We had the best evening tonight! My wife, who is a connoisseur of shrimp and grits said that it was the best she's ever had!! Highly recommend the fillet mignon wontons, and the fried oyster salad!! Our server Chris was outstanding and the atmosphere was awesome. read more

Marina Cafe - Marina Café, and the excellent shrimp and grits! - Seafood Near Me - Destin, Florida

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Amazing! Our server was Bill and for our large party he was excellent! Suggested great options and had impeccable service. The ambiance was very nice right on the water and very classy. Our food was immaculate; very well seasoned, great portions and delicious! It did take a while to receive our orders not sure if it was the capacity that evening or our party size but regardless highly recommend and would come back read more

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We came to Marina's while on vacation to celebrate my mom's birthday. It was a large party of 13 adults and children. The food is outstanding and I would definitely rate them pretty high for food alone. However, the service was very slow when it came to how long it took everything to come out. The food made it worth the wait but it was disappointing. Great restaurant and If ever given the opportunity to go back I absolutely would! read more

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Marina Cafe is always a favorite of my husband and I when we visit Destin. We were able to be seated write in front of the ocean, which was such a beautiful view. We had the pleasure of having Mike as our server. He was nice and knowledgeable. He made several recommendations, which we took him up on. We started off ordering cocktails. I had the white sangria and my husband ordered an old fashioned. Both drinks were just okay, but the star of the show is always the martinis, which was our next round of drinks. My husband also had a Moscow mule and he enjoyed it. For food, we ordered the calamari, filet mignon wontons, scallops and the red snapper. We enjoyed all of our food, but the dirty rice was a little too mushy for our liking, so we'd probably try something else the next time. Overall, we enjoyed ourselves, and look forward to visiting again! read more

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Really great experience for a nice girls night dinner out. Our server Nicole was so sweet, attentive, and helpful. We were quoted an hour wait when we arrived without a reservation on a Saturday night, but easily found bar seating big enough for our group of 9. I tried the fried eggplant appetizer that's served with lump crab meat. Everything was cooked perfectly and came to the table hot. The sauce was delicious. I also tried the tempura redfish which was cooked perfectly too! Prices are a little high for me to go on a regular basis, but great for a celebration in my opinion read more

Marina Cafe - Fried Eggplant - Seafood Near Me - Destin, Florida

Excellent food, superb service, warm ambiance. Marina Cafe is a top tier, well known and highly respected restaurant in the Destin/FWB area. The location is prime for locals and visitors not to mention you can go dressed smart casual all the way up to formal. We have been dining there for over 10 years and it exceeds the mark with every visit. The food is tastefully seasoned and menu varied enough for all tastes. read more

Delicious food & great service. We went for happy hour and it did not disappoint! Would recommend & if you have a large party with loud children please consider requesting an outdoor seating option. We especially loved the bread & special dipping oil. read more

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Everything is ALWAYS perfect. The service, the menu, the ambiance, the cocktails & the desserts, amazing! Our server, Carmen, was so knowledgeable and friendly, made us feel so comfortable. This was our 5th visit from New Orleans so our expectations are not always met but somehow Marina Cafe always does a fabulous job in so many ways. First time we tried the coconut cream pie & it is outstanding. read more

Marina Cafe - Unique wedge salad always great - Seafood Near Me - Destin, Florida

My girls trip to Destin ended with dinner at Marina Cafe. My party of 7 were warmly greeted and immediately taken to our table. I'm glad we made a reservation because the restaurant was full. Our server Cheyenne was knowledgeable and friendly. She gave great recommendations and checked on us throughout dinner. The view from the dining area is beautiful especially at sunset. read more

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Easy 5 stars. All the details were there. Our server, our food, and the drinks were all excellent. I had the ribeye, she had the salmon. Both were so good. The salmon didn't need the goat cheese imo, but it was still super good! Coconut pie for dessert!! read more

The andouille reddish was very flavorful. I ordered a side of risotto it was a little salty but I asked the waitress for fresh lemon and that took care of that. It was 7 of us and everyone liked their meals. read more

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WOWOWOWOW!!!!! The food, service, and atmosphere here was 10/10. Absolutely amazing, flavorful food. Our waitress was the sweetest. Such a romantic spot for dinner too. We made a reservation for 8:30 and got seated at 8:15. Highly recommend getting the filet mignon wontons. They have a great list of cocktails and mocktails! read more

Marina Cafe - Filet mignon wontons - Seafood Near Me - Destin, Florida

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Here on family vacation. i'm 21 years old. went to use the restroom. witnessed a Male duck into the Female restroom waited till he came out to tell him so I and told a manager. they took care of it nice and orderly. Very much a safe place for friends and family. Also nice and quiet for an adult dinner away from the little ones. Been here 4 times and have had an excellent meal every time. Also was very discombobulated by the fact a fully grown man, would unaware of his surroundings would duck into the women's restroom. I get it, a man has to pee sometimes but just sometimes things happen. read more

Service was great as always, food this time, not so much... I'm not one for seafood and rarely order steaks so I typically stick with the chicken or pork chops. We have been here so many times I wanted to try something different so I went with the tornado Oscar.... On paper sounds delicious (minus lump crab) but my boyfriend loves seafood so he was going to eat it. Very disappointing, the garlic parm risotto had no taste whatsoever. He tried the crab and risotto and agreed, mushy with no taste. He got the seared grouper which he ended up loving 10/10. I did try a potato in the sauce from his and it was very delicious. Appetizer was pork belly, first time for that, grits and sauce extremely tasty. I will say I always love this place, but just won't order the Oscar tornado again read more

Marina Cafe - Pork belly appetizer - Seafood Near Me - Destin, Florida

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Date night spot alert! Super cute vibe inside with live music and the view of the marina was amazing. We tried the grouper cheek app from our servers recommendation and we were pleasantly surprised we liked it so much! The bread was warm, crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside with a great dipping sauce. I got the tuna and my boyfriend got the swordfish. The lemon butter sauce was to die for with the swordfish. I didn't particularly like the coconut rice with my tuna, but I'm not a huge coconut fan. Make sure to grab one of the many martini options to pair with your dinner! read more

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Food and service were amazing. Server was highly knowledgeable about the offerings and was able to answer all of our questions. Everything from the appetizers to the desserts were amazing. Highly recommend! read more

As always, food was great. We had the Seared Gulf Grouper, (substituting the lyonnaise potatoes for the purple Peruvian ones) and the Blackened Gulf Swordfish. Our waiter, Micheal, was unbelievable - took lots of time answering questions for my wife (who usually only orders the Andouille Crusted Louisiana Redfish). We had a table, inside, at the window overlooking the bay. We will be back in June!! Don't forget to book a table at 5:30, so you can take advantage of the BOGO cocktails before being seated. read more

Marina Cafe - Swordfish - forgot to take pictures before we dug in. - Seafood Near Me - Destin, Florida

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This place was amazing, the views stunning, and the service and staff were so kind. I read the reviews prior to coming but was actually surprised that this restaurant isn't rated higher. We will definitely be back for happy hour at the bar since we enjoyed the restaurant experience. Lots of seafood options and cooked to perfection. Appetizers and desserts had many options as well. Everyone around us was dressed nicely and seemed to be enjoying indoor and outside too. Would highly recommend for those in the area for a fancy meal! Also if you eat early 5-6pm there's a special buy one get on entree which is fabulous! read more

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You never know in a more touristy area if a place is actually good or just good by tourist standards. Can wholeheartedly say this place is actually good. Service was great and we were not rushed at all. He checked on us just the right amount and really appreciated that when we asked about the specials he was quite frank in saying that it wasn't better than the fish options on the menu. We started with grouper cheeks and they were so tasty and melt in your mouth. We were both raving. For mains we got crab crusted grouper and the blackened red snapper. Both were super good and we traded bites with each other to make sure that each of us got to taste how good the others was. Dessert was bread pudding and creme brûlée. We didn't need two options but they were priced really well so we got both and they were both good although I preferred the bread pudding more. The only thing we'd skip next time would be salads. They were ok but not amazing like the rest of the food. We will definitely come back next time we're in Destin. read more

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Love this restaurant. Especially the Early Bird 2 for 1. The food is always good and the service is excellent. The Bar Happy Hour may be one of the best in Destin! read more

I have been here so many times since moving here! The seafood is the absolute best I've had. They also have the best espresso martini! The staff is so knowledgeable and attentive. You have a view of the harbor from almost every seat. read more

We went here for dinner Wednesday had the fillet wontons also had the grouper others had the scallops everything was very good read more

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Went with a party of four. Calamari and wonton appetizers. Happy with both. Redfish, shrimp and grits, ahi tuna, pork chop were the entree selections. Redfish and shrimp were good the other two not so. The tuna was meager, still cold and flavorless on top of cold rice and spinach that reminded me of the old frozen box spinach my mother would serve in the old days. The pork chop was inedible covered in what was supposed to be a sweet tea glaze and bacon jam but was in fact some sriracha (according to the waiter) mish mash that way way overpowered the chop giving it a very strange flavor served with the same spinach and sweet potatoes. This was our first trip to Marina Cafe, a place I had long wanted to visit. I don't see us going back and we are local. read more

I hosted a private event for about 40 people at Marina Cafe with the help of Brigette, the restaurant's event coordinator, who was so kind and highly professional. She was amazing and easy to work with from the very beginning! The food, service, and atmosphere were all wonderful. I would highly recommend this place for anyone wanting to host a private event or even just dine in! read more

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We were so happy to finally try this after hearing great things. We were underwhelmed. The main dining room has an amazing view! There is outside seating, but was too cold today to sit outside. Although the view is perfect, the dining room feels old and dated and almost like a cruise ship dining area. It has strange plastic looking crystals hanging from the rafters and same beaded decor from ceilings. It was very busy. Most people dressed up a bit. No hats allowed in the dining room. The food was not good. The only thing we enjoyed was the beer and margarita. The wontons were overcooked and not much flavor other than the sauce. The wedge salad was romaine lettuce and not iceberg which is different and may say that on the menu, but we missed it. The dressing was not very creamy or good. The appetizer and salad came out so quickly that we were shocked how long the chicken entree took! When we finally got it, it was luke warm and overcooked. We did actually send it back and the manager came to speak to us promptly and removed from our bill which was good customer service. We will not be returning. read more

Beautiful upscale restaurant but with a casual ambience. Excellent menu, marina views. Make a reservation! 6 pm dining is perfect! Try week night dining too for specials! Staff attention was great! read more

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Love the early bird 2 for 1 dinner! I think till 6:30? Don't quote me on it. There was Happy hour cocktails by the bar n we were able to order n carry to the cocktails to restaurant ( no happy hour there) We sat outside, The view is amazing. We were able to catch a beautiful sunset. Love the happy hour early bird special can be my favorite combo! No Shame in saving money. read more

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Amazing chef driven menu, the most gourmet experience on the Emerald Coast! The dining room is immaculate with a stunning view of the harbor, great for a sunset dinner with a date. read more

Marina Cafe - Andouille Crusted Louisiana Redfish cayenne butter, chive remoulade, seasonal vegetables - Seafood Near Me - Destin, Florida

We went for Mother's Day again this year. I can honestly say I was truly disappointed. Last year was so memorable. You could tell Marina Café went out of the way to make every mom feel special from the moment they walked in. That was not the case this time you walked in and it looked like they had just opened up. Not a fresh flower inside. The brunch menu is extremely limited. The only reason why we would come back is because the customer service was amazing. Alyssa was our waitress and she made us feel special. Along with my granddaughter. read more

Went to Marina Cafe off a recommendation from friends of ours and it didn't disappoint. They have a great deal if you dine between 5-6 you get a big one get one free entre, but good luck in getting a table day of. I suggest a couple weeks out for a reservation if you don't mind dining this early. The bar also has great Happy Hour specials. Service: we waited for our table and had a drink at the bar and the service was good. Looks like a lot of locals go here since they knew the bartenders mixed in with tourist. When we got seated our waiter welcomed us and went over the menu. We placed two appetizers the grouper cheeks and the bruschetta oysters. Both were very good and flavorful. The oyster were really good and never thought bruschetta would be good on an oyster. I got the yellowfin tuna w the sauce on the side and my friend got the red fish with add on of scallops. My tuna was cooked how I asked for it and was really good. The portion size was adequate since we had appetizers prior to our meal. My friend said her fish was really good and she gave me one of her scallops and those were so buttery good. Would definitely getting the scallops since they were so good. If you do want to dine here the Resy App is where you want to go. This place is great for anniversaries, birthdays, work, or a nice night out. I would say it's upper 3 $$$ signs. read more

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Great service Fun spot Live music Fresh fish tacos Great start to a great trip in Destin read more

Best food we've had in the Destin area! It is upscale so dress accordingly. Make reservations on their website, you never know how crowded it'll be. Parking is plentiful in a spacious lot. We ordered: Grilled Maine Lobster Tail - an appetizer & the white sauce was delicious and flavorful. Lobster was wonderful and we rarely order lobster. Center Cut Filet Mignon 8 oz. - very tender and the potatoes were very good. It had garlic on it & was seasoned well. They serve complimentary bread but it was a bit too crunchy and hard for me. I wish it was a bit softer. I ordered a side of garlic Parmesan brown rice to try and it was okay. I honestly only had a bite of it and it wasn't my vibe. Might be yours though! It wasn't horrible. Overall, we had a great experience and will be returning! read more

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We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves here. With some persistence, we were able to get our desired seating next to the scenic picture window. It was a clear evening, busy Friday night, with romantically lit candles, and an accommodating server, whom also gave his recommended wine choice. From our appetizers to our main dishes, all of us enjoyed our meals and took in the ambiance. My favorites were the fried wontons and the crab cakes. To our surprise, there were dinner specials today...buy 3 steak dishes, and you can get 3 other main dishes (not steak items), FREE. Awesome! Our men enjoyed their ribeyes, and I enjoyed my grouper and daughter enjoyed her raviolis. Everything was divine, no complaints. Since we ordered the dessert sampler, my favorite was the coconut cream pie, my daughter loved the brownie. Again, overall amazing evening with family, wine and ambiance! This is the go-to when wanting fine dining in Destin!! read more

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We celebrated 2 birthdays. The food & service were amazing. Everything was fresh & hot. Server kept our drinks filled, checked in it's several times, quickly brought anything we needed. Desserts were the bomb! read more

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Great place as this was the first time going to Marina Cafe. We had great cocktails, Greek Salads, delicious shrimp and grits and a wonderful coconut pie. Overlooks the Destin Harbor. Definitely give it a go if in the area as you will enjoy Marina Cafe ! read more

Where do I start?! The view, the service, the food all are spot on. The staff is attentive and the food was well prepared. Nothing but good things to say about our girls trip visit. read more

Marina Cafe - Dinner time. - Seafood Near Me - Destin, Florida

I have traveled to Destin for years and somehow never heard of this place. Our uber driver recommended it for their BOGO entrees between 5-6. We absolutely loved this place, we went two nights in a row! This is the only restaurant in Destin I will recommend moving forward. The cocktails, the views, the service, the food, everything was perfect. We had the grouper cheeks and crab cakes for an appetizer they were both great, I could eat the grouper cheeks everyday. I had the sea bass and my boyfriend had the swordfish which were perfection and to end the night with a chocolate martini and blueberry bread pudding. One of the best meals I've ever had. read more

Marina Cafe - Swordfish and the Sea Bass closest - Seafood Near Me - Destin, Florida

Ambiance: 5/5 Truly beautiful view with the most perfect lighting with the natural light coming through. I usually hate being seated at a two person table just with how small they make the table and it's usually in the middle of the busy dining room. But the one they had here was spacious and where we were located, it did not feel crowded. Service: 1000/5 I wish i remembered our waitress's name, but she was probably one of the best waitresses that I have ever had in a very long time! Truly attentive but not to where it was too much and we were being interrupted every five minutes. Truly one of the best!! Food: 5/5 The best meal we had on our trip!! The andouille fish was probably one of the most amazing fish dishes I have ever had! The sauce that they had with it was to die for. Also, get the calamari! The portion size alone is HUGE. I order calamari everywhere I go if they have it on the menu, and the portions here were the biggest I have ever gotten. It was delicious too. The filet mignon wontons were also good, but next time I would probably get the calamari and then try a new appetizer. Overall: Once of the best meals I have had with the best waitress! Recommend getting a reservation and coming during their buy one get one happy hour! read more

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Love this place. Beautiful view and atmosphere. Great deal from 5-6. Buy one entree get one free. Lela gave us first class service. Now the food. Thai soup special was good. Wife ordered the ny strip. Very tough and not much flavor. $72!! My scallops were ok but a bit gritty. Our first time disappointed in Marina cafe. read more

Happy hour is great! Service is excellent and the food was terrific. Can't wait to go back.