Restaurants in Niceville

Only a thin strip of beach and windswept landscaping stand between the glassy waters of the Gulf and Rick’s Crab Trap, where a trio of chefs steams, grills, and fries freshly harvested fruits of the sea. The culinary team handcrafts crab cakes daily and cooks whatever catch fishermen bring in, whether it’s yellowfin tuna or a net full of flounder. They also take creative liberty with their tropical mixed drinks, which carry such ocean-themed titles as the Crab Apple cocktail and the Pink Docksider––a lemonade named after boats that get sunburned after being moored in one place for too long.

Collaged nautical paraphernalia hangs from the eatery's white walls, and fishing nets tangled with colorful, fake lobsters drape over its windows. Al fresco diners taste the sea air while gazing at clownfish playing hooky from school across the gently undulating horizon.

For more than 60 years, the Original Waterfront Crab Shack has peppered its patrons’ palates with steamed, grilled, and fried seafood, as well as juicy burgers and crisp salads. As chefs bustle in the kitchen, libation wizards behind two full-service bars dole out wine, beer, and liquor. Overlooking the Santa Rosa Sound, the eatery’s expansive outdoor deck boasts picnic-table-style eating and ample views of a trolling boats and the occasional waterskiing muskie.

Landshark's Pizza fulfills Brian Hassman's dream of opening a casual eatery where televisions screen any broadcasted sports game while pizza and wings muffle the distraction of stomach rumbles. More than 20 toppings—including mako shark—adorn hand-tossed, brick-oven pizzas, and 22 sauces host wading parties for wings, shark bites, and otherwise flavorless parking tickets. To clear the throat before leading a cheer for the chefs, fans can guzzle one of Landshark's rotating selection of 8–10 tap beers.

The open kitchen at Bruno’s Pizza reveals the cooking process for all to see. Before customers' eyes, pizza chefs toss dough into the air and whip up house sauces, using these as building blocks in pizzas, calzones, and towering crust castles. Their specialty pizzas are laden with toppings that include black olives, italian sausage, and portobello mushrooms; one pizza even comes with five types of peppers. Craft beer or soda accompanies each meal.

Soft, colored light beams out from beneath the elegant sushi bar at Mandarin Moon, where skilled sushi chefs prepare traditional and specialty rolls. Lobster tail, spicy tuna, and salmon inhabit the gleaming glass case alongside more unexpected ingredients, such as duck and grilled steak. Between mouthfuls of sushi and sashimi, diners at the dark-wood tables and chairs can feast on classic Thai dishes, Chinese food favorites, or the envy of guests who didn't order the crab rangoon.

Dave Bohannon had a simple idea for a restaurant: he wanted to open one by the water and craft a concise menu of uncomplicated, but immaculately prepared dishes. With this vision in mind, he and his wife Alice opened Surf Burger. She honed its decor with help from local artists, creating an interior where old beach-themed paintings line the walls and surf movies play against a soundtrack of island music. Not only do the couple and their children leave their mark on the eatery’s menu and interior decor, but on its guests, as well. They often venture from their respective posts to eat, chat, and get matching tattoos with diners, forging a sense of community and transforming one-time visitors into loyal regulars.

They bolster this friendly, low-key atmosphere with casual dishes such as burgers, chili dogs, and fish tacos, as well as sweet-potato fries and quarter-pound Cajun sausages inspired by down-home southern recipes. At a full-service bar, servers pour draft beers and blend frosty tropical cocktails, which arrive before customers seated in the beachy dining room or on the outdoor, dog-friendly deck.