You could give Red Bar a bad rating for the wait times you have to go through. You could give them a scathing review for servers running around like crazy and always in a rush. You could have a number of things to complain about… until you eat their food. If you have never been before, expect these things to happen. They have giant chalkboards with about 5 choices total. And besides the fish special, the selection never changes. So why do I keep going back? One: because my in-laws love it and we are usually at the beach with them. Two: because I love it and a beach trip is now not complete without a stop at Red Bar. I have honestly only ordered two things. The pasta and the fish special. The reason they never change their very limited selection is because they have learned these dishes, and do them really well. The past is always a great choice. It is full of seafood and the sauce is great. There is not a way to put your finger on why it is so good. But it is. As for the fish special, I can only speak for this last visit. I went with the grouper special and it was simply outstanding. It was pan-fried to perfection and the sauce was spectacular. It came on a very well executed grit cake for a combination of flavors that were some of the best I have had. Seriously top 3 fish dishes I have ever eaten. Some others at the table got the other fish special, and were not nearly as impressed. But this one was knocked clear out of the park. See you again next year Red Bar.
Kathie K.
Tu valoración: 5 Missouri City, TX
My family had lunch here while on vacation. I had the smoked salmon salad and it was delicious! My eight-year-old claimed their grilled cheese was the best she’s ever had(and she is quite the connoisseur! The fun, eclectic atmosphere is a great compliment to any beach trip!
Suzanne B.
Tu valoración: 4 Indianapolis, IN
Such a classic — it’s hard to go to Destin/Seaside and even PCB without venturing over to The Red Bar. The wait is HORENDOUS but there’s strange little shops to peruse while you wait. And once seated you pick one of the 6 menu items and 20 seconds later it’s on your table. It’s delicious every time! Otherwise wouldn’t be worth the wait! The crab cakes are always my fav. Dont skip dessert — they have 7 – 8 choices(which crakes me up compared to the dinner choices). The Key Lime Pie is to die for! Definitely pricey considering the atmosphere but we have been going for 12 years and make it a «dress-up night out» and have a blast every time! OH! And it’s CASH Only! They have an ATM, but we always try to bring cash with us!
Cory C.
Tu valoración: 5 Santa Rosa Beach, FL
I give this place 5 stars only because of the great LONG-TERM bar staff they have(Georgie, Jenn and Stacy) and food. Besides that I feel like their tap beer is always flat and the new bartenders treat locals like they are doing them a favor by giving them a drink.
Chris A.
Tu valoración: 5 Hendersonville, TN
The best meal we had on our trip. I was skeptical about Red Bar as I figured it wouldn’t live up to the hype. We arrived around 5:30 and had only a 20 minute wait. While it was busy and loud, it wasn’t prohibitively so. The menu is limited but that also means a quick turnaround on the food. And what they do have on the menu is solid and fairly diverse. A couple of seafood selections(the grouper over grit cakes was awesome), a chicken dish, a pasta dish(manicotti was great). They do have appetizers too but I think you have to ask about them. Wish we’d tried the crab cakes. Good beer selection and the music was good and not too loud. Great and prompt service as well. My only complaint might be that it is a little rushed. It does seem like they are trying to turn tables over quickly… which I understand due to the wait. Not a major concern, though. A very fun night out with great food. As others have mentioned, parking is prohibitive around Red Bar. We took the shuttle from just off of 30A at a shopping center at the entrance to Grayton which alleviated the parking concern. Also of note is they do not accept credit cards. There is an ATM on site, however. Cash or check only.
Amy G.
Tu valoración: 1 Clayton, Saint Louis, MO
I loved the look of this restaurant, dark red interior. Lots of signage on the walls and it had a comfortable patio with plenty of shade(1 star) sadly that’s where the good ends. The menu is extremely limited(5 entrees?). No appetizers no salads(unless w/entrée) and no wine. I ordered the baked eggplant stuffed with scallops shrimp and squash and it was a mushy mess. No flavor at all. The side salad was fine. We also ordered the grouper which came out hard and dry. The entrees came out within minutes of placing order which never sits well with me. I don’t like the idea of precooked entrees waiting to be pushed out. Also, the kids french fries were chewy and cold. It’s pretty hard to get fries wrong! Parking is difficult but they do have a shuttle from another location, but I don’t think it’s worth the trouble.
Phil G.
Tu valoración: 5 Destin, FL
Our first time to Red Bar and it was delicious! We shared the special, which was blackened grouper with a bacon grit cake. The grouper was cooked to perfection and the bacon grit cake was outstanding. The kids had the manicotti and the panne chicken, which was also awesome. We will definitely be back again!
Michelle H.
Tu valoración: 3 Takoma Park, MD
This place is not worth any burden to you. If you see a long line or you must drive up and down the roads to find a place to park, then drive on. Don’t waste your time or burden yourself. The food is good but nothing beyond the ordinary. I have been here a few times only because it was convenient. The bathrooms are gross and old. While the live music has always been excellent, the volume of the live music is a little loud. I prefer hearing the conversation of those I came with. Come if it is convenient for you and you just want food.
Jen M.
Tu valoración: 1 Goshen, KY
This place sucks as a bar with a place to watch live music! Waist of time. Crowded waited an hour for a table on a weeknight. Band situated in main dining area with lots of families, no one interested in listening to the band. Couldn’t see the band! Why even have one! Had to take crappy shuttle bus with rude driver to the restaurant for what? 1 hr wait with no view of the band! hostess stand next to band!
Duke H.
Tu valoración: 3 Farmington, CA
Very popular and worth the visit. Had better experience other local spots. This area is loaded with great places to eat, so a three here is like a 4.5 anywhere else. They serve a lot of people and do a great job. They keep the menu options short. The blackened grouper was very tasty and perfectly done. A little loud and server was handling too many tables, but that how it works there. Soup special was awesome. Drinks were pricey and weak. Caught up in the tourist throng. Best to park up by the 30 and take bar shuttle, parking is a nightmare.
Lily P.
Tu valoración: 3 Northampton, MA
Super crowded during the busy season. Expect to wait behind large parties. Otherwise really good food and service. Filling meal and worth the experience !
Elizabeth W.
Tu valoración: 5 Nashville, TN
Unilocal still has winter hours as of today, May 31st but they are open 7 days a week now for summer.
Imon S.
Tu valoración: 4 Kansas City, MO
This place is so cool! As people are saying, be prepared to wait a while. If you put your name on the list and get a pager, taking a short walk to the beach or checking out shops nearby is a good time killer. Probably better to go later rather than earlier for dinner. Around 8 o’clock or after. The atmosphere can be a little overwhelming – loud music, lots of people – but the food and dining experience is well worth it. I ordered the Panned Chicken and there was plenty of food, enough for leftovers. Two chicken breasts with a side salad and mashed potatoes. It was sooo good!
Renee C.
Tu valoración: 4 Gulf Breeze, FL
Every year during our girls trip we have to go to Red Bar for the crab cakes. Last year I skipped the crab cakes and had the chicken. I regretted that as the chicken was so so. Now this time I ordered the cakes! OMGTHEYWEREGREAT! Great atmosphere too!
Tiff H.
Tu valoración: 4 Dunwoody, GA
My coworkers hyped up the Red Bar for years before I finally made it to Grayton Beach to try it out. The Red Bar is literally red. All my pictures turned out red — sorry for the poor photo quality. I’m not the best editor and I have no idea how to change it. Now the pictures are a little washed out. Oh well. It looks like a semi-family friendly night out. Cash or check only is a bit of a pain, but we thankfully knew ahead of time and came prepared. The server showed us the limited menu. I like their concept of a smaller menu with fresh ingredients that narrows down the wait time for food, as well. I ordered a local beer and hunkered down for a long wait for food, although it ended up being surprisingly short. We ordered«family style» so we could all have the chance to try several dishes. All the dishes came with the house salad and a tasty dressing. We got the: Fish of the day — Mahi Mahi, topped with citrus beurre blanc. It came with a smooth mashed potato. I loved the beurre blanc sauce — while it was a little heavy, the citrus made it refreshing. Baked Eggplant — not super impressed. It is what it is. Special: Crab Cake — I loved this. Delicious. Must order. It was super crabby, which you can never go wrong with too much crab meat in anything. Special: Grouper — the grouper was cooked much better than the fried grouper I experienced at lunch. Seasoning was on point. Of course when we heard that bread pudding was on the dessert menu, we couldn’t turn it down. He described the bourbon sauce and omg all that ice cream. Not the best I’ve had but it was delicious all the same. It was quite a drive to Red Bar from Fort Walton Beach but it was well worth it. I would definitely come back the next time I’m in Destin.
Brett U.
Tu valoración: 5 Lower Greenville, Dallas, TX
Always fantastic service and the fish is to die for! The drinks are strong and fantastic no matter which one I try. This time the strawberry basil lemonade was perfection. Enjoyed the swanky and inviting atmosphere as always. Have been here every season and wouldn’t change a thing!
Kate S.
Tu valoración: 5 Dayton, OH
The Red Bar is as unique as it is delicious. I’ve visited twice and got the crab cakes both times. I would absolutely recommend. The people with me got mahi mahi in a citrus sauce and a grouper special. They both raved about it. We arrived 15 minutes before they started serving dinner and by the time they started seating, there was a line out the door and when they finished seating everyone, most tables were full. If you’re not an early-bird eater, expect a wait, but also expect it to be worth the wait. The atmosphere is casual and fun and would be a fine place to go with children and not have to worry about them being too noisy. I’ll absolutely go back again!
Tosha M.
Tu valoración: 5 Culleoka, TN
My husband and I are having a blast at the Red Bar. Joey the bartender here is amazing. So down to earth and makes a killer Bloody Mary. He even did a neat magic trick for the kids. I give this place a thumbs up. We will definitely be back.
Abraham D.
Tu valoración: 5 Oklahoma City, OK
All the locals come here, for my fellow foodies that should be enough info for you. If it isn’t…then you should go through the Long John Silver’s drive thru. Phenomenal crab cakes, fresh seafood, always a fish of the day special. If you’re headed here on a Friday night or weekend, expect a wait, bring something to do or check Unilocal. This isn’t a quiet quaint dimly lit county club. It can get noisy.
Angela M.
Tu valoración: 4 Atlanta, GA
As a guest of a large group of ladies who come here every year after the Seaside Half Marathon, I’d heard some great things about the place. We got there early on Sunday since we are tired, sore, and hungry(in the best way). They were able to seat us at a large table pretty close to the«stage» area. Philosophically, I like that the menu is handwritten, but as someone who takes the time to debate my food choices based on every little ingredient, I had to sneak into the bar area and take a picture so that I could keep reading until I decided. We started with the smoked tuna dip. It was amazingly good — great smoky flavor and hardly any creamy stuff to hold it together, so still pretty light. I used the lettuce and veggies instead of the saltines to eat it, not wanting to taste the saltine over the smokiness. It seemed that everyone at the table was getting the grouper with the grit cake, but I opted for the baked eggplant(stuffed with shrimp, scallops, zucchini & squash, topped with tomato buerre blanc), especially when my friend offered to exchange bites of her grouper and grit cake. The food was delicious, esepcially that grit cake. The eggplant dish was tasty, but a little monotonous on the texture. The décor is eclectic and jazzy, feeling very old and divey. We were there too early to enjoy the live music, which was setting up as we were leaving. Cash only, though there is an ATM in the bar area. It speaks highly of the operation that people are willing to pay cash for these prices(not that they’re overly expensive, but this quality seafood isn’t cheap). I look forward to returning next year!