Mike's Cafe and Oyster Bar — Restaurant in Panama City Beach

WARNING TO PEOPLE OF COLOR

Today my boyfriend and I had a taste for seafood and came upon this place on the beach. When we first walked in we notice we were the only black Americans coming to dine, which usually isn’t a huge factor. As we were seated the waitress took our order of 2 drinks, fried calamari as an appetizer and 2 entrees which consisted of Mahi Mahi dinner and for me a dozen of oysters. After waiting for about 30min our appetizer (fried calamari) came out along with our drinks. While we patiently waited on the entrees, a Caucasian family of 4 was seated at the table next to us. They shared the same waitress as us who took their order. Within literally 10 additional minutes from their arrival they were served a dozen of oysters which was the first red flag as to why I was flabbergasted. yet I didn’t mention it to the waitress as about 5 min later she brought out my boyfriend’s food. He waited about 10 more minutes (about an hour now since our arrival) before the waitress THEN brought out ALL 4 entrees for the same table that had just been served the oysters. It was very clear to me that my dinner had been served to the family of 4 who just came in at now 20minutes ago. When the waitress came by, she said she was still waiting on my food at which I told her that I believed she had given my food to the table next to us. She said “no” and walked off. About 5 minutes later the restaurant owner (I’m assuming named Mike) walked to our table after passing us up at first at speak with all the other guest and asked how we were doing. My boyfriend spoke on my behalf and said that we had been here for about an hour still waiting on my food versus the family of 4 who was already eating their entrees. In the midst of him explaining to the manager, the manager kept saying SARCASTICALLY “what”, “I can’t hear you”, “you’re going to have to speak up” and even after stated “well it looks like I can’t resolve your problem”. When my boyfriend asked “Well why did you ask how we were doing” the manager responded “well why are y’all still sitting here” insinuating that we should leave in which we did. The management, staff and service was so poor I would give this place negative 5 stars if I could. I felt as if they were intentional with how they treated, talked to, and served us and I’ll NEVER suggest to any persons of my ethnicity or color to eat there....

This has been an annual vacation food destination for us, but I think this year will be our last. Ordering a take out item should not be a hassle, but this place consistently makes it one. The main thing we like at Mikes is the crab claws. They are delicious, fun and family friendly for all ages. However, it never fails; annually, getting them to give us an order to take back to the room is filled with frustration. Two years ago (just after COVID) my 12 yo son and I came down and we waited at the bar for nearly an hour at the bar for two to-go orders of crab claws. I watched people eat entire meals in that time. Last year we were told that they would not sell us a to-go order and we would have to get a table. My son and I got a table ordered 2 orders of crab claws and as soon as they were delivered to the table, we asked for go boxes. We took care of our server properly but were still annoyed at the situation. This year seemed promising. We phoned in the order, I went in and after a brief wait took my order back to the room. My mistake was that I failed to check the order before leaving the restaurant. When I got back to the room my wife informed me that we were given crab legs not claws. She called the restaurant and we were told they we could bring the legs back and get what we ordered in the first place. So I did. When we were at the bar, giving back the legs, we were “informed” that the claws were $10 more than what we paid for. Sensing that we were going to have to pay the difference for what was not our error, my wife began to get irate. But the woman behind the counter stated that we were not going to have to pay the difference. If she did not intend to ask us to pay the difference, why did she even bring it up? I don’t know. What I do know is that every year we look forward to Mike’s Crab Claws. But every year I dread the hassle that comes with it. Next year, I will find my crab claws elsewhere. It’s just not worth...

Best place we ate at all week! We waited for a little over an hour to be seated, in my option, a short wait for a party of 12, at prime dinner time. Everyone loved their food, I wish I took pics! Brooke was our waitress and was very attentive and the best waitress we had all week! I got the grilled grouper with roasted potatoes and veggie of the day, 3 peeps got crab legs, 1 got the fried fish basket, 1 got oysters on the half shell. The kids got a cheese burger, parm chicken, and chicken strips! Crab claws for the app had by all! No one was disappointed in their food, and all agreed it was wonderful, the best we have had at the beach thus far! We also ate at Thomas’s for lunch. Mikes was way better than Thomas’s, but Thomas’s was great for lunch and not a dinner joint. Turns out the same guy owns both!!!! He came to our table tonight and we thanked him for amazing food and service for dinner at Mikes and good food at Thomas’s for breakfast and lunch! Super nice guy! Don’t miss out on your vacay, check both places out!!! While we think we did a good job complementing the owner, who was on site, and the waitress, he probably gets it a lot! It was...