Always amazing food, service, drinks and atmosphere! It's a fav of ours anytime we go to Santa Rosa or Destin!

We visited The Bay for the waterfront views and relaxed atmosphere, and those definitely didn't disappoint. The setting is beautiful and makes for a great place to enjoy a meal. I ordered the salmon maki and their famous Hot Mess sushi roll. Both were good, but they didn't particularly stand out. My husband had the fish, which was okay, but the vegetables were much too oily. Overall, the food was decent, but it wasn't especially memorable. If you're looking for a restaurant with gorgeous views and a nice atmosphere, it's worth a visit. Just know that, for us, the scenery was the highlight of the experience, food was not that great. Service great!! read more

The restaurant appeared to be understaffed. We were a party of 12, so we are good with the expectation that there will be a long wait. But our 2 hour wait for table would have been shorter if this place actually had adequate help. There were a few bus boys floating around, but primarily it was the servers doing double duty to clear tables and after large parties finished eating and checks were paid they sat around without being hustled out by the staff. I know that nobody wants to be rushed out after eating, but when the restaurant is dealing with a 2 hour wait it would benefit everyone for them to move diners along a little faster. The food was also hit and miss. A couple of apps were pretty solid. We enjoyed the hummus, but were not fans of the Thai wraps. The main course was generally not well received but anyone in our party. A lot of the meals were lukewarm or just cold, and the burger had some sauce on it that made it inedible. Deserts - the crème brûlée was almost liquid. The banana pudding was fairly bland, I prefer it sweeter. The key lime pie was really good. I honesty wish we'd just chosen a different place. read more

The Bay has been a staple of ours for 8 years. The location has amazing views!! (Parking sucks if you come at peak hours). The interior decor is fine, nothing special but we live the views. The service has always been top notch!!! They have always been friendly, responsive and very professional. The food is why we come. Have a had a few dishes I was not a fan of ? Occasionally. But have I have regretted coming? Never. The Washington Rolls and Tye Sandor are a must Every-time!! Followed closely by the cheese curds. And whether it's grouper or triple tail, I've never had a bad fish dish here. For now the Bay will continue to ge one of our favorites along the 30A-98 stretch. read more

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We came in to have dinner while celebrating our bachelorette trip. We had a mixed experience. We came early since they don't take reservations and we had a big group. While waiting, we sat at the bar. I ordered a Paloma. It was tasty and the presentation was nice. However, we saw a cockroach in the straw container on the bar. We told the bar tender and she threw half the straws away. We told her she needed to toss all of them and she did. I couldn't finish my drink after that. The wait was very long. On the phone they told us it would be 20-30 minutes. It was 2 hours. They told us the reason was because another table was overstaying, which didn't make a lot of sense. Our waitress was rude. She was annoyed we wanted separate checks and was very curt. All of us were put off by her attitude. For appetizers, we got the edamame hummus, edamame, Brussels sprouts, and shrimp lettuce wraps. The edamame hummus was weird. It didn't have a ton of flavor and the wasabi peas and ginger on top were just strange. The Brussels sprouts and shrimp wraps were good. The shrimp wrap was probably our favorite app. For my entree, I got Sandor's ravioli. It was good, but not hot. The ravioli was handmade and very cheesy. The fish was perfectly blackened. Unfortunately our bride's steak was undercooked and she didn't want to send it back after the long wait and waitress attitude. I got the key lime pie to go and it took forever to get it. We had to ask another server to get it. It was amazing, but not worth the hold up after an already negative experience. We let the manager know about our experience and while they were very apologetic and offered us a discount, our experience was what it was and we had already paid. I appreciate their acknowledgment and offer to make it right. read more

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We came in with a group of 12, and since they don't take reservations, the wait was pretty long. Thankfully, they have a bar and a nice outdoor view, which helped make the wait more enjoyable. I ordered the espresso martini, which was good, though it had a bit more Baileys than I personally prefer. It felt more like a dessert cocktail than a traditional espresso martini. For appetizers, we started with the Brussels sprouts, which were flavorful. The edamame hummus, however, was lacking flavor and fell flat which was unfortunate because we all had high hopes for that dish. I ordered the Sandors Ravioli and enjoyed it, the sauce was good, and the fish pairing was well seasoned. One friend ordered the crab cake and thought it was just okay, while another ordered a steak well done, but it came out closer to medium. We understand if a restaurant can't cook a steak to that level, but they should have been upfront about it if that's the case. Service was another downside for us. We weren't very impressed with our server, though the manager did apologize once our group brought it to their attention, which we appreciated. Overall, the experience had a few highlights, especially the atmosphere and a few dishes, but the inconsistent food execution and service issues kept it from being a standout meal for our group. read more

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We travel to 30A annually and The Bay is always on our list! The atmosphere and food is always amazing. One of my favorite dishes is the ravioli and fish of the day and we were informed is handmade by a member of their staff daily. Our grandbabies love playing in the sand if there is a wait for a table and we love the nights there is live music. 5 read more

The Bay - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

Had an amazing dinner celebrating my sister's bachelorette. The service was amazing thank you Dani! Your suggestions were amazing! Will definitely be back on our next trip down. Amazing views so good for family pics too! read more

The Bay - Blackened shrimp, rice, collard greens - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

Food was very flavorful. Portions were small. The Mediterranean grouper special tasted very good. Took over five minutes for our drink order to be taken. read more

The most delicious & fresh food! We loved the cheese curds, the ravioli, the Hot Mess roll, and the blackened mahi. Didn't enjoy the Montgomery Potatoes with the mix of sweet potatoes / russet potatoes / cheese in one dish, but that is just personal preference. Really excellent bay breeze drink as well! The restaurant was packed for 4th of July weekend but we were seated before the quoted time frame. Have always been impressed with the stunning views of the bay, glowing string lights, and appreciate the ample ways to pass the time even during a long wait (baggo game, a pier to explore, seats around a fire pit). Highly recommend! read more

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I'm hesitant to write this review because this place is the absolute best. The food is excellent, the vibe is amazing. Sandy beach area where you can hang with live music. Shhhhhh don't let the tourists know. read more

Great food, great article, fun spot in the evenings. Enjoyed the live entertainment on Sunday. A staple going forward

Menu limited to a few very select dishes that did not appeal to several in our group. 3 people ordered homemade fries expecting thick cut and got shoestring style fried very crispy and hard. Only 2 seafood options. Only 2 steak options. Sides were more on the "fancy" side and did not appeal to most of our group of 9. Very large selection of sushi which 1 of our group ordered and said was delicious. Filet mignon was delicious. Montgomery potatoes were delicious. Cabbage was only so-so. In our group Of 9 only 3 truly enjoyed their meal. Service was excellent. Had a 2 hour wait. Probably won't go back again and would be afraid to recommend due unusual menu items. Also bar tender was stingy with the garnishes; olives and cherries. Ambiance was wonderful. Sandy beach, live oaks with Spanish moss. Beautiful bay view. read more

Went there today for lunch. 6 guests Drinks and Meals Kids Burger Bland nothing special Kids Chicken finger Over Done and looked like grease needed changed stat. Goat cheese rav. was amazing! MahiSandwich I trashed the bun Mahi need some Red Bay or something, bland as can be. Fries were cold and trash because of grease. Shallot Rice with Pecans was trash hard rice. No good. Ice cold Beer! Brussels Sprout App was good! Cheese Curds was good! Great Location! For $250 meal could of been better. read more

Strong menu, cool vibe... The Bay has a great location (on the bay, in case you're wondering) and is setup well to enjoy the beauty of the waterfront. Big and small fire pits and chairs on the sand for those who want that, as well as a big open-air deck with a lot of tables. It's hard not to have a good experience in this setting. Seafood and sushi are their main offerings, though there are several steaks and other plates that will serve the non-fish people well. They've got a number of great looking apps, so you have variety for sure. We tried the trio of dips with cucumber and pita bread. I wish one of them hit it out of the park, but none did. The smoked feta was way smoked and too rich, while the guac option and the edamame option were nothing special. We'll try something else next time. The steak salad came was over-dressed... give the patron the dressing on the side to let them choose the right amount. The ravioli special came with two large pieces of grouper and, while slightly over cooked, contributed to dish with a lot of different tastes that went well together. In terms of drinks, the only NA offering is one Athletic lager ... please lean in on that and bring some more creativity to the NA cocktail and NA beer list. All said, though, it was a good meal and we'll come back with visitors to the area to share the place with others. read more

The Bay - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

WOW! This was one of the best meals I've had on this vacation. I will be talking about the Point Washington Rolls (gator spring roll) for a LONG time - this is a MUST if you eat at The Bay. It's hard to do Brussels well and they were cooked great (crispy but not burnt) with a yummy sauce. Jonathan had the ravioli ... AMAZING. they make it fresh every morning and you can tell with the taste and quality. It was a nice portion as it was accompanied by a fish (I think grouper). I had the Jon the 2nd roll and it was a great size and taste. Our friends had the Russell mania roll and did not like theirs, but loved mine). The crunch on top added a nice layer! Service was great when he was available - we could tell he was tasked with too many tables/things but he was always on the move and very attentive. We sat on the back lower deck and the ambiance and view were beautiful overlooking the water. I would 1000x recommend this place and we will definitely be back! read more

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Second time to eat here. We loved it last summer so returning was a no brainer. The dock is beautiful!! Hostess was friendly and we were seated earlier than the quoted wait time. We sat inside and our waitress was helpful, friendly and efficient. Dishes that hit just right were the cheese bite app- can't remember the name. Also loved the wings, fries, Blackened Chicken Ramona Pasta, and the shrimp. Burger- was ordered plain w ketchup only and their special sauce- (not sure the name) on the side. Didn't come the way ordered but daughter removed the stuff and said it was fine. Not the best burger but would order again. I ordered the Sandor's Ravioli- my son had it last summer and I had tasted it so I was ready for a delicious, soft, cooked to perfection piece of fish. The ravioli was great, the fish was dry - such a huge let down. The orange stuff on top was inedible. I am almost positve when I tried my son's last year it was light and had a crisp to it. This tasted old, no crunch, soft like it had set outside or something. My husbands dish had it on it as well and it was the same as mine. Husband had the Faux Ya Ya- their take on shrimp and grits. I tried it and the shrimp were seasoned so well and tasted delicious- no notes. However, if there was pancetta in there, we didn't see it. I love polenta- but this was extremely polenta heavy. Once the shrimp was gone- the polenta felt heavy and dry. They got a lot right but for the price tag- the two things they got wrong- left a really bad taste in hubbys mouth. Our dishes were the most expensive and the biggest let downs. I'm not one to complain- I'm gonna eat it the way it was presented. I've always been afraid of what would come back to me if I did complain. . However, I feel as though, had I given them a chance to fix it, they would have. The staff is just so friendly. Anyways 3 stars bc of the staff, ambience and the dishes they got right!! read more

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Location is very loud. Took way too long to receive food for two people. Check tablet was given before food was half way completed. Food tasted good which was shocking for an outside covered shed. Bugs were flying all over the place with it being so close to the water. Recommend for food taste, but do not get hopes up for service and ambiance. read more

The Bay - Shrimp and grits - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

My husband and I visited this popular restaurant expecting a wait, but the staff quickly found us two seats at the bar. The service was top-notch from start to finish, the restaurant was absolutely beautiful, and the food came out fast. The Alfredo was hands down the best we've ever had! Everything about our experience was exceptional. We will definitely be back and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fantastic dining experience. 10/10! read more

The Bay - Blackened Cancun chicken Alfredo - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

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Dock and backyard is beautiful. The food however was hit and miss. Chicken pasta was not good, dry chicken and bland pasta. Burger was decent but onions were too big and not cooked enough. Wings had great flavor but no crunch. Decently pricey especially for quality of food. read more

Delicious fresh sushi, nice atmosphere with Water view, and great service! Highly recommend! read more

The Bay - Jon the 2nd roll (sub tuna on top) & The Bay roll. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

There was a bit of a wait, but it was expected and worth it! Yummm. From salads to sushi, and pasta in between!

Excellent food and service. I found most restaurants in Seaside, Grayson beach area overpriced and overrated and the same with drink prices. Took a chance on the Bay and it was excellent and portions spot on. read more

Great food and great service! Highly recommend! We came at 8:30 after fishing, and we were done with the meal by 9:15! read more

The bay in Santa Rosa beach offers a great vibe for families and adults. With plenty of indoor and outdoor seating we had no issues getting a table with no reservation. The food was delicious and service was great. Definitely a place I would recommend to for future dine in services. read more

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I had the burger and it tasted like throw up, it was so so so bad and the server also lowkey crashed out when we asked for a kids menu. But it does get two stars because it was fun to watch the waves and sunset but at the same time we got say in the far back corner of the inside of the restaurant, mind you, after an ONE AND A HALF HOUR WAIT. read more

Love this place! Have come here two years in a row on a girls trip and recently on a family vacay. The food is always good. Fresh, lighter options than some of the other touristy places nearby. Excellent elevated sushi too. The 331 cocktail is such a good beach drink. Not thick like a daiquiri and a bit less sweet. Can also be fairly lethal after a second. Our kids enjoyed the kids cheeseburger meal. There is always a good mix of people too from young families with kids, to singles hanging at the bar. Beautiful spot! read more

Stopped in for lunch. Sat outback on patio. Large fans blowing helped with the heat.Wonderful view. Ethan was our server he did a great job we never went without anything. I had blackened shrimp with side salad and green beans. The green beans were a little crunchy. My husband asked for snapper sandwich they didn't have snapper so he got grouper with sweet potato chips. Our food was 5/5 stars very delicious! I had a margarita and him a 30A. 100.00 lunch but food was fresh service was good. read more

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The food quality has gone way down which makes us sad as this was a favorite for our family. The Mahi was very drab and the sushi as well. The margaritas had A flat taste with very little mix or tequila. I hope the management really takes this serious and rethinks the future. It has been so good in the past. read more

First of all, the service was amazing. I didn't get our waiter's name but he was great. He made sure we had everything we needed, checked on us often, and kept our drinks filled. We sat inside to eat, but the outside views were very nice. We probably should have waited for a table outside to enjoy the water views. The food was good, not amazing, but good. For someone who doesn't eat a lot of seafood, I enjoyed my Mahi and the sides were yummy. The bill was $100 for my husband and myself. We only drank water so that was just for the food. read more

Amazing food and fantastic service. Was absolutely incredible. The desert was amazing, sushi perfect, and we both enjoyed our entrees. Beautiful ocean view and great staff, casual atmosphere for the incredible food. Andrew was a fantastic server, wouldn't have tried half the stuff we did if it weren't for his help. read more

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The patio is perfect even during the winter season , the patio stays warm even during the rain and cold. The patio is also dog friendly which we loved and used . My dad loved the key lime pie . My mom loved her sushi. Service was great. read more

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This is a great place to visit when in the Fort Walton area. The venue itself is wonderful, open, and inviting! The servers definitely know their menu and they can offer great choices according to what you like. You've got to check this place out! read more

The Bay - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

First, our waitress was very knowledgeable about the fish and the me I ordered an appetizer of Point Washington Rolls which are Spring rolls filled with alligator tasso and poblano, served with Hog Island sauce. This was the best thing we ordered! I also ordered the fried red snapper with Potatoes Montgomery which have Sweet and russet gratin with a side of bacon braised cabbage. The potatoes would have been better with more sauce as they were very dry. The cabbage had a good taste but be prepared- they were extremely sweet. My dining partner is gluten free and they have a special menu for that. She ordered the fried shrimp with potatoes and green beans. The sauce for her shrimp was great and she wanted more to moisten the potatoes. The green beans were perfect. The ambiance is all on the outside and the inside was - just inside. The alligator Tasso was worthy of returning for as was the service. The prices were high but I expected that. I just wish my fish and potatoes were better! read more

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Excellent service. Excellent food and atmosphere. Can't wait to go back. Highly recommend

VERY salty, not inedible, but certainly not enjoyable. we had 6 persons - all had different meals (some beef, some seafood, some pasta) kind of disappointing. Atmosphere (inside) was pretty loud. Key lime pie was very nice, banana pudding wasn't Kid enjoyed walking out on the pier read more

For the amount of time we waited, over 2 hours, the food was not worth it. it was overpriced for what you get. the food was cold, the pasta barely had any sauce. The cheese curds were the best part. The view is nice while we waited but the food was not worth the wait read more

5/5- If you like this review give it a like!! I can't say enough good things about The Bay! The setting alone is worth the visit -- waterfront views, laid-back vibe, and that perfect mix of classy and casual. But let's talk about the food. The grouper ravioli was absolutely outstanding. Rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced -- you can really taste the freshness of the fish. The sauce complemented it without overpowering, and every bite was a hit. And for dessert? Key lime pie that's hands-down one of the best I've had. Tart, creamy, and just the right amount of sweetness with a buttery graham cracker crust that melts in your mouth. If you're anywhere near the area, The Bay is a must. Food, atmosphere, and service all top-notch. read more

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This is a great local spot! The food is delicious and the service is always very attentive. The atmosphere is very relaxed and the location is perfect. Enjoy some great food, enjoy the cocktails all the while overlooking the beautiful bay and listening to music. read more

A busy seaside restaurant with a slightly touristy atmosphere that aims a little higher than it can deliver. I had the best crab cake I have ever had here, and their grilled shrimp was better than any US restaurant I have been to - however, the rest of their food was thoroughly mediocre, and especially their pasta was a let down. The service was chaotic, and you feel like just another customer for them to run through the mill. read more