My wife, 3 boys (age 6-12) and myself are anxiously counting down the hours until Wednesday when we can head south to our favorite vacation spot and beautiful sand and water of SoWal! We're going to putter around Destin/Pensacola/Mobile for two days before spending the week at High Pointe. My 10 and 12 year olds remember the beach bar at High Pointe where they love sipping cokes with baskets of french fries and I'm wondering if anyone can tell me if it is still open? They have also become addicted to boiled shrimp and want to try oysters..can anyone recommend the best restaurant/bar where we can go to enjoy the view (my better half doesn't do seafood but loves having a drink with a beach/harbor view), some ice cold beer and platters of oysters/shrimp/fish in the SoWa area?

I've read the good reviews of Shorty's and can't wait to try that out as well as the obligatory stop at the Red Bar. We also want to have some pizza on the beach at sunset - can someone please recommend the best pizza close to High Pointe? I love reading the forum threads through the winter and it's a big part of the anticipation and buildup to our SoWal trips....thanks everyone for making our visits to SoWal so enjoyable!

The high Pointe bar/restaurant is still open. Probably a new owner since you last visited but it is still there doing the same stuff. A great place to enjoy a cold one.

A note on the Pensacola-SoWal leg of the trip: The coast road between Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach is finally open again after sustaining a lot of damage from Ivan (2004) and Dennis (2005) It's one of the prettiest roads on the Gulf Coast and well worth the $1 bridge toll you pay coming from the west.

From US 98, take the Pensacola Beach toll bridge south at Gulf Breeze, and once you get to the traffic light, go east on Via de Luna. Enjoy the view and follow the road to Navarre Beach causeway, go left over the bridge and continue your journey by going right onto US 98.

Many thanks beachmouse and rb for your reply.........we're counting down the minutes 'til we can enjoy the SoWal hospitality

A word of caution to anyone planning on making the Pensacola-Navarre (or visa-versa) drive from Wednesday (July 8) to Saturday (July 11). The Navy Blue Angels are practicing Wednesday-Friday for their big show on the beach on Saturday, so the beach traffic through the rest of the week will be a dog!

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But hey...Top Ramen tastes a whole lot better when you eat it off of a Granite Countertop. (Mr & Mrs Too Much Homebuyer)

Florida State Flower

Spicy Noodle on 98 (go thru Rosemary and turn Left onto 98....Spicy Noodle is on the Right) for pizza...it's very easy to get in and out of....call in your order to go and it will be ready when you get there...Also, Angelina's on 30-A...they tend to get pretty crowded, but you can easily get a pizza to go. We have done both plenty of times, but I tend to lean towards Spicy Noodle for ease.

Pizza on the beach at sunset is a great idea....I will be stealing that one!

Hi! Thank you for considering Shortys! We look forward to seeing you! If you would like to view our menus, they are posted at SHORTY'S SURFSIDE & TOPSIDE | GULF FRONT DINING AND LIBATIONS | GRAYTON BEACH FLORIDA.

Thanks again!
Henry and Staff

Shorty's Surfside and Topside
Corner of DeFuniak St and Hotz Ave
Grayton Beach, FL 32459
Phone: 850-468-0417

Not many places to eat and have the beach view, however, the Dawsons (Heavenly Short cakes, Dawsons Yogart, Pickles - I think ) just opened a place called The Shrimp Shack in Seaside at the old Roly-Poly location ( next to Bud and Alleys ). They have tables and chairs set up on the pavillion behind them on the top of the dune. Great views and you're in Seaside for walks after dinner/lunch, whatever.

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BEACH LOCAL

After you go through Rosemary, you turn right on 98 and Spicy Noodle will be on the left.

Thanks! I meant my other left and my other right!

We stopped by Shorty's for a late afternoon lunch Thursday and loved it. The food and service was great and it was definitely enhanced by the view and decor. My wife and I kep shaking our heads and laughing at our 12 year old son. A few years ago he wouldn't touch any type of soup except Campbell's Double Noodle and so when I offered him a sip of my Lime Soup from Shorty's I was surprised when he said yes. A few moments later I found myself sharing the whole bowl with him Once he polished off the soup we watched him eat an entire Shrimp Po'Boy without putting it down! I also thought the soup and and po'boy were excellent but the best part was the margarita.........definitely have to head back for a few more of those.

Almost forgot about my wife who raved about the cheeseburger!

I hope Shorty's does well as I'll definitely recommend it to friends!