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UofL

Beach Fanatic
Jan 21, 2005
693
443
Louisville KY
30A food review from May 14 - 21 trip.

*Cowgirl Kitchen, walk or ride bikes. Heartache: warm pimento cheese with bacon on a biscuit. It is so good.

*Great Southern, Happy Hour. Dozen or two oysters. We shared the Celebration Seafood platter again, but that might be too much. Frozen margaritas this time. Also, breakfast the morning we left. I think I'm burned out on fried green tomatoes. Ate them separate from the eggs benedict.

*Modica Market. Everything. Always had one or two of their sandwiches in the refrigerator for lunch time. Wine or draft beer for strolling Seaside. Will get the fresh baked bread next time. The grandson is a beer geek - good beer selection compared to what 30A use to be - bluegrass musician - he will play in the store - AND now a bread maker. Charlie and Carmel are the nicest people and are so welcoming.

*Louis Louis, perfect when you want to avoid Red Bar parking issues. Just like the Red Bar inside. Only place we go to on 98. Happy Hour. Red Bar doesn't have Happy Hour. And they take credit cards now. Had the panne chicken first time in many years. Appetizer was way too much with the entrees. Took most of the entrees with us. :)

*Grayton Craft Bar, new kid on the block. On 30A before Grayton Beach. Lots of parking. Indoor and outdoor seating. 3 bars inside. Wonderful app menu and lots of good beer. Wonderful time chatting with Victor from DeFuniak, whose mother just retired from teaching after 37 years. Other people were from Louisville originally. Great bartender too. Charlie Modica saw us sitting there and jokingly accused us of 'cheating on him' since we weren't eating at his place:)

*Watercolor Wine World, 11:00 to 6:00 HH. 1/2 carafe of wine for the price of a glass of wine. Lunch menu until 4:00 or 5:00. Really good salads. Nice menu. Always seem to pick the most humid day to walk there from Seaside. So, we sit inside.

*Bud & Alleys, of course, if there is a spot at the Tarpon Club bar, we will sit and drink and look at the gulf. I like their smoked tuna dip the best. Very pricey place for dinner. Mo the bartender. A legend:). Lunch is served until 3:30, then a limited menu until dinner at 5:00?

*Publix, only stopped in once. We ride our bikes. Take a small cooler. Got a whole Cuban sandwich made fresh to go. That is always good. She thought we said Reuben so we wondered why she asked us if we wanted rye bread and slaw:)

*Vue at Gulf Place. It's one of the few restaurants on the beachside. We stop there on Saturday when we arrive before our house is available. (First stop is the visitor's center to pick up 'reading' material.)

*Red Bar. We did not eat there, but after the Vue, we stopped in Grayton and got a 'patio' cup Blood Mary and walked out to the beach. There's a nice, long deck there, to watch the beach activity and gulf plus all the people who think they too can drive out on the beach.

*Donut truck at Alys Beach. We take our bikes in the van to ride around Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach. If they haven't sold out, we'll get a few donuts.

(Next time, 45 Central Square. Wine place at Seaside that Jim Shirley opened a few years. Food/app menu looks good, reasonably priced. Besides this place and Great Southern, he has an airstream food truck, Melt, and has opened a place at the bay.)

*Birmingham Alabama, is our beer and food stop, before and after Seaside. We did not go to Good People this time because there was a baseball game at Regions Field. Cahaba has moved a little further east to a HUGE place. Avondale is still an amazing place as is Trim Tab. And, Hop City is a good place to buy the local/regional beer to go. Jim and Nick's (server was from Louisville) is always good. Have been to two of the 3 Saw's locations. Both are made to look like dives and seem to encourage 'soup nazis' employees. Our bartender at Cahaba, who remembered us from previous visit, recommended Melt and Finleys the next time.

Yes, we went to the beach everyday. Rode our bikes everyday. Walked several times. But the food is just that good.

(Yesterday, our Louisville mayor had a press conference down the street. I had on a 30A tshirt. Met yet another neighbor who owns a place on 30A. No, we don't. He said during the winter, Baytowne becomes Louisville south.)

Other comments: so much construction at Alys Beach and remodeling at Seaside and Grayton. Grayton will change much more than Seaside.

The water was beautiful. A little cool at first. Most of the Southerners stayed on the beach and didn't get in the water. Yellow then purple flag. Saw little jellyfish washed up on beach but didn't feel them. No rowdy people. As the week went on the 15 umbrella sets on one side of beach access began to fill to maybe 10 occupied. Other side, the 6, were usually filled.

Only had rain on Friday morning. So we packed then instead of later in the day.

V is gone while construction goes on for hotel or whatever. Seagrove Market was being rebuilt at corner of Grove & 395. 'Magnolia' coffee house closed near Grayton. Hung around Grayton Beach a little bit. Watched two 'unpermitted' vehicles get stuck. One was visited by deputy. Cited or fined? Pensacola Ballet performed at Seaside amphitheater. Lovely event.

Another wonderful week on 30A. Returning in June. September. Waiting til 'house' calendar is available to book again next year, to book two or three times.

Thanks again for a lovely time.

Ellen
 

Teresa

SoWal Guide
Staff member
Nov 15, 2004
30,242
9,277
South Walton, FL
sowal.com
That's a wonderful trip report! All about the food! With adventure thrown in up and down the scenic highway and a little of Bham. Where do you drive in from?

Louis Louis is one of my all time favorites and I didn't know they were accepting credit cards! Thanks for the tip.

The Craft Bar is already a hot spot. Great food and drink. Love the hot chicken.
I've never seen Charlie Modica in a bar! Lol.

Magnolia coffee house was purchased and the coffee shop closed a few years ago.

When you come back you can grab a coffee at Hibiscus Cafe, now open to the public again.
 

UofL

Beach Fanatic
Jan 21, 2005
693
443
Louisville KY
Thanks! We are from Louisville. I-65 can be such a nightmare with wrecks, construction, weather, that we take our time and stop one night along the way.
 

Dawn

Beach Fanatic
Oct 16, 2008
1,203
519
It was Magnolia Gifts by Nancy Veldman (moved to Grand Boulevard) and then became "Grayt Coffe House" by Cheri Peebles and it was one of the best things about SoWal. Turned into a rental house. Boo.

Great report! Appreciate it.
 

Teresa

SoWal Guide
Staff member
Nov 15, 2004
30,242
9,277
South Walton, FL
sowal.com
Actually it was Magnolia House which is now at Grand Boulevard. Beautiful things. Yes, many miss Grayt Coffee House. And also miss Grayt Grounds which was located at Monet Monet for a while. Grayt times!

Cheri and her family now operate Grayton Beach Catering which is an outstanding company and they are doing what they do best. Maybe they will do another sweet coffee shop with music for the locals later on. You never know.
 

UofL

Beach Fanatic
Jan 21, 2005
693
443
Louisville KY
Thanks for the coffee house updates. We had noticed the one on 30A was gone. Lovely setting. Also, of course, Borago has moved and that building is still being refurbished. Counting down....again!
 
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