Recommended 12 Dinner Spots Near Panama City, Florida

Mike and Barb This is one of our favorite restaurants! Everything was fantastic... maybe the stars were aligned, but the food, service and atmosphere were all top notch. The oysters were some of the best weve ever had. The flavor and crispy cheese topping... awesome!! We had bread pudding for desert and could have invited 2 or 3 other to share... it was a huge and delicious!! We will be back!!

Robert Lemons Uncle Ernie’s was great! This was the first time for us to eat here since we usually eat in Panama City Beach. This time, we decided to come into Panama City around the port area and give Uncle Ernie’s a shot. Well, they didn’t disappoint!!!! The food was great and the atmosphere may have been even better. It was a great change of pace and we will definitely be back. We did go closer to closing time so parking was not bad. I would anticipated going other times would present a parking challenge. Also, the prices here are high than usual, so don’t come here if you are looking for something cheap!

Pamela The Islandgirl Food and Service was excellent! Has a Bayview for watching the awesome sunset. Classy place. Nicely furnished. Cool bar with TVs and Affordable menu. We tried the fried green tomatoes and oysters on the halfshell plus Fried Catfish. Fried okra, sweet potato fries & coleslaw. It was a delicious meal. Couldnt have been better. Can very highly recommend!

Howard-Lenoir Katrice N (Tricey) We were first timers dinning in at the Chow Time Grill & Buffet located in Panama City. As we walked in I noticed the buffet was not like the ordinary buffet. Even though It was a crowd, there was a nice ambiance to this buffet. We were surprised at the huge selection of food options. They served a variety of foods hot and fresh. I loved the fried Catfish and fried Shrimp. The food was a 10 out 10. I had Apple Pie for dessert and boy oh boy, It was so delicious. I didn’t catch our Waitress name but she was totally awesome. She worked the entire station. We never had to stop her and ask for anything. She was so attentive. While this guy and another female stood in our section foundling each other. I couldn’t believe how unprofessional they were. Standing up in the middle of our section rubbing and grabbing each other as if they were guest. After about an hour inside we were stuffed. We really enjoyed our time here. The place was always clean and they kept bringing out more hot food. Customer service was top notch and the price was just right. We will return here.

Dave Winemiller Food was amazing! I ordered an ACP and added steak and shrimp, and it was some of the best I’ve ever had. The chips had seasoning on them and the salsa tasted great. The flan (not pictured) is also tasty if you’re still hungry for dessert. The atmosphere was delightful. There was live music and outdoor seating by the water. Angie was my server and she did a fantastic job, she was very attentive, helpful, and had a good attitude. If I wind up in Panama City again I’m definitely going to come back!

Divya Love Lori Wise After reading the great reviews, I took my mom out to late lunch here (around 3:30 pm) on a Monday for their buffet. It took a few minutes (10 -15) for the waitress to come to our table but once she made initial contact, her service was great. The lovely loyal patrons sitting at a nearby table saw it was our first time here and guided us in what to do while we were waiting on the waitress. The patron said service here was usually EXCELLENT, but that they must have been shorthanded that day. We made our way to the buffet and the selections were the best of down-home southern cooking that I have ever seen. From a fresh and bountiful salad bar to homemade Mac and cheese, collard greens, mashed potatoes, beef tips/gravy, rice, rolls, chicken n dumplings, lima beans, black eyed peas and some of the BEST fried chicken Ive ever had! They also had a nice variety of sweets: chocolate cake, white cake, pecan pie, bread pudding, banana pudding (that tasted exactly like my grandma used to make) and an ice cream machine complete with cones. Everything both my mother and I had was DELICIOUS! The ONLY critique I have is that the chicken n dumplings were a bit too salty, but seriously, pair them with a roll or some collard greens in the same bite and youre golden!! ;). We both cleaned our plates and I tried a bit of the banana pudding and white cake, both were PERFECT! The prices were also very reasonable and they also have senior discounts. By 4 pm, the place was PACKED! Hardly a single table was left in the place. To me, this is a great sign that the food and service are STELLAR and the local community is supporting this locally owned business. By all accounts, this restaurant is a MUST GO TO when you find yourself in Panama City, FL. You will NOT be disappointed at the service, the atmosphere (be sure to look UP to see the running train near the ceiling), the prices or the food. Everything was EXCELLENT and I will most definitely be back to enjoy their Friday Night Seafood Buffet (which the friendly local patron shared with me was phenomenal)!

Amy Kay Furtys We were visiting Panama City and were looking for a seafood restaurant near our location. Bayou Joes came up and the menu looked appetizing. I was impressed with the flavors and freshness of the food. We had the fried pickles with their homemade ranch, mahi, a salad and crab cakes. Our server was kind and we enjoyed the conversation. It was a rainy day, but there was still a nice view of the marina. We will definitely come back when we visit next time!

D C My wife and I came for our first experience here at Chili’s in Panama City and let me just tell you it’s next to none the best experience I’ve had at any Chilis in the southeast part of America ! John the manager is a very personable manager who introduced himself while making sure we both were happy! Abigail the waitress she was on point. Everything was perfect, and the cooks, wow !!! the food was amazingly delicious !!! Stop by here. Get the “3 for me” You gotta try the Old Timer!! . I had bacon added to my order though lol we’ll see y’all again. Thanks, John.

The Pitch with Sierra Jon, the manager at Chili’s, was beyond professional and delivered exceptional customer service. My steak wasn’t cooked quite right at first, and he immediately took care of it without hesitation. He personally made sure it was re-cooked to perfection and checked back to ensure everything was exactly how I wanted it. His attention to detail, calm demeanor, and commitment to customer satisfaction truly stood out. Experiences like this are why people come back. Thank you, Jon, for going above and beyond!

Ashlee Wiggins This establishment is truly exceptional if you are seeking delicious, homestyle fast food. Their corn nuggets are delightful, the onion rings are incredibly satisfying, and their burgers are equally enjoyable. I have consistently had positive experiences there, and the food has always been prepared with care and has been of excellent quality.

Ellis Dwayne (TheCaptain) I have tried a few restaurants in the area and I have to recommend Captains Table for anyone looking for some great food and service. I had a horseradish snapper and it was delicious. Service was fantastic and on point, restaurant was the cleanest one Ive seen so far and Id say if you have not been here make a point to go, you wont regret it. Desserts were really good too.

Jason Happy hour house margaritas are some of the best Ive had but they mark up the price to make up for it. We got the double fajitas tapatias, all of the flavors taste so good together and Im sure four adults could have dined on the same meal if all ingredients are added to each tortilla and ask for more tortillas. I really really like Mexican food and this is one of my top favorites now.