Restaurants
Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Foley have all the standard chains and they are not covered below. We assume you are familar with them. The only one we might mention is Longhorn Steakhouse which seems maybe a cut above the average Longhorn. Other than that, chains are pretty much chains.
Our highly recommended places to eat, in no particular order, are listed below:
Bahama Bob's Beach Side Cafe
601 West Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores - 251-948-2100 - Distance: 2.8 miles - Neat beachside bar. Fabulous hamburgers. Also, the shrimp salad is very special. http://www.bahamabobs.com/
Beach House Kitchen & Cocktails
1154 West Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores - 251-948-2431 - Distance: 1.7 miles - This is an exceptional restaurant. It is a bit understated and you really don't realize how great it is until you start trying some of their food. Everything is made from scratch and they go out of their way to get fresh ingredients. The fish tacos are spectacular as is the hamburger. I'll report on more as we try them. The drinks are made from scratch, too! http://beachhousegs.com/
Gulf Shores Seafood Market
921 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf Shores - 251-948-8456 - Distance: 3.9 miles - We offer an excellent selection of cooked or fresh seafood at an available price, including, shrimp, and many different types of fish, crabmeat, crab legs, oysters, seafood dips, and much more. http://www.gulfshoresseafood.com/
Island Wing Company
3947 Highway 59, Gulf Shores - 251-970-1337 - Distance: 6 miles - This place has absolutely outstanding wings. You probably thought you like fried wings but after you go here you will realize it is baked wings that you really want. This is our favorite wing place anywhere.. http://www.islandwing.com/
King Neptunes Seafood Restaurant
1137 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf Shores - 251-968-5464 - Distance:4.2 miles - Overall, our favorite seafood restaurant in Gulf Shores. Not fancy. Priced reasonable. Always good. Try the fried shrimpor crabmeat stuffed tilapia. Southern Living said they had the best shrimp anywhere. http://www.kingneptuneseafoodrestaurant.com/
DeSoto's Seafood Kitchen
138 west 1st Ave, Gulf Shores, AL - 251-968-7294 - Distance:3 miles - This is a fine dining, steak and seafood restaurant and it is exceptionally good. It literally has a wall full of awards. http://www.desotosseafoodkitchen.com/
Hazel's Nook
120 Fort Morgan Road, Gulf Shores - 251-968-7065 - Distance: 4.5 miles - Great breakfastplace. They have a buffet and a made to order omelet/egg grill. We wish it were bigger but the food is great.
Original Oyster House
701 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf Shores - 251-948-2445 - Distance: 4 miles - This is a great restaurant. Maybe too great. When you hear people complain about having to wait two hours to eat in Gulf Shores, they are talking about this place. They literally bought the restaurant across the street and closed it just to get their parking lot to accomodate the crowds. If you are here in the winter, definitely try it, because you can actually get in. During the busy season, there is literally a line out on the sidewalk. We don't know how your tolerance for waiting is, but you won't be disappointed in the food. http://www.originaloysterhouse.com/
Shrimp Basket
2105 E 2nd Ave, Gulf Shores - 251-948-7687 - Distance: 3.5 miles - Local chain famous for reasonably priced seafood. Great fried shrimp. We like the blackened fish and the shrimp etoufee'. It has pretty good lines too. Here is a tip for the summer: There is another Shrimp Basket with identical food just up the road in Foley. They are busy too but not crazy stupid line out the door busy like this one. https://shrimpbasket.com/
Doc's Seafood Shack
Canal Road in Orange Beach and 24221 Perdido Beach Blvd Orange Beach 8.1 miles 251-281-0888. https://www.docsseafoodandsteak.com/
Cobalt
28099 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange Beach (east end of Perdido Pass bridge) - 251-923-5300 - Distance:12 miles - Fabulous waterfront restaurant. You can drive your boat up to it and park. Great steaks and seafood. Do not, under any circumstances, go here without trying the Firecracker Shrimp. http://www.cobaltrestaurant.net/
Cosmos
25753 Canal Road, Orange Beach - 251-974-2328 - Distance: 12 miles - Number one on Trip Advisor in Orange Beach. Everything is good. http://www.cosmosrestaurantandbar.com/
Wolf Bay Lodge
20801 Miflin Road (County Road 20) Foley, AL - 251-987-5129 - Distance: 12 miles - Also has an Orange Beach location 8 miles from condo at 24131 Perdido Beach Boulevard 251-965-5129. Fabulous, economically priced seafood and steaks. It used to be on Wolf Bay and it burned down. Technical problems with rebuilding so they moved to Foley. The crab cakes, crab claws, corn fritters, and steamed Royal Reds are all great. Try the fried whole flounder. Lunch Specials http://www.wolfbaylodgefoley.com/ Orange Beach location: https://www.wolfbaylodge.com/wolf-bay-restaurant-orange-beach-al
Kitty's Kafe
3800 Gulf Shores Parkway, #100, Gulf Shores - 251-948-5233 - Distance: 7 miles - Really exceptional breakfastand lunch place. Number 3 on Trip Advisor in Gulf Shores. http://www.kittyskafe.com/
Fish River Grill #3
1545 Gulf Shores Parkway (AL 59), Gulf Shores (251)948-1110 - Distance: 5 miles - Outstanding hamburger, great catfish. They are going to bring you a little cup of " swamp soup" as an appetizer. Frankly, it doesn't smell the greatest. Please try it. It is fabulous. http://fishrivergrill.com/
Mikee's Seafood
205 East 2nd Avenue, Gulf Shores - 251-948-8881 - Distance: one mile - https://mikeesseafood.com/
Tacky Jacks
240 East 24th Avenue, Gulf Shores (at the west end of Canal Road) - 251-948-8881 - Distance: 6 miles - Great place for breakfast as well as a fun bar just to hang out. There are other locations in Orange Beach and Fort Morgan. http://www.tackyjacks.com/
Eat Your Way Around the Beach
Website. This is an exceptional resource. The Gulf Shores visitors website compiled the results of "Peoples Choice" surveys and provide lists of the highest recommended restaurnts by category: http://www.gulfshores.com/eatyourway/