Experience Authentic Cajun Cuisine at Bayou on the Beach
Thanks to Panama City Beach’s fairly close proximity to Louisiana, it’s not hard to find Cajun inspired cooking or cuisine with a kick in our local area. My boyfriend, being a native of the Pelican state, is always on the lookout for a good gumbo or crawfish etouffee, but had never found anything that really hit the spot. That was, until we discovered Bayou on the Beach. In a new location on Middle Beach Road, directly across from Tyndall Federal Credit Union, Bayou on the Beach has actually been serving up authentic Cajun cuisine in Panama City Beach since 1999. The restaurant originally opened on the curve of Thomas Drive, where for seven years the Buxton family (originally from Lafayette) welcomed both locals and visitors to enjoy a sumptuous menu that included crawfish pie, jambalaya, oysters and fresh seafood. Thanks in part to exciting daily lunch specials, mouth-watering po-boys, and their famous fried pickles, the restaurant was always packed and therefore the Buxtons decided to expand and move to a larger location on Thomas Drive in 2006.
Unfortunately the new location came with some electrical problems and housed Bayou on the Beach for just one year. After eighteen months passed, the family decided it was time to reestablish Bayou on the Beach as Panama City Beach’s premier spot for authentic Cajun cooking. The doors to the present location opened on April 21st, 2009, and the restaurant is now busier and better than ever. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, and with zydeco and jazz music playing over the speakers, you really feel as though you are sitting in a café in Louisiana, and not in the heart of Panama City Beach. Maria Bertella Buxton, the wife of Chef Jordan Buxton, made me feel completely welcome and takes care of everybody that walks through the doors in exactly the same fashion. I could tell that the regulars at Bayou on the Beach loved their hangout and it really was easy to see why. Bill Knight, a patron and local fisherman told me he had been coming to Bayou on the Beach since it opened back in 1999. “This is the best place in town for authentic Cajun cuisine” Mr. Knight said. “Everything on the menu is great – the oysters melt in your mouth, and the Grouper Imperial (fresh grouper with lump crabmeat and a béarnaise sauce) is absolutely wonderful. Maria is a fantastic hostess and I couldn’t be happier with the service or the food.”
I had to agree. I ordered grilled Mahi with fresh vegetables and French fries, which incidentally were some of the best I had ever tasted. The Mahi was cooked to perfection and even the bread roll was a highlight of my meal. My boyfriend decided to try his favorites from back home – gumbo, boudin sausage and even some raw oysters, and gave it all top marks. “This is all as good as you would get back in Louisiana and absolutely delicious” he remarked, as he tried to finish everything on his plate. Poor chap has to make the most of every opportunity to eat home-style cuisine as his girlfriend is not only vegetarian, but English to boot. And let me tell you, there’s nothing too spicy about meatless English fare. We also tried the shrimp and scallop kebobs, wrapped in prosciutto and served with a home-made watermelon sauce. If you have room, deserts include home-made bread pudding with a rum sauce, key lime pie with a raspberry sauce, and beignets.
Bayou on the Beach is open year-round, and is open from 11:00 am Tuesday through Saturday. The restaurant is famous for its awesome lunch specials, which are served daily at a price of $6.50, to include tea and tax. Happy hour is from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, and is a little different in that as well as drink specials, it is also an oyster special! For just $3.99 you can tuck into a baker’s dozen (13) fresh oysters. There is a full bar at the restaurant, so even if you aren’t hungry, you can stop in for a cool drink or a glass of wine, and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and some great company. Chances are, even if you weren’t hungry when you came in, you will be after spying the appetizing plates on the way to the tables, and after smelling the tempting aromas drifting out from the kitchen. If you haven’t already tried Bayou on the Beach, I urge you to make it your next choice for a meal out. I promise, you won’t be disappointed.
Bayou on the Beach is located at 1115 Hutchinson Blvd, Panama City Beach. Call (850) 249 3478 for more details.
Thank you, Ellie, for coming in to dine with us! We enjoyed having you both. If anyone would like to check out our entire menu, it is on our website- http://www.bayouonthebeach.com .
Thanks!
The Buxtons
*Maria, Jordan, Donna, Dave*
We love the food however, why can we not find a Louisiana restaurant that will serve a po boy on po boy bread instead of rolls???? Putting it on French bread would be a better alternative without the real thing.
Good News- Ours is the real deal- straight from Bambino’s Bakery in New Orleans.
The oysters were very good but the shuckers are slow. I also noticed the last two times I was there that the “regulars” at the bar seem to get the larger oysters. My oysters were tiny compared to the ones on the plates of the “regulars” sitting next to me. My last visit confirmed my suspicion–I checked out the plates nearby. I was irritated and haven’t been back since then. It is a good restaurant and I will give it another try, but I hope to be treated like the others at the bar. That is the only way I will become a “regular”. By the way, this probably happens at all the oyster bars, but it is still irritating.