Note – chain establishments mentioned in news but not included in our listings
American Charlie Grill & Tavern
473 Richard Jackson Blvd, Panama City Beach
New (2022) eatery with patriotic theme and foods representing various US states by the owner of Firefly.
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Angelo’s Steak Pit
9527 W HWY 98, Panama City Beach
Extremely popular, large steakhouse with authentic (hasn’t been updated in forever) 70s vibe. Classic steaks cooked on a well-seasoned grill – and you can watch this sweat-fest through a window. Try the burgers but insist that they aren’t overcooked. Iconic gigantic cow stands guard in the front.
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Back Beach Barbecue
19714 Back Beach Rd, Panama City Beach
Young generation of BBQ masters in a small, trendy shop with both indoor and outdoor seating. If that perfectly-crisp, 12-hour Texas brisket doesn’t motivate you, then that smoked Velveeta mac & cheese will.
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Blue Top Waffle Shop
2802 Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach
Local, low-key favorite with meat+3 lunches and breakfast. Like a flashback to a wholesome ’70s hangover breakfast in an old Waffle House kind of building.
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Captain Anderson’s
9527 W HWY 98, Panama City Beach
Quintessential family seafood Goliath going back for generations to the early 1960s. Same location as original but has (unfortunately) modernized its iconic mid-century vibe. Long wait but watching the boats pull in at the marina is part of the whole affair. Buy a bottle of the Greek dressing to go.
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C Level
8014 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach
Popular, often crowded family-owned establishment since 2010, serving prime rib, burgers, seafood, salads and an array of sides such as collards, cheese grits, and grilled pineapple.
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Coconut Charlie’s
15727 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach
Located poolside at the new Hyatt, the name seems like a cousin of Pineapple Willie’s. The menu has some similarities as well, with grouper sandwiches, burgers, trendy boom boom shrimp tacos, and lots of slushy drinks. Live music in a paradise setting.
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Copper Tap Grill
1316 Beck Avenue, Panama City
Located in an old renovated Tastee Freeze, in Old St. Andrew’s, James Pigneri’s local favorite has a little something for everyone, including craft beers, seafood, steaks, and lite fares.
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Craft 850
7715 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach.
Unique assortment of American foods, including wild elk and a tater tot bar for heaven’s sakes.
Dozens upon dozens of tap beers. Maybe this is really a giant man cave disguised as a restaurant.
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Donut Hole
12983 US-98 E, Rosemary Beach
Needs no introduction for most, but typically thought of as breakfast heaven. You can actually have sandwiches, burgers, chicken sandwiches, and fried fare til 10 pm (so many others are closed way before this). But some of us are just fine with donuts for dinner.
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Fatty’s Sandwich Shop
916 Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach.
Friendly local favorite for fresh sandwiches, subs, salads and pizza. Kind of like Subway quality 40 years ago but more inventive and robust and with a serious Rock and Roll theme. Long lunch lines with local working folks.
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Funland
14510 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach
Here’s another one of the few originals from the PCB of a half century or more ago. Mongo room of games, some vintage, along with a small cafe of the old-school classic hot dogs, burgers, and onion rings done just right. Seriously, these wieners exceed my wildest fantasies. Grab one of those giant ketchup squirt bottles and take it to your table like you own it. It’s inexpensive hangover food at its best. Otherwise, feel free to down a Pabst Blue Ribbon. Owners are on-site and super friendly.
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History Class
6 E. 4th St., Panama City
If you like hanging out downtown with folks and their dogs while sipping IPAs and eating homemade pimiento cheese and BBQ pork sammy’s, then this may be your kinda place. Did I mention pimiento cheese?
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Patches Pub & Grill
4723 Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach
Dive joint not far from the beach. Wings, fish tacos, fried catfish, burgers and live music at night. Popular with locals and can get quite crowded. Fun for kids before the sun goes down. But that messy website – we should help them.
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Salty Goat Saloon
Front Beach Drive, Panama City Beach
Relaxed, super casual spot where people have fun and tend to stay awhile. Solid bar food catering to bikers.
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Schooners
8100 Thomas Dr, Panama City Beach
Location, location. Very casual, bustling and restaurant with a long history right on the beach. If you ever imagine your own totally-chill restaurant/bar on the beach, this is probably what you’re thinking of. Good luck with parking.
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Shore Dogs Grill
8100 Thomas Dr, Panama City Beach
Specializes in gourmet hot dogs with so forkin’ many toppings, but also has other items such as Philly Cheese Steak. People who love it really, really love it. Full bar in a small space. Come as you are.
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The British Eatery
280 S. Arnold Road, Panama City Beach
Small, easy-to-miss spot on the west end with fish and chips and a burger called The Winston Churchill.
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Thomas Donuts
5323 N. Lagoon Drive, Panama City Beach
It’s the donuts that create early-morning lines down on the west end, but grabbing an evening milk shake with a hot dog or hamburger basket is becoming a popular tradition. Blame it on that sunset view that makes all worries fade and suddenly you’re a kid at the beach again.
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Triple J Steaks and Seafood
Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach
Opened in 2000 with a traditional menu of sirloin and ribeye steaks, bbq ribs, grouper, boom-boom shrimp, fried pickles, pasta alfredo, and other unpretentious late 90s staples. Can be lively on weekends when there’s entertainment.
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Wicked Wheel
Looks and feels like a chain but was actually developed by local William Buskell, who also owns the more famous tourist historic Pineapple Willie’s. Has burgers and such but their claim to fame is their spicy fried chicken. Not gonna be the fanciest meal of your life but as reliable as your mama and not usually so much of a wait.
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