restraurants

I%26#39;ve been searching the web for restraunts, but would love some personal reviews. We are trying to plan this trip on as much of a budget as possible, but don%26#39;t mind sending the money if/ and when nessary. I would prefer to spend around $50 on dinner. My hubby is basically a meat %26amp; potatoes kinda guy. He%26#39;s not really big on seafood. He%26#39;s gonna want a good steak at least one day while we are gone. We have 3 children, ages 1, 3, %26amp; 6. The 1 yr old will eat whatever I eat, he%26#39;s not picky. The other 2 however expect chicken and fries. They will eat barbq pork, pizza, etc.

restraurants

I like Grazie in Orange Beach, great italian and my kids (with their small children) loved it and we went twice when they came down for a week. I had a good steak at the Live Bait at the Wharf, but it%26#39;s pricey. In fact if you%26#39;re thinking steak and don%26#39;t want to shell out a fortune I%26#39;d consider buying some steaks at Blalocks and grilling yourself. The kids will love the Hangout and I%26#39;ve enjoyed the food there. Desotos is almost a must when you%26#39;re in Gulf Shores, great food not bad prices. For awesome sandwiches and pizza I love the Old World Bakery plus they deliver in GS. I%26#39;m getting hungry! Hope this is helpful...

restraurants

www.orangebeach.ws/restaurants_bars.html

1) Lamberts- (www.throwedrolls.com) Similar to Cracker Barrel. HUGE portions of comfort food. CASH ONLY! Very family oriented. Can be fun or cheesy depending on your viewpoint. Long waits most of the time. Next to Tanger Outlets.

2) Lulu’s- (http://www.lulusathomeport.com/main/index.php) Owned by Jimmy Buffet’s sister. Under the Intercostal waterway bridge off 59 next to the airport. Many locals feel it’s overrated. Family oriented as they have many activities for children. No air conditioning. At night, they usually have a band and can be quite loud. Long waits are common but they have things for the kids to do and a bar inside the door for adults. I always get the ½ head of iceberg lettuce with blue cheese and bacon.

3) Original Oyster House- (http://www.originaloysterhouse.com/) Good place: recommended. For that reason (and location close to the beach-blocks from the beach on 59) can have extremely long waits. There is shopping next to the restaurant to pass the time and a bar inside the door. According to my Dad, they have the best gumbo in the region. I love their Parmesan Oysters.

4) Cosmos- (http://www.cosmosrestaurantandbar.com/) this place was recommended to me by several people. Thought it was overpriced but very good. Food is delicious. Long waits as it’s a very small place. Try eating in the bar. Quiter there too.

5) Desoto’s- (http://www.desotosseafoodkitchen.com/) Great location. Behind Souvenir City. Good food/good prices. Have grouper.

6) Sea n Suds- (http://www.sea-n-suds.com/) AWESOME location on the beach a few blocks east of 59 on Beach Blvd. Very family oriented so long waits but kids can play on the beach and adults can have drinks on their outdoor bar/deck. LOTS of fried seafood. Good raw oysters. Not too expensive. Parking hard, may want to valet.

7) Perdido Beach Resort- (http://www.perdidobeachresort.com/) Went here for lunch. Avacado/tomato salad was superb. Good view of the beach if you get near the glass.

8) Pink Pony- (http://www.pinkponypub.net/) AWESOME location on the beach where 59 ends at the Gulf. Pub food. Great for drinks on their deck at sunset. Shows soccer (football for our non-US folks) on TVs. Also has poker on Wednesdays. (last time I was there this may be discontinued)

9) Papa Rocco’s- (http://www.paparocco.com/) a local’s favorite. Blocks from the beach on 59. Small, dive place with good food, cheap beer, and a band almost every night. Don’t ruin it for us.  Parking is minimal.

10 )The Hangout- (http://www.thehangoutal.com/) Finally went to the hangout last week. Here%26#39;s my impressions (we ate before we went so didn%26#39;t try the food) Someone dropped a TON of money on this place. it%26#39;s gorgeous. Bars are very strategically placed. huge one as you enter the door and then 3 out back. Lulu%26#39;s should be shaking in their boots. This place has a huge sand mound that kids can play on, chairs for the parents surrounding it, and a bar right next to that Pretty cool place to take teens. they have an outdoor stage where bands play and then next to that are beds/couches with white canopies and a seating area around a fire that comes out of white crystals It was kind of chilly the night we went but it looks similar to Lulu%26#39;s in that they have garage doors that close. not sure if they have AC. if not, another place to check off my list come Summer. Gift shop has some hilarious gag gifts. Parking is a nightmare. they have their own lot off Beach Blvd but it fills up quick. the other parking near the beach was $5 Overall I was very impressed. Parents should love it because they can let their kids go wild on the sand hill and tire themselves out while enjoying a cold beverage.

As for steak, not much choosing around here (much to the locals dismay as one gets sick of eating seafood all of the time) I%26#39;m hearing great things about Longhorn in the Craft Farms shopping mall (in front of Target) They are a chain steakhouse but every location I%26#39;ve ate at (from Chicago to Atlanta) has been very good.

Excellent recs so far. Keep in mind that it%26#39;s a resort area, so $50 for 5 people will be challenging at times. In addition to the places mentioned, you might consider Tacky Jack%26#39;s (2 locations), Shrimp Basket and Tequila%26#39;s in GS for Mexican. Also, there are plenty of chains like Ruby Tuesday and Applebee%26#39;s, etc and they usually do well with kids.

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I know that $50 might be pushing it at times, but would like to stay as close to that as possible. 1y/o usually shares me either me or his sister so that helps. I did see that there is an AppleBees in Foley, that is a family favorite so we%26#39;ll probably go there one night. Think that Papa Roco%26#39;s would be a good choice as everyone loves pizza, except me, so I could get something else. Thinking that the other night it%26#39;ll probably be between Lulu%26#39;s, SeaNSuds, Hangout, or Shrimp Basket.

In your case with the kids, another good point about Papa Rocco%26#39;s is Scoop%26#39;s ice cream shop is right across the street from PR.

I agree with most of the others - Original Oyster House, Desotos, Sea %26amp; Suds, The Shrimp Basket and Lulu%26#39;s. The Hangout is pretty good too.

We tried Bahama Bob%26#39;s the other night and thought it was great. Son, hubby and I had seafood, daughter had a burger. Steak was available as well as a children%26#39;s menu. Bill came to about $70, but keep in mind my son is 21 and daughter is 17, so that was for 4 adult meals, no alcohol. Location was on west beach, on the beach. Nice patio atmosphere. It is right next to Phoenix Hotels %26amp; Suites, tucked back from the street. Would love to go back someday.

I love Bahama Bob%26#39;s. The pecan encrusted grouper is to die for! Love being directly on the beach too.