Except for fast-food joints, there aren't many national-chain family restaurants in Panama City Beach (you'll find those along 15th and 23rd sts. over in Panama City). One local chain worth trying is the Montego Bay Seafood House (www.montegobaypcb.com), which offers a wide range of fairly inexpensive sandwiches, burgers, and seafood main courses. Branches are at the "curve" at 4920 Thomas Dr. (tel. 850/234-8686) and in the Shoppes at Edgewater, Front Beach Drive at 473 Beckrich Rd. (tel. 850/233-6033).
Pay attention to the restaurant hours here, as some places are closed in winter. Even if they're open, many will close early when business is slow; call ahead to make sure.
Special Dining Experiences
You've got to see the Treasure Ship, at Treasure Island Marina, 3605 S. Thomas Dr. at Grand Lagoon (tel. 850/234-8881; www.thetreasureship.com), to believe it. This amazing 2 acres of ship space is claimed to be the world's largest land-based Spanish galleon and a reputed replica of the three-masted sailing ship that carried loot back to Spain in the 16th and 17th centuries. You can get anything from an ice-cream cone or peel-it-yourself shrimp to a sophisticated dinner in the restaurant and bar here, which are open daily from 4:30 to 10pm (and sometimes later); closed during the winter months. Call to make sure it's open when you want to go.
Dinner-dance cruises on the Lady Anderson are a romantic evening escape; they're available March through October. This modern, three-deck ship boards at Captain Anderson's Marina, 5550 N. Lagoon Dr. (tel. 800/360-0510 or 850/234-5940; www.ladyanderson.com), Monday through Saturday evenings, with the cruises lasting from 7 to 10pm. Buffet dinners are followed by live music for dancing on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights; gospel music on Tuesday and Thursday. Dinner-dance tickets cost $45 for adults, $40 for seniors, $23 for children 6 to 11, and $15 for children 2 to 5. Gospel-music cruises go for $35 adults, $32 seniors, $23 children 6 to 11, and $15 children 2 to 5. Tips are included. Summertime reservations should be made well in advance.
"We Shuck 'Em, You Suck 'Em" -- That's the motto at Shuckums Oyster Pub & Seafood Grill, 15614 Front Beach Rd., at Powell Adams Drive (tel. 850/235-3214; www.shuckums.com). Comedian Martin Short made this noisy, lively, and smoky pub famous when he tried unsuccessfully to shuck oysters at its bar during the making of an MTV spring-break special. The original bar where Short tried to shuck is virtually papered over with dollar bills signed by old and young patrons who have been flocking here since 1967. The obvious specialty is fresh Apalachicola oysters, served raw, steamed, or baked with a variety of toppings. Otherwise, the menu consists of pub fare and mediocre seafood main courses. In summer, Shuckums is open daily from 11am to 2am. During the off season, it closes at 9pm Monday through Friday, at midnight Saturday and Sunday.
