Captain Dave's On the Gulf — Restaurant in Destin

We had two meals here, and the only thing that I didn't care for was the bacon-wrapped scallops. I found the mustard-based sauce to be so overpowering that I almost couldn't taste the scallops and could barely taste the bacon. The scallops themselves were broiled to perfection. This dish could be better if the sauce were served on the side or perhaps cut with a bit of cream, as it has a nice flavor, but too much mustard and not enough maple, IMO.

I also had the large coconut shrimp and orange sauce appetizer, which was both delicious and cooked to perfection. My husband had the calamari, and he said it was both tender and crisp. It was served with a generous portion of marinara.

For the main, we had the Snapper Jane, which was absolutely heavenly, the parmesan shrimp, which was also excellent, and the blackened snapper. All were perfectly cooked. For sides, we had cole slaw, which my husband loved (but which I found just a tad bland), baked potato, and fries. Everything was perfectly prepared.

I was stuffed to the gills, but my husband couldn't resist the combination of two of his favorite desserts: cheesecake and strawberry shortcake. He said it was very good. I tried a bite, but since cheesecake has never been a favorite of mine, it didn't impress me.

I had the white Riesling, which was pretty good (take that with a grain of salt, as I am no connoisseur) and my husband had a bottle of the Beach Blonde beer, but he didn't care for its sharp aftertaste and swtiched over to his usual Yuengling afterward.

Our servers both nights were very good, but Alex was a standout waiter who was both extremely competent and attentive without hovering, and he was also very personable.

The restaurant was clean, pleasant, and comfortable, with a mix of customers. Beautiful views of the Gulf if you are lucky enough to snag one of the tables near the south side of the restaurant, and you can also watch the sun setting while you wait for a table if you're here at the right time of the evening/year. The lighting was adequate yet low enough to maintain a cozy and comfortable ambiance. The decor and vibe are casual (the hostess was dressed in shorts and a cropped top, most of the other staff in tees and shorts), but the food is upscale in quality, and the portions are generously-sized.

I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for quality seafood, and we'll...

If you’re in the mood for delicious calamari and table side confrontations and threats from patrons, come on down. I’ve never been to a restaurant where waitstaff laughs at you when you’re being harassed at your table. I asked for help from staff while a person walked right up to our table and started making a scene because two men were here on a date. The staff member that I asked for help literally laughed at me. The table next to us was making comments about us as a couple and then directly to us as we left. When I tried to get the managers attention, or at least the man checking on tables, he ignored me. Every table around us was checked on as far as we could observe. It’s eye-opening to visit the emerald coast to see the wonderful views and then visit a restaurant that charges $50 for a fried seafood platter comparable to Long John Silvers. While here, expect sunburned people in flip flops to create a scene at your table while others heckle you. Try the Shrimp Parmesan! You may need a box for it though, in case the patrons try to bully you out of the building. Overall, a hard pass for people that like to feel safe while they are dining.

Additionally, my review has been removed twice and I have received a message from an employee at the restaurant. There are other reviews that are worth reading first. We should have done that.

It would have been great to have some help then. I asked for help from staff while a person walked right up to our table to try to start an argument. The staff member that I asked for help literally laughed at me. The table next to us was making comments about us as a couple and then directly to us as we left. When I tried to get the managers attention, or at least the man checking on tables, he ignored me. Every table around us was checked on as far as we could observe.

So, maybe it does take someone like me or the another review left by a person with a disability in order to point out an issue. If the customer base includes bigots and the staff won’t ensure the safety of all people, others deserve to know. The employees co-signed the harassment when they refused to do anything. It doesn’t matter how many members of the LGBTQ community may work there if it’s not safe for others...

So, this one pains me. This has been my favorite restaurant in Destin since 1998. Unfortunately, I feel like it's starting to slip. I don't know what's happening downstairs, it's like you slip into some sort of weird purgatory while waiting for your 90's table buzzer to go off, allowing you to be seated. You go to the basement of the building, which yields a nice view of the Gulf, but when you come down the stairs, you're immediately hit with the smell of mildew. Why? I used to consider this a higher end steak and seafood house. How is this acceptable and not recognized by ownership or employees? It's been like this for YEARS. I'm not the only one who can smell it. Then, what should be a nicer bar staging area is actually an odd mixture of yard games consisting of giant checkers, Jenga, and corn hole. Never mind the 1980s arcade games. You, too, can play coin games while sipping on Makers Mark. And speaking of that, I was served a single shot of Makers Mark in a plastic cup filled to the rim with ice. I had more ice the drink. Once seated for dining, the food was tasty, but felt like it was lacking the umph that set Captain Dave's apart from the rest of the standard tourist fare food. I ordered a cup of Clam Chowder soup and found myself less than impressed. I had a sneaking suspicion that it was not far off from microwavable Campbell's. My wife didn't finish her chicken breast as she was very disappointed in its flavor and presentation. My Mahi Parmesean was good, and my son said his crab stuffed shrimp was "bussin." He's 15, I don't put much stock in his palate. I usually purchase a T-shirt from Captain Dave's on my annual trip to Destin, but couldn't this year or last, as the designs for available purchases haven't changed in 2 years. This place has the potential to be a top location in all of Florida, but I get the impression that ownership has no desire to take the restaurant to the next level. The menus are worn and less than appealing to review, and what should be an upscale bar in the lower waiting area is capped off with plastic chairs anchored by giant connect four and garage made cornhole You can do better Captain Dave. You're still number 1 in my heart,...