The Best Seafood Restaurants in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

Best Seafood Restaurants in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach has many restaurants that serve seafood. I am asked often what's your favorite restaurant in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach. So in this, I will list some of the spots that the locals seem to brag about and my personal favorite top spots to dine in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. I am not listing every restaurant in the area, just the ones I feel a good old recommendation is in order due to the superior service I have personally received on a constant bases. Constancy of great food comes from a fresh product and the most important of them all, local Gulf  Harvested Seafood should be on the menu.

Lets Talk Seafood First!

Many restaurants serve seafood in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. What most do not understand or realize, not all restaurants use local harvested seafood and even if they wanted to some things on the menu are not available or caught locally in the Gulf of Mexico. Just for instance, King Crabs or Snow Crabs. Most all these crabs come from Alaska and Canada. Pre-cooked while live to keep the meat from sticking to the shells. Lets start for example Shrimp! Shrimp are served and if their is one thing you should expect to be locally caught or fresh is not always what you will get. If in doubt, before you order ask your waiter. You may get the truth or you may get something else. Farm Raised or even foreign shrimp. Not knocking on any product but if you were raised on shrimp like I was, you can tell a difference. In my opinion not only are these shrimp not as good, but the additives such as Tripoli know as a preservative that was created for fish is in most, if not all of the farm raised or foreign shrimp. The Tripoli is absorbed in the shrimp and when thawed from being frozen the liquid stays in the meat until it is cooked. A lot of people do not realize it but most large seafood plants that peel and devein  shrimp in large quantities,  drop 4.5 pounds of shrimp in a typical 5 pound box and finish the weight off with .5 pounds of Tripoli. This is totally legal due to the fact the shrimp absorbs the preservative and when they are thawed out they retain the Tripoli until cook. So when you weigh,  you do have 5 pounds of product. A lot of restaurants might not even realize this and most of the time if you pop the preservative Tripoli question you will not get an answer. The good news?  While your in the Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan area, your close to Aquila Seafood located in Bon Secour Alabama. Ask them this question and if your looking to get fresh off the boat gulf or bay local caught shrimp without the preservative just ask. The only downfall is you'll be cooking them yourself. By the way did I mention that the Aquila Seafood is known for being the Home of the Royal Red Shrimp. Gulf Shrimp that are caught in the deep waters out in the Gulf of Mexico. Getting true gulf royal reds. The supply of these shrimp are limited and the remaining restaurants have to divert to an imported version of the Royal Reds called Argentina Reds. Caught wild in the western south Atlantic. Not bad eating but, no cigar. Ask your waiter if they are true local Gulf Royal Reds or imported Argentina Reds. Visit Aquila Seafood and you will only get local gulf caught Royal Red Shrimp.Aquila Seafood Reviews


Ok its time for my top picks for the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Seafood Restaurants!
Keep in mind this is my personal favorites. Places not listed are not considered bad, just my favorites are the ones I would recommend and remember when in doubt , just ask questions before ordering from your restaurant
of choice.

Captain Ronnie Blacks and Reel Attraction Charters Favorite Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Seafood Restaurant Locations and Menus

Note: Yes, one spot is not really in Gulf Shores or

Orange Beach. But well worth an extra 15 minute drive to

                                                 Bon Secour, Alabama

Best Seafood Restaurants in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

                                      King Neptune Restaurant                                  

1137 Gulf Shores Parkway

Gulf Shores, AL 36542

251-968-5464

Menu

 

    Gulf Shores Steamer Restaurant

    27267 Perdido Beach Blvd, Suite 115

    Orange Beach AL, 36561

    251-948-6344
Menu    

 

   

   Cobalt, The Restaurant

   28099 Perdido Beach Blvd.

   Orange Beach, AL. 36561

   251-923-5300
Menu

 

The Tin Top Restaurant and Oyster Bar
6232 County Road 10
Bon Secour Highway
Bon Secour, AL 36511
Tel : 251.949.5086
Menu

 

Cosmos Restaurants & Bar

25753 Canal Rd.

Orange Beach Alabama

251-948-9663

Menu

 

Bon Secour River Fishing Bull Reds

Photo taken by Mr. Zac Black at Aquila Seafood

The weathers been chilly and the Redfish fishing has been warm. They are hitting live baits said, Zac Black a native of the Bon Secour area and professional Kayak Fisherman. Mr. Black has been fishing the Bon Secour River for the past week and he has reported some really great hookups on the redfish just north of the Bon Secour Fisheries on the river. Mr. Black reported multiple sightings of the redfish in large schools churning the shallows and feeding heavily.

Tactics when the fish are not visible
have been to slow drift live pinfish and pogy aka menhaden flowing with the tide. The bite has seemed to be better on a falling tide but we have caught fish on a rising tide also. Mr. Black reported that he likes to start his fishing on a outgoing tide from the Bon Secour River Bridge and fish down the river. The fish are here you just have to put some time into locating them as they are constantly on the move looking for baits in the river.




Fish the Bon Secour River
Contact Reel Attraction Charters
Fishing Rates

Gulf Shores 44th Anual National Shrimp Festival

 

 Gulf Shores and one of the nations top annual events, The Annual National Shrimp Festival is here again this year. The Gulf Shores 44th Annual National Shrimp Festival! The shrimp festival will be kicking off October the eighth this 2015 season. The festival started back in 1971 and today it attracts over 250 thousand people each year.  Admission is free!  The four days of the Shrimp Festival will have over 50 local vendors cooking, 80 hrs. of musical entertainment,  200 booths of fine arts and other fun things to do! Don't forget to register and compete in the Annual Sand Sculpture Contest! Registration and building begins at 11:00 am Saturday, located on the west end of the beach at the public beach access. More details about the Gulf Shores Shrimp Festival.

Go Shrimping with Reel Attraction Charters

 
 
 
During your stay for the 44th Annual National Shrimp Festival, experience a shrimping charter or a fishing trip
 with Reel Attraction Charters. Your group will enjoy learning how shrimp are harvested first hand on our boat as we trawl our nets in the Mobile Bay catching shrimp and other marine fish. You can contact us at 251-422-8665 or Contact Us!