Imagine sitting down for a meal with the Gulf of Mexico literally just steps away, waves rolling in while you enjoy a plate of freshly caught seafood.
That’s exactly what The Back Porch Seafood and Oyster House in Destin, Florida delivers every single day.
Perched right on the shoreline along Scenic Highway 98, this beloved restaurant has been wowing locals and tourists since 1974.
Whether you’re a seafood fanatic or just looking for an unforgettable dining experience, The Back Porch is the kind of place that sticks with you long after the last bite.
Dining Right on the Sand
Picture this: you pull up a chair, glance to your left, and the Gulf of Mexico is right there — close enough that you can feel the sea breeze on your skin. Few restaurants in the country offer a setting quite like The Back Porch.
Located directly along the shoreline in Destin, Florida, the open-air dining area puts you as close to the water as you can get without actually sitting in it.
The sound of waves rolling in sets a natural soundtrack for your meal, making every bite feel like part of something bigger than just dinner. Seagulls occasionally glide overhead, and the smell of salt air mingles with the aroma of freshly grilled seafood.
It’s one of those rare dining experiences that engages all your senses at once.
Families, couples, and solo travelers all find something magical about eating this close to the water. You’re not just grabbing a meal — you’re soaking in a moment.
Sunlight dancing on the emerald water while you sip a cold drink and wait for your food? That’s the kind of memory that makes a vacation unforgettable.
The Back Porch delivers that experience reliably, meal after meal.
A Destin Seafood Institution Since 1974
Some restaurants open with big ambitions and quietly fade away. The Back Porch did the opposite.
What started as a modest A-frame beach house back in 1974 has grown into one of the most recognized seafood spots on Florida’s Emerald Coast. That kind of longevity doesn’t happen by accident — it takes consistently good food, a loyal customer base, and a location that keeps people coming back year after year.
Over five decades, generations of families have made stopping at The Back Porch part of their Destin tradition. Grandparents who visited in the 1980s now bring their grandkids, passing along a love for the restaurant the way you’d pass down a favorite recipe.
That multi-generational loyalty says everything about what this place means to the community.
Destin itself has changed dramatically since 1974, growing from a quiet fishing village into one of Florida’s most popular beach destinations. Through all of that growth and change, The Back Porch has remained a constant — a familiar, welcoming anchor on the shoreline.
Its story is deeply woven into the fabric of Destin’s coastal identity, and that history makes every visit feel like you’re part of something truly special.
Seafood Delivered Fresh from the Gulf
There’s a noticeable difference between seafood that traveled hundreds of miles to reach your plate and seafood that came from the water you can literally see from your table. At The Back Porch, freshness isn’t just a marketing phrase — it’s a guiding principle that has shaped the restaurant’s identity since day one.
The Gulf of Mexico sits just outside the door, and the kitchen takes full advantage of that proximity.
Gulf-sourced catches make up the heart of the menu, reflecting what’s actually swimming in those emerald waters nearby. That commitment to local sourcing means the flavors are bright, clean, and authentic in a way that’s hard to replicate elsewhere.
When fish is this fresh, it doesn’t need much dressing up — simple preparation lets the natural quality shine through.
For first-time visitors, that freshness is often the biggest surprise. People expect a nice view and a decent meal, but the quality of the seafood frequently exceeds expectations.
Regulars know to come hungry and ready to savor each bite slowly. Whether it’s a simple grilled fillet or a loaded seafood platter, everything on the menu benefits from that short, direct journey from Gulf waters to your fork.
Famous for Its Chargrilled Amberjack
Ask any longtime Back Porch fan what to order, and the answer comes fast: the chargrilled amberjack. This dish has become the restaurant’s signature, a Gulf Coast classic that helped put The Back Porch on the map for serious seafood lovers.
Amberjack is a firm, meaty fish with a mild flavor that takes beautifully to flame grilling, and the kitchen here has mastered exactly how to prepare it.
The seasoning is spot-on — enough to enhance the natural flavor of the fish without overwhelming it. The char from the grill adds a slightly smoky depth that makes each bite satisfying in a way that feels both rustic and refined.
Paired with a waterfront view and a cold drink, it’s the kind of dish that makes you want to slow down and really pay attention to what you’re eating.
Amberjack isn’t always easy to find on menus, which makes The Back Porch’s dedication to it even more appreciated. It reflects a genuine commitment to Gulf Coast cuisine rather than just playing it safe with generic seafood staples.
If you visit and skip the chargrilled amberjack, you’ve missed the main event. Order it, savor it, and understand why this one dish built so much of the restaurant’s legendary reputation.
A Paradise for Oyster Lovers
Oyster lovers, take note: The Back Porch takes its oyster game seriously. Whether you prefer them raw and briny straight from the shell, baked with savory toppings, or chargrilled with a smoky finish, the menu has you covered.
Gulf oysters have a distinctive flavor profile — slightly salty, clean, and refreshingly oceanic — and eating them with the actual Gulf visible just a few feet away adds a layer of experience that’s hard to put into words.
Raw oysters are the purest expression of the sea, and at The Back Porch, they arrive fresh and properly chilled. The chargrilled version, however, has developed a devoted following of its own.
Kissed by the flame and finished with butter and seasoning, they offer a richer, more indulgent take on a classic Gulf Coast tradition.
Sharing a dozen oysters at a waterfront table while a warm Florida breeze drifts in from the water — that’s the kind of simple pleasure that vacation memories are made of. You don’t have to be an oyster expert to enjoy them here.
The relaxed atmosphere makes it easy to try something new. Order a sampler, experiment with different preparations, and discover why oysters have been a Gulf Coast staple for generations.
A Menu Packed with Gulf Coast Favorites
Beyond the star dishes, the menu at The Back Porch reads like a greatest hits collection of Gulf Coast cuisine. Crab-stuffed shrimp bring a rich, indulgent twist to a regional classic.
Fresh grouper sandwiches — thick, flaky, and perfectly seasoned — are the kind of thing you think about on the drive home. Shrimp and grits offer a Southern comfort angle that fits surprisingly well in a beachfront setting.
Seafood platters are a popular choice for those who want to sample a bit of everything without committing to just one dish. Loaded with a rotating selection of fresh catches, they give you a full tour of what the Gulf has to offer on any given day.
Portion sizes are generous, so arrive hungry and don’t plan anything too energetic afterward.
What makes the menu work so well is its focus. Rather than trying to be everything to everyone, The Back Porch leans hard into what it knows best: Gulf seafood, prepared simply and served with care.
There’s no unnecessary fuss, no trendy ingredients that don’t belong here. Just honest, delicious coastal food that reflects the waters right outside the window.
That clarity of vision is what keeps people returning plate after plate, visit after visit.
Panoramic Gulf Views from Nearly Every Seat
At most restaurants with a “waterfront view,” you get a glimpse of water between buildings if you crane your neck just right. The Back Porch operates on a completely different level.
Large windows and wide-open outdoor decks give nearly every seat an unobstructed look at the Gulf of Mexico. No squinting required, no strategic table selection necessary — the view is simply there, expansive and breathtaking.
Sunset dinners here have earned a reputation of their own. As the sky transitions from blue to shades of orange, pink, and gold over the water, conversations naturally slow down and people start reaching for their phones to capture the moment.
It’s one of those views that reminds you why people fall in love with the Florida coast in the first place.
Even during midday, when the Gulf shines its brightest shade of emerald under direct sunlight, the visual experience is stunning. The combination of white sand, turquoise shallows, and deeper blue water creates a natural painting that shifts constantly with the light.
Eating great food while watching that scene unfold isn’t just a pleasant bonus — it’s central to what makes The Back Porch a genuinely special place to spend an hour or two.
Casual, Family-Friendly Beach Atmosphere
Walk in wearing flip-flops and sandy shorts — nobody bats an eye. The Back Porch has always kept its atmosphere relaxed and welcoming, which is a big part of why families keep choosing it year after year.
After a long morning building sandcastles and splashing in the surf, the last thing anyone wants is to change into something formal for dinner. Here, beach attire is basically the dress code.
Kids feel comfortable because the environment is casual and low-pressure. Parents appreciate that they can relax without worrying about noise levels or strict etiquette rules.
The outdoor seating especially lends itself to a laid-back family meal where everyone can breathe easy and enjoy the moment without any unnecessary formality getting in the way.
That easygoing vibe doesn’t come at the cost of quality, though. The food is consistently well-prepared, the service is attentive, and the overall experience feels polished even within its relaxed framework.
It’s a balance that’s genuinely hard to strike — casual enough for a post-beach crowd, good enough to satisfy serious food lovers. The Back Porch manages it effortlessly, which explains why it appeals to such a wide range of visitors, from young families on their first Florida trip to retirees who’ve been coming back for decades.
A Staple Stop on the Emerald Coast
Destin has no shortage of restaurants competing for tourist attention, but The Back Porch occupies a category all its own. For many visitors, it’s not a maybe on the itinerary — it’s a definite.
The kind of place that gets mentioned in family group chats before the trip even starts. Its combination of location, history, and consistently excellent food has earned it a permanent spot on the Emerald Coast’s short list of truly essential experiences.
Locals feel the same way. In a beach town where tourist-focused restaurants often prioritize volume over quality, The Back Porch has maintained standards that keep the community invested.
You’ll spot plenty of Destin residents mixed in among the vacationers, which is always a reliable indicator that a restaurant is doing something right.
Over the years, The Back Porch has appeared in travel guides, food publications, and countless personal recommendations passed from one traveler to another. That kind of organic reputation-building is more powerful than any advertising campaign.
When people genuinely love a place, they talk about it — and The Back Porch has been generating that kind of enthusiastic word-of-mouth for more than fifty years. That’s not luck.
That’s the result of a restaurant that truly understands what it is and delivers on that promise every single day.
Essential Visitor Info
Planning a visit to The Back Porch is straightforward, but a few practical details can make the experience even smoother. The restaurant sits at 1740 Scenic Highway 98 in Destin, Florida — right on the water where it’s been welcoming guests for decades.
Doors typically open around 11 a.m. daily, though hours can shift with the seasons, so checking ahead during off-peak months is a smart move.
Timing your visit thoughtfully pays off. Late afternoon and early evening are widely considered the best windows, especially if catching a Gulf sunset over your meal sounds appealing — and trust us, it does.
Peak tourist season, which runs roughly from Memorial Day through Labor Day, brings bigger crowds and longer waits. Arriving early or on a weekday can help you avoid the longest lines.
Reservations may not always be available given the walk-in nature of the experience, so building in some buffer time is wise during busy periods. When it comes to ordering, first-timers should absolutely try the chargrilled amberjack, fresh oysters, and one of the loaded seafood platters.
These dishes represent the restaurant at its best and give you a genuine taste of what Gulf Coast dining is all about. Come hungry, stay for the view, and leave with a full stomach and a story worth telling.