Where You Should Go for Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner on The Coast

Bud & Alley’s Duck Confit Hash

Chase Yakaboski 

Warm up this fall with savory dishes that showcase the bounty of the Gulf and Mediterranean — all made right here on the Emerald Coast.

Breakfast 

Bud & Alley’s, Seaside  While you drink in the intoxicating view of the Gulf from the Rooftop Deck, fill up on a hearty, farm-to-table-inspired breakfast served daily beginning at 8. We indulged ourselves with the Duck Confit Hash. This delicious dish features a fresh combination of flavors from crispy potatoes, frisee, red peppers and a fried duck egg. Pair it with a mimosa cocktail for a memorable day that will surely be off to a ducky start. $14

Lunch

Ali Baba Grill Café, Fort Walton Beach

A tidy, traditional dining room with arched alcoves filled with Grecian urns and Turkish finds transports this restaurant experience from one located in a strip of shops off Mary Esther Cutoff to a family owned and operated eatery on the Mediterranean Sea. There are five different vegetarian plate dinners that are tasty ways to sample an array of Turkish and Greek fare. We tried the Desert Walk, which features tabbouleh, baba ghannouj, hummus, tzatziki sauce and freshly baked pita bread. Talk about Turkish delights! $11.99

Dinner

The Boathouse Oyster Bar, Destin

The menu says it has been Destin’s “best kept secret” since it was established in 1986 and once you seek out this rustic hideaway on the Destin Harbor, you can see and taste why. The outdoor dining, full bar, nightly live music and late-night kitchen lure in locals and visitors to this come-as-you-are restaurant/bar. The gumbo is award-winning, but on the sunny afternoon we ventured here we scarfed down a couple dozen chilled raw oysters. Just like this eatery, there was nothing fancy — just the fresh, simple taste of quality Apalachicola oysters served with crackers, lemon and cocktail sauce. This is definitely a secret you’ll want to share. $9.95