The atmosphere and location of The Gulf are unmatched. Beautiful views, palm trees, and right on the water. It was very busy when we arrived, so finding a seat was a little stressful. My advice, find a seat, have someone order at the order window, then head to the bar to order drinks. The wait to order food took about a half hour. It was very quick to get our drinks. We were able to snag a couch area on a platform. It was so comfy and we loved the views. A heads up- if you snag a couch like this, kids will get up on the platform and jump off of it. People will step up on the platform and walk extremely close to you. I had to ask a kid to stop throwing sand by us because we were eating our dinner. It was a little chaotic. We were extremely patient and understand, but I could see some people being very upset and annoyed. After ordering, our food came out pretty quick. I started with the coconut grouper bites and they were phenomenal. Light breading, lightly sweat, and flaky. I had the Gulf Grilled Cobia and it was phenomenal. The fish was tender, flaky, and light. No fishiness at all. The sauce on the fish was also delightful. My husband and son had the fajita skewers and both enjoyed them. My husband also had the peel and eat shrimp and said they were amazing at The Gulf. Our drinks were okay. We had better drinks at other places during the week, but they weren't bad. We would return, but try to come on an off-time that wasn't so busy. read more

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The best part about this spot is 1000% the views. It was drafty out, but I could only imagine how nice it is in the mid-summer. Views right by the ocean, an open themed bar, palm trees, and music. It's not a quiet date night spot; more like a nice waterfront spot to take your friends and/or kids. The food was ok. I had the Cobia BLT & fries. The fries were good but the blt was tough. The bread was also a bit stale. The coconut fish bite appetizers were a 10/10. Delicious. Wifey had the mahi mahi tacos which she thought were just ok as well -- again tough. She did not however enjoy the cauliflower bites. I personally enjoyed them. We had mixed feelings about it. Great ambience, ok food. May come back. read more

The Gulf - Cobia B L T Coconut Fried Fish Bites Mahi-Mahi Tacos Cauliflower Bites - Burgers Near Me - Orange Beach, Alabama

I wish we had found this place before our last day visiting the area! Food was great, ambiance was amazing, and the service was efficient. We could see all the string lights and want to come back in the evening next time we're in town! We had the lobster roll and shrimp tacos. Both were great. You can't miss here! read more

The Gulf is a great spot in OBA for a tasty meal or to grab drinks with a view of the boats coming in. There are separate areas to order food and beverages. There is a lot of seating, but it can get packed! The food is soooo good. Everything I have tried here has been amazing, you can't go wrong! I always look forward to visiting The Gulf when I am in OBA. read more

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Very expensive for what you get. Server never brought the tartar sauce that was promised. Food just mediocre at best. Fried shrimp 28.84 for a basket of 12 and some fries and slaw. Lobster and shrimp roll was just ok, nothing to brag about. Won't be back. The price you pay is definitely for the view from a picnic table in the sand. read more

We were there on a Saturday afternoon in February and things could not have been better. The whole atmosphere and vibe was exactly what you would want at the beach. It was order at the counter, get a buzzer, and someone brings it to the table. iEverybody on the staff was so great and so attentive. I ordered a few margaritas from the bar and the bartender was really nice and super quick making my drink. We loved our specialty margs! For food, we had the shrimp tacos, the snapper BLT and the grouper sandwich. They were all phenomenal. I would say this was the best food I had during my four night stay at Gulf Shores. read more

The idea and set up of this restaurant is really cool. We loved ordering at the counter and the food was delivered to us. Plenty of area for the kids to run around and play. Normally it's so distressing going out to eat with them because they're kids and they're loud and rambunctious. This place was so accommodating to that. Food was good, but overpriced We got 1 app, 2 meals, 1 kids meal and 4 drinks for almost $100. Fried shrimp, shrimp tacos & truffle fries Food was slow to come out. The hot food was lukewarm (good for the kids meal) and Cole slaw was warm (expected this to be chilled) Also the Diet Coke tasted awful, idk how the messed that up There was a dj there and the music was very loud. It was difficult to order because of how loud it was. read more

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This place may just become a go to if we are going to Orange Beach or Gulf Shores in Alabama. It is such a beautiful spot to kill an afternoon. We had never been to Orange Beach before so we went to the Wharf and decided to pop in here on our way home. I'm so happy we did because my food was delicious. The bartenders were super nice and we really couldn't get enough of this incredible water. We saw some dolphins go by and loved watching the boats come through the inlet. It was a weekday, so particularly quiet, but so lovely. My niece enjoyed her grouper sandwich. The truffle fries were really truffle-y. I very much enjoyed my shrimp tacos although my husband had the mahi tacos and he said the first one was a little fishy. I think I'll suggest he get the gulf shrimp next time. Hard to go wrong with fresh local catch! read more

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I had the swordfish it was good but my wife got a burger and she found a couple bugs on it and the fries had bugs In them too my father-in-law and sister-in-law got the seafood boil for $53. It was not worth it by far the worst place we ate on our vacation read more

Loved the aesthetic. We hung out on a comfy couch right by the water. Great atmosphere! I cannot speak for the regular food, but we ordered the guacamole and a slice of key lime pie to snack on. Both were okay. The guac could have used some spices, but it was good. The chips were very lightly salted, so if you are trying to watch salt, they are great! The key lime Pie was dusted with almonds and the crust was almond based, which they do disclose, but we didn't care for it. The almond flavor overpowered everything else. We would definitely go back! Service was friendly and fast. read more

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The food was okay at best but was incredibly overpriced for the quantity you get. They do not have servers and make you pay in advance for tip. So no idea where my tip went. As soon as the food got to the table we got covered up in bugs all in our food. It was disgusting. We had to leave and go somewhere else. Theres a wasted $140. read more

Ate at The Gulf after arriving in Orange Beach on May 8. We, fortunately, avoided the rain. One of the bartenders welcomed us and explained the system. They take your orders and get drinks. Runners bring the food to your table of choice. Drinks and food were very good! Great fried shrimp baskets with plenty of fries and tasty coleslaw. Shrimp were lightly battered and tender. Loaded queso fries are great! Beautiful scenery and excellent service! read more

What an excellent place! We schlepped over here from Gulf Shores to grab some lunch. I was intrigued by the fact that it is old shipping containers but the dining/drinking/chilling "area" is outdoors. It was Easter and I was pleased that it was open. The music was enjoyable and GF will tell you that I am picky. The surroundings are very laid back, relaxed, and provide unique and beautiful views of the ?bay ?water ?area between this key and another one. You can see the beach on the other side. If you sit near the edge, as we did, you will occasionally get a spray of water as waves crash against the wall. It is really very cool. There's no significant waiting or being held hostage. You order at the window and your food is brought to you. It's convenient and relaxed. I was appreciative that they had some veg options including cauliflower bites!!! That was my selection. I probably should have ordered the fries too but shoulda, woulda, coulda. I told GF after my extensive research that coconut shrimp was a popular thing here so she ordered the ribs and coconut shrimp. For our cocktails, we were both interested in the spicy señorita (tequila cuantro, blackberries, lime, jalapeño, and agave. It was visually pleasing. It looked nice in my photos. It was pretty good as well. GF enjoyed her meal. My cauliflower was served in a thai sweet/spicy sauce that was tasty but the cauliflower pieces could have been a little more bite-sized. A really great place to chill on a nice day by the beach. read more

The Gulf - Cauliflower Bites - Burgers Near Me - Orange Beach, Alabama

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The Shrimp tasted like it came from Walmart . I've had better Shrimp in Iowa. The fries were ice cold and the coleslaw was bland The Grouper sandwich was soggy. read more

Walk up ordering and the food is delivered to the table. We went at 2:30pm on a Sunday on a beautiful sunny afternoon. The staff was friendly and the food was tasty. The watermelon mocktails were really fresh and not too sweet. It's a very good place to go to as you are and get quality food prepared right! read more

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Without a doubt, this is best lobster and shrimp roll that I've ever eaten! They don't skimp on the lobster and it's tossed in a lemon aioli with chives and celery. The Gulf presents a fun and lively atmosphere situated right on the beach. There are plenty of seating options, so take your pick. read more

One of Top3 restaurants in the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach area. I recommend coming on a nice day as the entire establishment is outside. Lots of seating options with unobstructed ocean views. Order at the counter or the bar, a buzzer will be given to you for your table and food brought to you. The burger and loaded fries are my personal go-to. Great place for a meal or lounging around with a drink from the bar. read more

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Neat container place on the beach side with plenty of seating options and good parking. CONS: While all the seating options were neat, you do have to walk in the sand to seat yourself. The fries were okay. Didn't taste much truffle and the Parmesan cheese wasn't melted. The parsley ontop of the fries were not minced and so you often got big chunks of parsley. The grouper bites sauce did have a kick to it if you don't like spicy would recommend eating them plain. PROS: Tacos were tasty, big and fresh flavors. The grouper bites badder was perfectly seasoned with flaky salt and you can really taste the coconut in them! The fries were salty and crunchy with a good crispy bite! Service was fast. Drink was tasty with the fall blackberry mulled fruits and lemon! Overall great experience and will not wear sandals/dress clothes next time to enjoy the sand in my toes! read more

This place was incredible! Hands down the best restaurant I ate at while in the Orange Beach area. The vibe is awesome, and had tons of outdoor seating to choose from, a view that looks right out over the ocean, and even two different bars (one opens up when it's busier). The seafood options are fantastic and reasonably priced for the location. I came twice in my 3-day stay because I liked it so much. I tried the blackened shrimp bowl and the mahi mahi taco bowl, both loaded with rice, beans, slaw, and tomatoes. Absolutely fantastic! This place is perfect for any occasion - a casual bite, having drinks with friends, or looking for a spot to enjoy the beach atmosphere. read more

The Gulf - MAHI-MAHI TACO BOWL - Burgers Near Me - Orange Beach, Alabama

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This spot is hoppin'! Great view of the water and some weekend fireworks in the area. We rolled up around sunset and the lines were long. Ordered some adult bevies at the bar and the bartender let us order food too! Skipped the line, as long as you're seated in the "grassy area". Food was tasty and the drinks hit the spot. Recommend! The kids rolling around and burying themselves in the sand pit would like say the same :) read more

The Gulf - Mahi Mahi tacos were the best! - Burgers Near Me - Orange Beach, Alabama

Stopped by this spot for lunch after searching for a great lobster roll. Walked up to the side bar near entrance and had an extremely poor experience with a pregnant bartender. Despite my cheerful greeting and disposition throughout our interaction, she made me feel less than welcomed. Apparently asking for a plastic cup for my canned beer was annoying her. She was annoyed that I asked for a beer menu as they were listed on a wall behind me that I hadn't seen walking in with moly toddlers. She never actually presented my drinks after she took payment, they were among a group of drinks and I had to ask which were mine. I asked again for a cup and she pointed to a stack for me to self serve. A lot of options in the area, I'd skip this one. The roll was tasty tho. read more

The Gulf - Burgers Near Me - Orange Beach, Alabama

When we pulled up to The Gulf the very first thing that I noticed was the bright blue shipping containers it was constructed from. That immediately had me intrigued. The entire building structure is made out of shipping containers. I've always loved things that are repurposed and so do they as most of their decor is repurposed. They have tables and chairs (some made of recycled straws even!) and if you see something you like it's all for sale! Everywhere you look there's cool stuff to check out. The back view is pretty spectacular too! It's not just all looks though. They serve some delicious food as well. I ordered a burger that was really good! Their menu changes daily depending on what is available from local vendors. They also made this chocolate dessert (chia and other different ingredients) that was so good. Very light and refreshing. It was a perfect afternoon to enjoy lunch on the beach. They also have a fun gift shop. Their cat frequents the gift shop too although he does a lot of sleeping on the job I purchased a t-shirt hoodie that is so comfy. If you're in the Orange Beach area you need to stop by and check them out! read more

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This is a must visit place while you are in the Gulf Shores / Orange Beach area. Beautiful spot, great outdoor seating. They also have some sheltered seating by the bar. There were a few vegetarian options to choose from. Also had a Non-Alcohol beer option. The cauliflower bites were pretty good. The set up is great to take pictures. Nothing much to say for the service. You order at a window and they give you a buzzer and bring out the food yo you by locating the buzzer. No one will follow up to check in with you, so basically it's a self serve place. I'll go back when I am in the area next time. read more

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The Gulf was the first place we visited as a party of 8. You order at the counter and then find a seat. The sand and live DJ made it fun for the kids. My tacos were just okay, but I really enjoyed the vibe, and my mojito was good. Great spot for a laid-back experience. read more

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We happen to vacation here almost every year. Have eaten here multiple times and the food was always very good. This is a popular spot and can be extremely crowded many times. Especially toward evening dinner hours. It is right on the water and a great spot to stop in and get a bite while enjoying the scenery. read more

As always the positives and the only reason I can give even 1 star is the location - right on the beach, plenty of seats and open air. It is a truly gorgeous location. Unfortunately everything was just awful. The drinks are overpriced for the size and the margarita was more lime than tequila. And the only food we ordered was inedible - a seafood boil that included crab so old and cold and dry that it more closely resembled jerky than seafood. All in all I'd call this a great vibe but no substance. We definitely won't be returning and don't recommend read more

Food was good had grouper and burgers. But wow the bartenders had bad attitude! Super disappointed one of our favorite spots won't be back.

I really like the setup of this restaurant. The picnic style seating, under shade, beside the gulf was so nice. We watched boats go by and enjoyed the ambiance. We checked out the menu when we arrived, which is neatly written on a chalkboard. We had a party of 5 and we all ordered different things. Now you're getting fresh seafood at a cost. I ordered the snapper BLT and it was $24 alone. We got truffle fries for the table and they were really good. My husband says he got something blackened. Bring a fan cause it's hot . read more

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I have visited The Gulf multiple times over the years since they first opened. Consistently they are AWFUL at making mixed drinks/cocktails so I would stick with the beer. I had the all time worst version of a mojito here I have ever experienced anywhere in the world! The food is generally mediocre with the occasional surprise of some decent items. The portion size of the food tends to be on the smaller size so I usually have to order more food to get a decent meal here. Most people visit this establishment for the view but keep in mind it is all outdoor seating. They do have some nice staff here along with some grumpy staff. Overall I rarely feel any motivation to visit here other than every few years I stop in to see if maybe it has improved. It actually has improved slightly but it is still way overpriced for the genereally mediocre experience. In comparison the nearby Cobalt restaurant offers a similar view with drastically improved food, service and far larger portion sizes. Over many years I have kept hoping The Gulf would drastically improve and they have improved some but they still don't come close to comparing to Cobalt. Tourists do LOVE this place and it is often jam packed but tourists seem to love most places these days. Overall I keep hoping this place will get better but my hope is dead for their cocktails. read more

Ordered grilled grouper, lobster roll, truffle fries, and tuna dip and I haven't been impressed with a single thing unfortunately. Tuna dip was very underwhelming with seasoning. Lobster shrimp roll wasn't worth $28. And fries were just subpar. Everything just seems to lack seasoning and just not worth the price by any means. Especially with out table service.. this is an "order at the window" type of place. The atmosphere is nice and it's very family friendly. I told my husband next time we come, let's eat before hand and just have a drink here while the kids play because the view is nice. read more

The Gulf - Burgers Near Me - Orange Beach, Alabama

The Gulf was one of my favorite spots we visited this beach trip. The view is absolutely incredible. Perfect place to relax and watch the sunset. I wasn't super hungry, so I went with the kids' chicken tenders, and they were surprisingly good. The fries? Some of the best I've ever had. Great food, great vibes, and a spot I'd happily come back to next time. read more

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The view and seating is perfect! The food on the other hand was way overpriced and barely edible. I just expected a better quality food. Shrimp was over breaded and shrimp and lobster roll wasn't good. read more

My hubby and I went on a rainy day and sat at the bar, out of the rain. Super friendly bartenders. Sitting at the bar, we were able to order all of our food and drinks, instead of the walk up window. Be prepared to spend some money. The Amberjack coconut fried fish bite appetizer was really good. But I didn't understand the spring mix since there was hardly any sauce. The blackened red snapper BLT was good. Just wish they used better lettuce, like iceberg and more sauce. The sandwich was dry. The breaded Grouper sandwich was amazing! We each had a few mixed drinks. They were good. Overall, you cannot beat the outdoor bar and restaurant with amazing views on the beach. Be sure to try the infused vodka. So good!! read more

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fucking terrible... I spent 34 dollars on a shrimp basket, and I get 7 pieces of shrimp with some sorry fries. If you are not a millionaire or have any financial responsibility , do not eat at this shit place. The service was mediocre at best and a bottle of water costed me 3 dollars. Moral of the story is to not eat here. read more

The food, the drinks, the chill vibe, the music, the VIEW, the sand, the seating etc. is a MUST visit if you are in the area. It is all outside, seat yourself and order up at the window and bring your buzzer to your table on the sensor and they bring the food to you. They have picnic tables, comfy patio couches, high top tables etc. there were so many people here on spring break but the lines moved pretty quickly considering. The food was all amazing. Im only giving it a 4 star because there was a yucky stench between the bar and the employee door by the photo booth that was not pleasant read more

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If you're looking for a cozy, outdoor, dining atmosphere by the water... The Gulf checks a lot of boxes! Nice employees -- very helpful and welcoming! Unfortunately, the food was kinda price-y... but just okay taste-wise. We got shrimp tacos (auntie said they were pretty good!) a cheeseburger (ok by me) fries (crispy -- group approval) and crab legs (sis and niece said -- ugh... crab meat kinda tough and stringy, corn tough, too -- although a call to the manager yielded an apologetic offer to make it right -- which we appreciated!) Not sure there's time to re-visit them this trip, but for sure worth another try when we visit the area again. read more

The Gulf - The Gulf's yellow submarine - Burgers Near Me - Orange Beach, Alabama

We just went for an appetizer and a drink. It was not busy but were seated by the bathrooms-not good. The appetizer was mediocre but the drink, Aperol Spritz, was terrible!!! My friend who ordered the same, agreed. The Gulf has a beautiful location but you are definitely paying for the location and not the quality of the food/drinks. It was not our first visit. We had a similar experience several years ago and had not returned. This experience did not change our minds. read more

Really fun place to hang out on the beach, eat some good seafood and watch the sunset. We stopped in and ordered a few drinks (reasonably priced too!), it was a bit chilly so we stayed in the bar area where they have heaters to keep you warm, but you can still see the beach and the beautiful sunset! We didn't order food this time, but did see some fantastic dishes we will have to try out next time! They have a great bar/restaurant area with open air/beach seating. All of the bartenders were very friendly and provided great service, we will be back!! read more

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Food was tasty and filling. The area is very nice as well. Especially just parking and looking at the water. Real laid back but lots of people moving around and enjoying their family time. So if you like people watching you'll have something to do. Feel like the only complaint we had of the place was the white cushions on the couch. They were dirty and would have been nice having some towel or blanket that would have been provided. Had to get a towel use from my car to sit on. Staff were good and caring overall. Ambiance was pleasant. Will try again read more

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The food was not the best. Came out cold but the atmosphere was so fun. Drinks were pretty good. It is counter service to order and they brought it out to you. Picnic style seating outside. read more