Capt. Anderson's Restaurant & Waterfront Market — Restaurant in Upper Grand Lagoon

9.22.25 update: I'm sorry to say with this update that I can no longer recommend that the Florentine cup for dessert. This Florentine cup is no longer a Florentine cookie. It's something along the lines of sugar pure sugar, NOT a lace Florentine cookie. It's sad to say because this was my favorite dessert of any restaurant anywhere. Instead of the light and delicate Florentine cookie, this is overly sweet and sticks to your teeth. It left me with an upset stomach. Salad looked like it was old and swimming in dressing, literally. -1 star

Old review... still great Seafood: I rarely eat two nights in a row at the same restaurant. Captain Anderson's was the exception to this rule.

This is the best seafood restaurant I can't recommend High enough. freshest seafood in Panama City with a wonderful atmosphere and great service!

The service is top notch, the first night provided by Sunny in the main dining room was superb and very friendly, she made us want to return it was so good 👍 the very next night Cory was our server ant he put icing on top of the impeccable service there.

For starters, the sesame crusted ahi tuna appetizer was perfection in texture and taste. There is plenty for us to share and comes with Wasabi, gari, soy sauce, and hot mustard on the side.

Soon after the appetizers came out, we were treated to some of the best crusty bread I've ever had. The roles kept coming as we finished the first serving quickly because they were so good. We never had to wait. they were refilled immediately.

The first night, we chose to sample grom the oven broiler, crab stuffed fillet grouper, and from the carcoal grill: the filet of snapper and filet of scamp.

All of the entrees came a choice of sides. For this, we chose new potatoes and Greek salads

The crab stuffed grouper was cooked to perfection, with the stuffed crab that was light and tasty inside of the grouper. The combination was a delight of flavors in your mouth.

The fillet of scamp is a light and tasty fish, very flaky with no fishiness to it at all. On the grill, it was seasoned perfectly not to detract from the flavor of the fish. The lemon halves even come with its own regency wrap to keep the seeds out of your food, Capt. Andersons has thought of everything!

The filet of snapper was the favorite of the table. Seasoned lightly and cooked to perfection on the grill.

The first night, we tried strawberry cheesecake. This was recommended and was not too sweet and a good size to share with the 3 of us. It is "plate-licking good"

On our second night, one sampled Johnny's Special Greek salad, which comes with shrimp, crab, and large blocks of feta cheese. Enough for a meal and then some.

The mahi mahi the second night was seasoned perfectly and grilled with a slight char mark from the grill, leaving flavor and the taste of the grill the palette and was savory.

When we asked to see the dessert menu. Cory showed us a tray of all the offerings. It's an amazing display that makes it hard to choose which you would like.

The Florentine Cup is large enough to share between the three of us. The Florentine almond cookie is shaped as a shell and dipped in chocolate with a piece of sponge covered in chocolate mousse and then whipped cream and drizzled with chocolate with curled chocolate decorations on top. This dessert had it all. The crunchiness of the Almond Florentine, crispy when you break it, you can use it to scoop the moose, sponge, and whipped cream into a bite. The flavors and textures melded well with each other. It is a treat not just for the eyes but for the palate and will satisfy any sweet tooth.

I know this is a wordy review, so I appreciate you reading it all, but I can't say enough good about Captain Anderson's the decor, the atmosphere, and even a select wine club is available there. A definite go-to location in Panama City Beach with beautiful views.

Come early and you can watch the fishing fleet unload the day's catch, There Are No Reservations, so be prepared to wait for 10 or 15 minutes on a weeknight while you browse...

Random Tuesday early evening dinner in the off season. Greeted at the main(?) entrance by a curt middle-age woman who pointed behind her and simply said back to the right. At the next corner, a tired looking twenty-something male leaning on the wall pointed and said keep going to the right, look for the desk. The young lady at the desk, presumably a hostess, asked how many before we even reached her and told us to head further down the path to the right and we would be greeted at the next room. I now know how the cattle must feel as they’re ushered into the slaughterhouse. The staff must take lessons from the cruise lines for moving people as efficiently and apathetically, as possible. It wasn’t until our server introduced himself we were even asked how we were doing, (granted it was probably less than 30 seconds since we stepped through the doors). Of course it didn’t really matter since my reply of “Winded” was met with a generic response of “Good to hear” 🫤 We were promptly told the vegetables of the day and asked what we wanted to drink. Since I hadn’t even turned the menu right side up yet I asked for water and hoped for the best. Before he scurried off to the replicators(I’ll explain later) in the kitchen he made sure to mention the ‘discount’ for paying cash “just so there’s no confusion later”. To their credit, the restaurant prints this message in red on the bottom of every page of the menu. It’s still somewhat surprising that any establishment of this size in the 21st century would still play this silly game. Then again I’m sure there’s plenty of legitimate reasons an organization would like lots of cash moving through their accounts. Anyways, I digress…

Our server returned promptly with our waters and my wife and I ordered a couple of drinks with the hope of perusing the menu while the bar mixed our libations. Here’s where the replicator comment originates; the alcoholic drinks arrived at our table just as quickly as the waters along with an apology from our waiter for the delay.. (umm what?!?). We then ordered entrees along with an appetizer while we admired the mix of decor, some of which I swear hasn’t moved since the restaurant opened in the 60’s. I timed the arrival of our Ahi Tuna appetizer and I would swear in a Court of Law it arrived exactly 1 minute and 27 seconds after he left the table. It seemed VERY likely the same amount of time for the water & drinks. Our salads arrived a minute and half after I finished the last bite of tuna and the dinner plates exactly 87 seconds after the salad was consumed. It was so weird it became entertaining.

The food overall though was very disappointing. “Fresh Gulf Shrimp “ tasted like what you find at a Red Lobster or most of the beach restaurants along Front Beach Rd. Don’t get me wrong it wasn’t bad but for the money they charged (even WITH the discount) you could do much better just a few steps down the dock.

One other interesting aspect to our visit was the choice to have servers and bussers wait lined up together in clear view facing the dining room. I felt a bit like the starving longhorn in an old western while the vultures sat on the nearby dead tree awaiting their opportunity. Fortunately, as we exited the efficiency of their tired staff worked to our advantage as there was no doubt which way we were supposed to proceed. No time to browse pictures and even if we wanted to stop by the ‘market’ I doubt we would have had the option.

Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this place unless you’ve experienced every other tourist destination in town. There are definitely more friendly much more economical options. And if your in the mood for something ‘nice’ by the water try The Grand...

Captain Anderson's Restaurant - Panama City Beach: A Dining Experience Like No Other

During our recent visit to Captain Anderson's in Panama City Beach, it was clear why this iconic waterfront restaurant has been a staple of fine dining for over 50 years. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warmth and professionalism that set the tone for what turned out to be an unforgettable evening.

Customer Service – Above and Beyond: The customer service at Captain Anderson's was nothing short of exemplary. Every member of the staff was attentive, friendly, and eager to make our experience as pleasant as possible. Whether it was the hostess welcoming us with a genuine smile or the staff ensuring our table was spotless between courses, every detail was meticulously handled. What stood out the most, however, was our server, Antonia S. She was truly remarkable! Antonia radiated enthusiasm and a deep knowledge of the menu, guiding us through the selection with insightful recommendations. Her attentiveness was impeccable; she anticipated our needs before we even had to ask, making us feel like we were her top priority the entire evening. Antonia had an infectious personality, and her passion for ensuring we had the best experience made her an absolute highlight of our visit.

Ambiance and Atmosphere: Captain Anderson’s offers an atmosphere that is nothing short of magical. The restaurant boasts an elegant yet comfortable setting with beautiful waterfront views, making it perfect for everything from a romantic date night to a family gathering. As the sun set over the marina, the reflections of the boats gently swaying in the water created a serene and captivating backdrop to our meal. The warm lighting, coastal décor, and the occasional sound of laughter from nearby tables gave the restaurant a lively yet relaxed vibe. It's clear that the team has put great thought into making the atmosphere as inviting as the service.

The Dining Experience: While the food itself was phenomenal—fresh seafood perfectly prepared—the service and ambiance took the entire experience to another level. Our meal flowed smoothly, thanks to the orchestration of the staff and the thoughtful timing of our dishes. From start to finish, it felt as if the whole evening was designed to offer us not just a meal, but a cherished memory.

Final Thoughts: Captain Anderson’s is more than just a restaurant; it’s an experience crafted with exceptional customer service, a welcoming and beautiful atmosphere, and a personal touch that is hard to find elsewhere. If you ever find yourself in Panama City Beach, do yourself a favor and visit this gem. Be sure to ask for Antonia S. if she’s available—you won’t be disappointed! She and the rest of the team made this one of the best dining experiences we’ve ever had.

Five stars...