The Back Porch in Destin Florida

The Back Porch restaurant in Destin, Florida, is a beloved local seafood and oyster house that has been serving the Gulf Coast since 1974. It began in a small A-frame building right on the beach and quickly became known for its delicious Gulf seafood and the stunning views it offered.

A few years after its opening, The Back Porch created the Amberjack sandwich, which has become a hallmark of their menu and contributed to the restaurant’s lasting fame.

This restaurant is praised for its fresh Gulf seafood, including oysters and grouper, which is delivered daily and handled with great care from arrival to table presentation.

Their dedication to quality and the beautiful beachfront dining experience make it a must-visit for seafood lovers. The atmosphere is unpretentious, ideal for enjoying their well-known fresh Appalachicola oysters or their various baked oyster offerings.

The Back Porch has been a local favorite since 1974, recognized for specialties like the finest smoked tuna dip, ice-cold oysters, and their famous char-grilled Amberjack. Happy Hour from 3-5PM daily attracts guests looking to enjoy the restaurant’s offerings at special prices​.

The restaurant’s dedication to quality and the scenic dining experience have earned it a strong reputation, evidenced by the Travelers’ Choice 2023 award from Tripadvisor, signaling its place within the top 10% of properties on the site based on consistent great reviews from travelers​.

The Back Porch is in a fantastic location. You can’t get much closer to the beach. There is also June White Decker Public Beach access in the same parking lot, so you could have lunch and a beach day all in one. However, this is also why it can sometimes be difficult to find parking during the busy season.

There are a few cats roaming around that they feed and care for. Several of them have lived there a long time. The most well-known cat is KC who is on the sign as the head “taste tester”. He lived outside at the Back Porch for over 17 years before passing away a few years ago.

KC’s long-time buddy “Lil Fluff” is still there along with several others. I love cats so this is always my favorite part to say hi to the kitties. The cats tend to be a little shy but I can usually get some pictures.

Last time I went to the Back Porch I sat at the bar and asked if they had a gluten-free menu and they handed me a separate menu from the regular one. I don’t always eat gluten free but sometimes I am in the mood for foods that are lighter and less “bready” so I will sometimes check out the gluten-free menu first before moving on to the regular menu.

It is getting more common for restaurants to have their gluten-free options on a separate menu which makes it a lot easier for people with gluten sensitivities. I liked that they had their sandwich options on the gluten-free menu without the bread.

Click here to view their menus

I ordered the blackened snapper gluten-free sandwich (so basically the sandwich without the bread) and I chose the twice baked potato as the side. It also came with coleslaw.

The snapper was cooked and seasoned perfectly and the coleslaw was good too. I can’t speak on the potato because one tiny bite told me that it had bacon in it so I scraped off the mashed potato part and just ate the skin. That was my fault. I should have thought to ask if the potato had bacon in it which I don’t like.

Of course I got the Beach Cat Ale because the proceeds support the taste tester cats and spay and neuter initiatives in partnership with SOCKS, a local cat rescue. You can also support the cat rescue mission by buying a Beach Cat T-shirt in the gift shop.

After lunch, I usually walk out to the sand to get a closer look at the beach and the water. Here is the view of the restaurant looking back from the water:

The Back Porch is a very popular spot with some families considering it a staple of every Destin vacation to eat here. Expect a long wait during dinner hours in peak season of March through October.

If you want to avoid the rush, go to lunch or an early dinner. It’s not a bad place to be waiting though because you can always grab a drink and enjoy the beach, water and sunset while you wait for your table.

Here is a map photo showing the location. It is tucked in a corner off Scenic Highway 98 but it is not connected to the longer stretch of 98 where most of the beachfront restaurants and accommodations are located so that is confusing sometimes in getting here. Scenic 98 continues east on the other side of Henderson Beach State Park.

Have you tried The Back Porch?

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Hi, I’m Sarah–the creator, writer and photographer behind this site. I sell prints, books, journals, and calendars all made from my Emerald Coast photography and I also manage a few vacation rentals on beautiful Holiday Isle in Destin if you want me to be your helpful, knowledgeable host when you visit.…..🌴😃🐬 I have a few rentals including a large house with a boat slip, a 2-bedroom condo, and a 1-bedroom apartment. All are directly on Destin Harbor with private gated access to the most beautiful beaches in Destin. If you enjoy my posts, please consider supporting my blog by shopping my products. I appreciate every sale, and it helps me continue to put out quality free content for you. Thank you SO much 🙂