Summer Kitchen Cafe — Restaurant in Florida

🌞 A Rosemary Beach Classic – Summer Kitchen is a Local Treasure!

If you’re looking for a true taste of Rosemary Beach® history, Summer Kitchen Restaurant is where it all began. Locally owned and operated by the Dillon family since 1999, this beloved spot was the first restaurant—and the first commercial business—established in the community. What started as a humble red walk-up sandwich shack has grown into a warm and welcoming staple that still honors its roots.

Serving up delicious breakfast and lunch, Summer Kitchen is all about simple, fresh, and satisfying food in a relaxed atmosphere. Whether you’re grabbing a sunrise coffee and breakfast sandwich or a midday wrap and salad, everything is made with care and a sense of place.

And let’s talk about the slushy machine—yes, it’s legendary! Cold, refreshing, and just the right amount of nostalgia, it’s a must-try on any hot Florida day.

This charming spot isn’t just about great food; it’s about community. Summer Kitchen continues to be a gathering place for locals, visitors, and those who helped build Rosemary Beach® from the ground up. It’s the kind of place where stories are shared, and traditions begin.

Come for the food, stay for the history, and leave already planning your next visit. Summer Kitchen is a...

I am someone who rarely complains and I am normally happy with what I get. But I felt the need to warn anyone who was thinking about coming here. If I could leave zero stars I would, apart from getting our initial drink order and our food order we did not see our waitress at all. This was some of the worst service I have ever experienced, we were never offered drink refills (even water) until the very end of the meal. The food price was comical for how low the quality.

Update following this restaurants reply: in my initial review I did not mention anything about gratuity for parties of 6 or more- as this is extremely common at most restaurants and to be expected. In fact I would GLADLY pay 20% or more for great service. Another table had issues with the same server of not being checked on but they were actually vocal about it, to be frank she had no service skills at all. She literally checked on our table 3 times at most over the course of almost an hour. And I'm sure that the manager who was rolling her eyes at other tables would have gladly addressed my concerns, which is exactly why nothing was said. The owners reply to these reviews clearly enables the poor service they provide and gaslights customers into thinking nothing was wrong according to their...

Tasty food and good service. Reasonable prices given the area. I will say... the black bean and quinoa burger had a great flavor but it was waaayyyyy to mushy to put on a bun... it all just squeezed out and i ate burger with a fork.... i understand though, I've experimented with plenty of veggie burgers... need to squeeze more water from the ingredients and maybe add some ground oats to firm it up... just being critical, like i said... excellent flavor... and i still gave you five stars! My wife loved her chicken sandwich and i brought the leftover hummus home it was so good. We might come back soon, thank you for a great lunch!

**after owner response... yes, i can see where that can be a little problematic, but it can still be better when serving your customers.... just make it like you like it and make sure it leaves the kitchen that way... it was almost hummus consistency, that's not a burger... that's all. ... just had higher hopes for Menu item. I still left 5 stars... just making notes for future patrons as i rely heavily on these reviews. I absolutely recommend eating here, just so we're clear... i want to come back soon, and I'll eat the real meat...