Eat With Sam KPanama City Beach has no shortage of places to eat. Between beachfront seafood restaurants, oyster bars, casual local spots, and restaurants packed with tourists, the harder question is figuring out which ones are actually worth your money.
That's what I'm trying to find out.
I'm eating my way through Panama City Beach and personally reviewing restaurants along the way. Every restaurant I review gets a Sam Score, my overall rating based on the food and experience.
This guide will continue to grow as I try more restaurants around PCB, so check back as more places get added.
No paid reviews. No bought ratings. Every Sam Score reflects my actual experience.
Tip: hover over any $ price tag below to see what it means.
Panama City Beach Restaurants Worth Knowing
I'm just getting started on Panama City Beach, so nothing here has an official Sam Score yet. Dusty's is the first one I've visited, and its review is on the way.
Rather than assigning rankings to places I haven't personally reviewed and published yet, I'm keeping them on my radar and will update this guide as I go.
🦪 Dusty's Oyster Bar
If you're searching for seafood in Panama City Beach, there's a good chance you'll hear about Dusty's Oyster Bar. Dusty's has the kind of atmosphere you want from an old-school Florida oyster bar. It's casual, busy, and much more about grabbing seafood and having a good time than getting a polished fine-dining experience.
Best For: Oysters, seafood and a casual local atmosphere
Price: $$
📍 I've been here. My full review and Sam Score are coming soon, and this entry moves to the top of the guide once it's live.
🍺 McGuire's Irish Pub
McGuire's brought its well-known Irish pub concept to Panama City Beach and offers a completely different experience from the seafood-heavy restaurants you'll find throughout PCB. It's one I'm interested in trying as I continue exploring the area.
Best For: Groups, pub food, drinks and a lively atmosphere
🐟 Mike's Cafe & Oyster Bar
If you're looking for another casual seafood and oyster option, Mike's Cafe & Oyster Bar is one of the local names worth knowing. The menu leans heavily into the kind of seafood you'd expect on a Florida beach trip, including oysters and other Gulf Coast favorites.
Best For: Casual seafood and oysters
🦐 Local Steamer Seafood Market
Local Steamer is particularly interesting if your priority is the seafood itself rather than a traditional sit-down restaurant experience. Seafood boils and Gulf Coast favorites make this a spot I'd consider for anyone wanting a more casual PCB seafood meal.
Best For: Seafood boils, shellfish and casual takeout
🍽️ Hunt & Gather Raw Bar & Pub
For something a little more chef-driven, Hunt & Gather is one of the Panama City Beach restaurants on my list to try. It offers a different experience from many of PCB's large beachfront and tourist-oriented restaurants, making it especially interesting if you're looking for a more food-focused dinner.
Best For: Date night and a more elevated meal
✨ Firefly
Firefly is another option to consider when you're looking for a nicer dinner in Panama City Beach. Rather than the ultra-casual beach atmosphere you'll find at many PCB restaurants, Firefly is geared more toward an elevated night out.
Best For: Date night, celebrations and nicer dinners
Best Panama City Beach Restaurants by Occasion
As I personally review more restaurants, these picks will increasingly be based on my own Sam Scores.
| Looking For | Try |
|---|---|
| 🦪 Oysters | Dusty's Oyster Bar |
| 🐟 Casual Seafood | Dusty's Oyster Bar / Mike's Cafe |
| 🍺 Lively Group Spot | McGuire's Irish Pub |
| 🦐 Seafood Boil | Local Steamer |
| ❤️ Date Night | Hunt & Gather / Firefly |
What Food Is Panama City Beach Known For?
Seafood is the obvious answer. Being on Florida's Gulf Coast means you'll find plenty of oysters, shrimp, fish, crab and seafood boils throughout Panama City Beach.
But that's also why I wouldn't spend an entire PCB trip eating at restaurants simply because they're on the water. I'm looking for the places where the food itself is worth the visit, whether that's a seafood shack, oyster bar, burger joint, breakfast restaurant or an upscale dinner.
Where Should You Eat in Panama City Beach?
If it's your first trip, I'd mix up your restaurant choices rather than eating at the same type of place every night.
Try an old-school seafood or oyster bar, have at least one nicer dinner, and leave room for some of the less obvious restaurants away from the biggest tourist areas.
As I review more PCB restaurants, I'll update this page with my personal rankings so it's easier to decide where your money is actually worth spending.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best restaurants in Panama City Beach?
I'm currently eating my way through Panama City Beach and rating restaurants using the Sam Score. Dusty's Oyster Bar is the first restaurant I've visited for this guide, and its full review and Sam Score are on the way, with more restaurants added as I get to them.
Where should I eat seafood in Panama City Beach?
PCB has a huge number of seafood restaurants. Dusty's Oyster Bar is one I've personally visited, while places like Mike's Cafe & Oyster Bar and Local Steamer Seafood Market are also on my radar as I continue exploring the area.
Where can I get oysters in Panama City Beach?
Dusty's Oyster Bar is one of the city's well-known casual oyster spots and one I've personally visited. Mike's Cafe & Oyster Bar is another option worth knowing about.
What are the best restaurants in Panama City Beach for date night?
Hunt & Gather Raw Bar & Pub and Firefly are two restaurants worth considering for a nicer evening. I haven't personally Sam Scored either yet, so I'll update this section once I do.
What is a Sam Score?
The Sam Score is my overall restaurant rating. Restaurants can't pay for a Sam Score, and sponsored content doesn't influence ratings. I pay for my independent review experiences so the score reflects what I actually thought about the food and experience.
The Sam Score
Every restaurant that receives a Sam Score has been personally visited and reviewed by me, food quality, value, service, and atmosphere all factor in.
Restaurants cannot pay for a Sam Score or a better rating. My goal with Eat With Sam K is simple: try the food myself and tell you whether I think it's actually worth your money.
Eating My Way Through Panama City Beach 🌴
This guide is only the beginning. I'm currently eating my way through Panama City Beach, trying restaurants around PCB and figuring out which ones are actually worth visiting.
Every new restaurant I review will be added here with its Sam Score.
Follow @eatwithsamk on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube to watch the reviews as they're released.
Good food. Real reviews. Good times.
More Food Guides
Looking for more places to eat? Check out these guides on Eat With Sam K: