, have a cold one and enjoy some great food.
With a love of everything SEC and also the Green Bay Packers, The Sports Bar serves a menu loaded with charbroiled burgers and baskets.
You can order a black and bleu burger, a burger topped with cheese and sautéed onions, a jalapeno ranch burger, a steak burger or sliders.
Baskets are filled to the brim with fried fish, chicken, wings and fries.
Sandwiches, wraps and salads complete the menu options.
The Reef
With reviewers praising the casual atmosphere and helpful staff, The Reef is noted for its sandwich- and burger-focused menu. Said one reviewer, “The burger may be the best burger I have ever had.”Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks, the restaurant is located at 13595 Perdido Key Drive. Outdoor dining is available.
Live music and karaoke create a lively atmosphere that local residents have grown to love.
The Crab Trap Seafood & Oyster Bar
Fresh, daily specials and a menu with something for everyone keep customers coming back year after year.Family-friendly dining makes The Crab Trap the perfect spot to begin or end your day at the beach.
With three locations along the Florida Panhandle, The Crab Trap has been a destination for visitors and locals alike since the first store opened in 1991 at James Lee Park in Destin.
The Crab Trap Restaurants have been featured in Southern Living Magazine, Coastal Living Magazine and many other publications across the United States. The restaurants’ beautiful waterfront locations have made them hot spots for many national and international advertising campaigns.
Found on the “lost island” of Perdido Key, The Crab Trap is a funky, fun fishhouse on the Gulf of Mexico. With a boardwalk leading directly down to the sparkling white sand and crystal clear water, The Crab Trap is a great spot for a casual lunch, intimate night out or a family day on the water.
Easy parking, a huge playground and a special menu designed just for kids make The Crab Trap, Perdido the perfect spot for the whole family.
Daily specials like Bay Scallops and Blackened Mahi Mahi and favorites such as Blue Crab Claws and Crab Cakes make it easy to satisfy everyone in your party. Rustic, Florida décor, beautiful views of the Gulf and fantastic food and service will keep you coming back to The Crab Trap, Perdido.
The Perdido Key Oyster Bar Restaurant & Marina
Located directly on the Intracoastal Waterway, just five miles east of the Florida/Alabama state line, the view from The Perdido Key Oyster Bar is stunning. Sit back and watch boats coming by, dolphins popping up their heads, and fish jumping out of the water.Starters can be anything from onion rings and fried crab claws to New Orleans BBQ shrimp served in a hot and spicy Cajun butter sauce.
Oysters take center stage, with oysters on the half shell, oysters Rockefeller, steamed oysters and blackened oysters all making an appearance. Oyster bar classics like fried oysters, shrimp and oysters, and bay scallops and shrimp are also guest favorites.
Ample seafood platters and market fish dinners are popular, as are dishes featuring steaks and pasta.
Jellyfish Restaurant
Located at 13700 Perdido Key Dr., the Jellyfish Restaurant can be found atop a souvenir shop at the Villagio shopping center.Locally owned and operated and started as a small sushi and martini bar, the Jellyfish has grown into one of Pensacola’s premier restaurants, said Bryan Minchew, co-owner.
“Anything worth doing is worth doing well,” Minchew said. “We wanted a restaurant that has broader appeal than most. We didn’t want to specialize in one or two areas; we wanted the best sushi, the best steaks, the best oyster bar, and the best seafood, period. We wanted a restaurant that would reflect our professional ambitions. We weren’t satisfied with a few signature items on our menus, we wanted a signature restaurant.”
A menu highlight is the oyster selection: Chargrilled, black and blue, creole, Rockefeller and bacon parmesan.
Sandwiches, including a meatloaf sandwich and an Andouille crawfish po’ boy, along with seafood platters and house specialties like Chicken Delacruz and Creole Smoked Meatloaf, are also popular.
Flora-Bama Ole River Bar
The Flora-Bama Ole River Bar straddles the Florida/Alabama line with a beach area accessible by land or sea and lies just west of the Flora-Bama Yacht Club. The restaurant offers dining alongside the water.The Flora-Bama Ole River Bar features fresh seafood, tasty sandwiches and finger foods, while the bar showcases crafty cocktails and beers.
Live music is a staple at the Flora-Bama. See the live music schedule.
