Alabama’s Gulf Coast: A Foodie’s Paradise

By Amy Piper

Anchor Bar - Brisket Salad Voyagers - Cold Seafood Platter Safari Club - Shrimp Tacos.

When you think about Alabama’s Gulf Coast, the food may not be the first thing that comes to mind. After all, the coast has amazing sugar-sand beaches, so you may imagine soaking up the sun on the beach, wiggling your toes in the sand while the gentle waves roll in, and you breathe in the fresh saltwater scented air. You might imagine the active lifestyle of hiking and biking at one of the many outdoor areas in Gulf Shore State Park. But through all that activity and fresh air, you’re going to work up an appetite and require some sustenance. And the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach food scene doesn’t disappoint.

Fresh Gulf Coast seafood, southern specialties like pimento cheese and fried green tomatoes, and a farm-to-table, sustainable ethos make a memorable food scene. Add to those restaurants with waterfront views, and you’ll yearn to return for that next Gulf Coast foodie experience. Here are three restaurants with unique characteristics you won’t want to miss.

The Anchor Bar and Grill

burger’s complexity makes it unique. The chef butters the locally made brioche bun and toasts it on the press. He puts two Louisiana Wagyu beef patties on the flat top, spreading them with Anchor beer mustard made in-house, and seared it into the patties. The mustard is an homage to the In-N-Out Burger from California. After flipping the burgers, the chef tops one with the house-made tomato jam and the other with house-made onion jam. He accents each burger with an American cheese slice and stacked one patty on top of the other. Next, he spreads the bun with house-made Wickle Pickle relish from Alabama Wickle Pickles. The relish is Anchor Bar’s answer to Thousand Island Dressing. They add crispy iceberg lettuce and top it with the patties, then the top bun for a crunch. Enjoy that More in Than Out Burger overlooking the stunning waterfront views of Terry Cove. When servers from another restaurant recommend a burger, you know you’re on to something. That’s just what happened with Chef

Jonathan Kastner’s More in Than Out Burger at

Anchor Bar and Grill in Orange Beach. The 12

The Safari Club

Boston’s Green Restaurant Group differentiated the Safari Club as Alabama’s first certified “Green Restaurant.” The restaurant continuously improves as an energy-efficient operation and leads the charge in conservation, waste reduction, and recycling. What you won’t find here are plastic straws or Styrofoam products. All the to-go containers are bio-degradable or recyclable. They

Anchor Bar - Brisket Tots Safari Club - Goat Cheese Tapas

also have onsite composting. To reduce their carbon footprint, they’ve taken steps to reduce the average two-week, 1,500-mile journey ingredients travel by sourcing them locally. While they contract with local farmers, the restaurant also has a garden onsite that produces fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs.

Located adjacent to the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, Executive Chef Greg Buschmohle leads the Safari Club kitchen. His internationally-inspired menu offers items like the Blackened Shrimp Tacos and the Thai Beef Salad. Topped crispy wontons and shallots, the salad features wood-grilled citrus ponzu marinated steak and an Asian vegetable slaw dressed with a lime-soy vinaigrette. The tacos highlight the Gulf Coast’s bounty with shrimp in the south of the border slaw tossed in a jalapeño mango aioli. Add some pickled onions, cotija cheese, and cilantro for a local dish with a new spin. The chef serves the tacos with honey tequila braised plantains that will leave you wanting more.

Voyager’s

At the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, Voyagers has a celebratory fine-dining atmosphere, with panoramic Gulf-front views. Surf and turf are the stars of the show here, with authentic Gulf seafood and a dry-aged steak selection. The seasonal menu reflects regional flavors in innovative dishes, where the presentation is just as appealing as the taste.

Foodies will find dishes they may never have seen before, like the Ostrich Carpaccio. They also feature new twists on classics such as the Purple Sweet Potato Gnocchi. Yet they’ll find comforting old favorites, like the 35-day dry-aged steaks.

Voyager’s wine list won Wine Spectator’s 2019 Award of Excellence, so you’re sure to find the perfect wine pairing. Voyagers’ wine list covers eight countries and includes over 130 selections that are temperature and humidity controlled under peak conditions. If in doubt, ask your server for a recommendation. As you can see from this restaurant sampling, Alabama’s Gulf Coast offers foodies a variety of experiences, from a casual outdoor setting like the Anchor Bar and Grill to the fine-dining option of Voyagers. Still, no matter the location, the food is fresh and flavorful.

Photos, from left: Safari Club - Thai Beef Salad; Voyagers - Whole Fish; Voyagers - Dessert Plate