Shrimp Basket — Restaurant in Santa Rosa Island

Update to previous review:

First thing this morning, I received a response from Krista, the general manager, in regards to our unpleasant visit last night. I responded to her email and she reached out to me almost immediately. She was super nice and very professional. She apologized sincerely, and asked that we give them another chance while we were in town for one more day. We went in for a late lunch/early dinner. She, and the young lady who served us, were both so attentive and personable. I understand that all businesses can have issue with employees, but how it's handled is the true measure of their character & integrity. This situation was addressed quickly, and handled appropriately with grace. I truly appreciate Krista's kindness & professionalism. (She is in the right business) The food was good, too!

Went here tonight with 2 friends for a quick bite to eat. We arrived at 8:15, knowing they closed at 9, so we were prepared to order pretty quickly. We were greeted immediately by a super friendly young lady and she followed us outside with menus. She took her time to explain to us several new items under different headings on the menu. She then said that Savanah would be our waitress and take excellent care of us. After this wonderful encounter with this young lady (wish I remembered her name), we were stoked to start deciding what we each wanted to order from all these delicious sounding choices. Then... Savanah entered the scene. She approached our table, rolled her eyes and looked at her watch 2 times while asking in an exasperated, irritated tone what we wanted to drink. Her tone was so off that even my friend who's back was to her, and couldn't see her face or behavior, immediately ascertained that she had a bad attitude. My first friend asked if a certain wine was available by the glass, she answered "no", very shortly. She never told her there were other wines available by the glass, just said "no!" We all eventually asked for water, and continued to peruse the menu. By the time Savanah returned with our water, we had all decided what to order. Then she slammed our 3 waters down on the table, all in a cluster on one side, and without even distributing them to each of us, or speaking to ask if we were ready to order, she just walked off and started clearing another table. I've never seen a waiter just slam drinks in a cluster and not pass them out to the person who ordered it. It was at this point that the 3 of us decided we weren't going to stay and tolerate her over top rudeness and got up and left. We went to Flounder's where we got great service and delicious food. The 2 stars for service are both 100% for the sweet young lady who spoke with us first. Savanah is in the...

A Hidden Gem Worth Every Bite—Perfect Sunday Dinner Over the Holiday Weekend

On a laid-back Sunday evening during the Fourth of July weekend, we stumbled upon this coastal restaurant—and what a find it was. Despite the holiday hustle in town, this spot had a relaxing, unhurried vibe that set the tone for a memorable meal. It wasn’t crowded, which made for a calm and personal dining experience, and the staff made us feel welcomed the moment we walked in.

Right away, we noticed how clean and well-kept everything was—from the floors to the table settings. The restaurant had a polished but relaxed atmosphere, ideal for a quiet dinner after a busy day.

We kicked things off with the Firecracker Shrimp Fries, and let me just say—this appetizer alone is worth a return visit. Piled high with crispy golden fries, tender shrimp, and just the right drizzle of spicy sauce, it hit all the right notes: crunchy, creamy, savory, and just enough kick to wake up the taste buds.

For my entrée, I went with the grilled flounder and grilled shrimp—a combo that balanced freshness with flavor beautifully. The flounder was perfectly grilled, light and flaky with a hint of citrus and seasoning that enhanced but never masked the fish’s delicate flavor. The shrimp had that smoky char from the grill, juicy and well-seasoned without being overpowering. It was a satisfying plate that left me feeling full without being weighed down.

Service throughout the meal was spot-on—friendly, attentive, and never intrusive. Our server checked in just enough, and everything from drinks to entrées arrived at a smooth, timely pace.

In a weekend full of highlights, this dinner stands out as one of the best. Great food, a peaceful setting, and excellent service—it checked all the boxes. If you’re anywhere nearby, do yourself a favor...

My sister, best friend, & I had lunch last week. I noticed right away that the menu seemed different. I have been going to The Shrimp Basket since the early 2000's. Gulf Shores was the first one. I have visited several through the years- Orange Beach, Perdido, & Pensacola. Granted, I am from out of town so I have not been to this location since 2018. Anyway, the menu seemed different & didn't offer things they used to. We ended up getting gumbo, red beans & rice, & smoked Mahi Mahi dip for appetizers. The gumbo & red beans & rice were fine. The dip tasted like one of those smoked tuna lunch packets, not terrible, but definitely not that great. I got the steamed shrimp platter. The shrimp were fine, nothing to write home about, but the potatoes & corn were absolutely tasteless. I added salt, pepper, butter, hot sauce- nothing helped! Just tasted like plain water. My sister got the grilled shrimp platter & it was pretty pitiful. Shrimp did not appear grilled, but sautéed maybe? No flavor whatsoever. None. My friend got the blackened red fish with the sauce over rice, this has always been a favorite dish. The fish was cooked perfectly, so flaky, but when I tell you it tasted like air- that's exactly what it tasted like!! Obviously not blackened, the sauce added absolutely nothing, just totally flavorless! All in all this meal was one of the most disappointing I've ever had in my over 30yrs of visiting the gulf coast. The Shrimp Basket used to be a go to, always a treat, I really do not think I will ever go again. Y'all have made changes & they're not good! Don't fix it if it ain't broken!! BTW, our server was an absolute peach! I think her name was Shauna? Hesitated to do a review because nothing was her fault, she was wonderful, but nothing was going to save that crappy...