Ten Picks to Dine Locally and What to Order

Kitty's Kafe

Starting off this list with one that will have auto-correct scratching it head, Kitty's Kafe is open from 7am-2pm, Monday through Saturday, and is closed on Sundays. Kitty's Kafe serves up a Southern Style breakfast and lunch in a family-like atmosphere that is surely one to remember. While you're dining, enjoy one of their amazing cocktails form the full service bar. Here are our recommendations from the variety of menu options available: 

For breakfast, you need to order the Eggs Benedict with a Crab Cake or Fried Green Tomato, Breakfast Burrito, Kitty's Kirsto Sandwich or the Kountry Kakes. For lunch, you can enjoy their Black and Bleu Caesar, Homemade Chicken Salad Wrap, a Debris Po'boy, or Spaghetti with Meat Sauce. They do offer Daily Specials, a meat and two sides, giving you true southern staple options. For dessert you can't go wrong with either the bread pudding with whiskey sauce or the homemade cobbler. 

Hazel's Nook

Hazel's Nook is Southern Style Breakfast Buffet that serves breakfast and lunch 7 days a week from 7am-2pm. They have been feeding the locals of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach since 1957. Going in to diner is quite a flashback to a time when things were simple but the food was homemade happiness on a plate. Their buffet changes daily and the best way to figure out what they offer is by going, grabbing their menu schedule for the week, and eat while you're there!  

The Ugly Diner

Yes, that is the correct name. The Ugly Diner name may be a head tilt, but the food has the locals barreling through the door ready to chow down on the grub they have to offer. The Ugly Diner is open 7 days a week from 7am-2pm, offering breakfast and lunch. While you're dining, enjoy a refreshing coke product, milk, coffee, juice, or tea. Here are our recommendations from their not so ugly menu:

For breakfast, you should try the Mr. Jim's Peach Cobbler French Toast, Country Fried Steak and Eggs, Porkchop Breakfast, Denver Omelet, Shrimp and Crab Omelet, and pair it with their home fries or grits. For lunch, you could start with a wedge salad and then order a Patty Melt, Bahn Mi sandwich, Mushroom and Swiss Burger, Steve's Famous Burger, or the Open Face Shrimp and Crab French Bread. Pair your lunch with any of their sides, but we like their turnip greens, gouda grits, or onion rings. You must finish off you meal with a slice of coconut cake or key lime pie. 

Gulf Shores Diner

The Gulf Shores Diner is open 7 days a week from 6am-3pm, offering specialty breakfasts, lunch, and dinner. The name tells you where they are, but we're here to tell you what to order. Here are our recommendations from the wide variety of all day menu options:

For breakfast, you can't go wrong with the Five Star Breakfast, Waffle Combo, The Farmer's Breakfast, The Meat Lover, or Chocolate Chip Pancakes. For Lunch, you need to try the Bacon Chicken Ranch Melt, Philly Cheese Steak, Rueben, or Fried Jalapeno Swiss Burger. Start off dinner with some Bacon Cheese Fries or Greek Salad. Lastly, try the Country Fried Steak, Ribeye Steak, or Liver and Onions. 

The Beach House Kitchen and Cocktails

The Beach House Kitchen and Cocktails offers a variety of cuisines and crafted cocktails made with fresh ingredients and locally sourced seafood. They are open 7 days a week from 11am to 10pm. Although they don't serve breakfast, don't let that discourage you from enjoy a nice lunch or dinner because their menu items have our locals ringing the dinner bell! Here are our recommendations on what to order: 

Starters for lunch and dinner are a must and you should think about trying the Spinach and Artichoke Dip, Beach House Spring Rolls, or the Bacon Wrapped Gulf Shrimp. For lunch, you need to order a Southwest Salad, Chili Lime Shrimp Wrap, The Burger, or House-Ground Sirloin Tacos. For dinner, try the Gulf Fish Tacos, The Burger, Smoked BBLT (extra bacon), Gulf Fish and Shrimp Plate, or the Crawfish Mac and Cheese. Desserts are easy, you can't go wrong with either the Key Lime Pie or Triple Chocolate Cake. 

Fish River Grill

Fish River Grill is in their words "a Funky Junky Redneck Joint." Voted Best Burgers and Seafood in Baldwin County, we agree with that statement. Proudly serving Baldwin County locals, Fish River Grill is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11am-8pm (9pm on the weekends). Not serving breakfast doesn't discourage the locals from filling the place wall to wall for lunch and dinner. Here are our recommendations ready to fill the growling redneck in your gut:

Starting off with apps, you will never go wrong with a cup (or bowl) of the Creole Shrimp and Crabmeat Gumbo, Fried Green Tomatoes with Crawfish Sauce, The Nola, Fried Gator Bites, or a LARGE bowl of Swamp Soup. We forgot to inform you the Swamp Soup is world famous, at least in our world its famous. For lunch and dinner, there are endless choices but we recommend the Hillbilly Melt, Hurricane Burger, River Sausage Po'Boy, Shrimp BLT, Cajun Crawfish Pistol Basket, Grilled Fish Salad, or the Fried Frog Leg Platter. Wash down the edible goodness with a Pepsi soft drink, or the Jubilee Beast Bloody Mary, Bushwacker, or Wacky Tacky Punch. 

King Neptune's Seafood Restaurant

King Neptune's has been locally owned and operated for the past 25 years; open 7 days a week from 11am to 9pm. King Neptune's doesn't serve breakfast but that doesn't bother us one bit. Here are our recommendations that make you feel like king of the sea:

As far as apps go we think you should try the Seafood Nachos, Crab Claws, Gator Bites, or Crab Cakes. You could also start off with some half-shell happiness, ordered by the half dozen or full dozen, we would die for the Rockefeller Oysters. For lunch, we keep it casual with a bowl of Crab and Corn Bisque, the Queen Diane Burger, or a Blackened Chicken Sandwich. For dinner, we go crazy for the King Crab Legs, Royal Reds, Steamer Sampler, Fried Gator Po'Boy, Chicken Alfredo, Ahi Tuna, the Catfish Platter, or the Neptune's Platter. As far as we know, the dessert favorites are the Beignets, Key Lime Pie, or the Fried Cheesecake. 

Bahama Bob's Beachside Café

The story behind the name, Bahama Bob's, can best be summed up by the motto: "Where you find the very best of everything you come to the beach for in one place. Always remember, the lower the latitude, the better the attitude!" We unbiasedly agree with the motto, especially the part about latitude. Open Wednesday through Monday, closed on Tuesdays, from 11am- 9pm and they don't serve breakfast. Here are our recommendations from this seafood shack:

For appetizers, you have got to try the Pirate's Well Alligator Bites, Crab Cay Crab Claws, Treasure Island Seafood Gumbo, or Norman's Cay Fried Cheese. For lunch, we suggest the Grand Bahama Grilled Chicken, Grilled Scallop Bonanza, Coconut Fried Shrimp, Fried Seafood Po'Boy, The Island's Best Hamburger, Crabby Patty Sandwich, or Grilled Tuna Salad. For Dinner, you need to try the Royal Reds, Crab Legs, Island Combo, Paradise Island Fried Pecan Flounder, Crab Cay Baked Whitefish, or Bahama Bob's Burger. Do the Chef's Surprise or the Salted Caramel Cheesecake for dessert. 

Drunken Shrimp- Seafood Kitchen

As far as we know, the shrimp were sober. Anyways, the seafood is locally sourced and freshly prepared, you can tell by the taste they care about the quality of their food. Its obvious why the locals love Drunken Shrimp. Drunken Shrimp is open 7 days a week from 11am-9pm, pet friendly, and runs on a BYOB policy. Here are our recommendations from the inebriated crustacean:

For shareables and starters, we suggest the Crab and Spinach Cheese Dip, Fried Lobster Tail, and Bacon Wrapped Scallops. For lunch and dinner, we think you try the Calamari Salad, Softshell Crab Sandwich, Fish Sandwich, Fried Oyster Dinner, Captain's Choice Dinner, Grilled Tilapia Creole, Maryland Crab Cake Dinner, Low Country Seafood Pot, or Catfish and Shrimp Etouffee. 

The Sloop Galley and Spirits

The Sloop is a locals watering hole and eatery for sure. Although, the restaurant itself is small, your belly will be big when you leave. Open 7 days a week from 11am-12am, you can enjoy a late night snack, or meal, with a refreshing cocktail. From our growling stomachs, to yours, here are our recommendations:

Snacks to get you started should be the Cheesesteak Party Fries, Buffalo Party Fries, Nachos, or the Baked Stuffed Mushrooms. For lunch, you go light with a salad or try the Antipasto Italiano, Hotwing Hoagie, Spicy Sausage and Peppers, or the Sloop Dog. For Dinner, you have got to try the Cheesesteak Egg Rolls, Saucy Meatballs, South Foley Cheesesteak, or the SoFo's Italiano.