Great Southern Cafe
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Recommended Reviews - Great Southern Cafe
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The food was absolutely delicious! THE MOJITOS?! Incredible. I'm a mojito lover Anandis restaurant is definitely in the top 5 best mojitos I've ever had. Our server was on top of keeping the drinks flowing and had a great personality. The restaurant itself was giving cute coastal vibes. My one complaint is that the whole group felt like the dining room was pretty hot even with a ceiling fan going. Overall I great experience and I will be back!
Amazing breakfast spot in a perfect location of seaside. Not overly complicated just good food. Service and ambiance were solid, felt like a classic breakfast spot. Amazing Benedict's.
We've come here for decades... today was another excellent experience. Had the pecan crusted grouper, fried okra, and gouda grits.... mmm mmmm yummy! Pedro waited on us and really served well checking in multiple times. The best person... LIZ!!!! She engaged us when we walked up, got us seated, helped us out... excellent service... she's amazing! Thanks, Liz!!! You rock!
This was my second visit to this spot, and it definitely lived up to the first. The wait for seating was a little longer than expected, but once we got settled in, everything else made up for it. Our server, Anastasia, was great--super friendly and really on top of things. She kept the water and soda refills coming without us even having to ask, which always goes a long way. I ordered the catch of the day (mahi mahi), and it was fantastic blackened. Cooked perfectly with great flavor, especially paired with their house sauce, which is definitely worth trying. And just like I mentioned in my last review, the hush puppies are top tier--easily some of the best around. Overall, this is still one of the best seafood spots in the area. Consistently good food and solid service make it an easy recommendation.
Wow!! I was insanely amazed by this place. The restaurant itself is located in the square and it is decorated very cute. Whether you eat inside or out, it's an elevated vibe. Both entrees that we got were incredible. The French dip was very flavorful and came with a lot of meat. The grits were a good texture and also delicious. I don't think you can go wrong with anything you order. The service was great too and our waitress was very sweet!
This is THE restaurant of Seaside. Such a beautiful, fun place to walk around, and the great Southern Cafe is the perfect type of food to indulge in here, especially for those out-of-town, Yankee visitors. We had a party of 7, and were seated immediately, no reservation, for an early dinner around 5:30. There was definitely a line later, so get here early. The food was fantastic. Although not the best fried green tomatoes I've ever had, they were very good. I got the shrimp and grits entree, which was great. They put a lot of this shredded sweet potato situation on top of things. It was good, but I could have done with a little bit less of it. It is teetering on solely being a garnish, I didn't need any more than 3-4 bites of it. Service was good, the weather was perfect for our outdoor dinner. The star of the dinner was by far and away the mojitos. Or "vojitos." It was a vodka cocktail loaded up with fruit. I got the strawberry lemon one. I believe it was called "lemongrass." There were sooooo good. They would be even better on a hot summer day walking aorund.
First time here! Loved the vibe of the place and we sat outside which has a cool bar too. Their homemade hot sauce is legit! If you like hot sauce you gotta try it. We started with the pimento cheese app and then shared the grits ya ya. Our waitress was super friendly and recommended the grits ya ya and it was delicious.
This was our least favorite restaurant we visited when in the area for 5 days. Sadly, it's where we decided to come on our last night. To start, the hostess was very unwelcoming. We got there a little after 8 PM and were quickly told it would be a 45 min-1 hour wait. There were several tables open that we could see, but we said that was totally fine and gave them our information. Since we had so much time, we decided to walk around. We ordered a drink at a bar across the street, and as we were paying and grabbing them, we received a text from Great Southern that our table was ready. Only 6 minutes had passed (see photo for proof). This was very frustrating to us. Nonetheless, we wasted the cocktails we ordered and went back to get our table. Server took a while to come and was MIA a lot, but he was very nice. My husband and I both ordered a cocktail from the specialty list, and both were disappointing. The drinks we got from their happy hour (25% off 3-5 PM) earlier in the week were better. We decided to order two of their items that were boxed and bolded, which we assumed meant were some of their favorite options...the crab claw appetizer and grits a ya ya. The crab claw appetizer was so bad. The amount of actual claws was pitiful, and it was smothered in a creamy but flavorless sauce. They were overcooked and mushy, making it hard to get the meat off of the claws. It was also served lukewarm. Would not recommend this item, especially for $28. The grits a ya ya was a better item. Nothing I'll return back to get, but thankfully not as disappointing as everything else we experienced here. A bit one-noted, but the hot sauce on the table helped add some much needed flavor. There are so many great restaurants in the area...we would advise going elsewhere.
I came here for breakfast and had a great experience. The waitress originally said it would be a 30 minute wait, but it was only about 15. We ordered the café breakfast and the steak and eggs. Both came with biscuits, which were amazing! The steak and eggs also came with grits, which is what they are known for. You have to order them!! The orange juice was fresh too. Our waitress was friendly and checked on us many times throughout our meal. Sitting outside was great because of the shade they have with the roof and siding. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in Seaside.
Ordered 2 Bushwackers from their "BFF Frozens" porchside bar. $16 each. Comes in a tiny plastic cup and they did not even fill them up all the way. Criminal.
Lovely location in the heart of Seaside. We ordered from their Sunday Brunch menu. My husband and I tried their calamari and we were very pleased. I followed mine with the fried green tomato and crab cakes eggs Benedict and my husband tried their calamari po'Boy. We were celebrating our anniversary so I had a skinny mimosa which instead of the actual oj, they infuse the prosecco with a spritz of orange oil! Ingenious! Everything came out promptly, at the right temperature, well plated, and so delicious. The place is comfortable, clean, well decorated inside and out on their "porch" outdoor area. Service was casual, helpful and friendly. We will be back every time we are in town!
Our first night on 30A and we had dinner at Great Southern Cafe. Location is perfect! You can't beat the atmosphere. Valerie was our server and she was the bomb!!!! She handled the seven of us and was so sweet. I ordered the Grits à Ya-Ya and I'm telling yall it was so divine!!!!! It was probably the only time we weren't talking. Will definitely come back. read more
20 days ago
The food was absolutely delicious! THE MOJITOS?! Incredible. I'm a mojito lover Anandis restaurant is definitely in the top 5 best mojitos I've ever had. Our server was on top of keeping the drinks flowing and had a great personality. The restaurant itself was giving cute coastal vibes. My one complaint is that the whole group felt like the dining room was pretty hot even with a ceiling fan going. Overall I great experience and I will be back! read more
6 days ago
We've come here for decades... today was another excellent experience. Had the pecan crusted grouper, fried okra, and gouda grits.... mmm mmmm yummy! Pedro waited on us and really served well checking in multiple times. The best person... LIZ!!!! She engaged us when we walked up, got us seated, helped us out... excellent service... she's amazing! Thanks, Liz!!! You rock! read more
This was my second visit to this spot, and it definitely lived up to the first. The wait for seating was a little longer than expected, but once we got settled in, everything else made up for it. Our server, Anastasia, was great--super friendly and really on top of things. She kept the water and soda refills coming without us even having to ask, which always goes a long way. I ordered the catch of the day (mahi mahi), and it was fantastic blackened. Cooked perfectly with great flavor, especially paired with their house sauce, which is definitely worth trying. And just like I mentioned in my last review, the hush puppies are top tier--easily some of the best around. Overall, this is still one of the best seafood spots in the area. Consistently good food and solid service make it an easy recommendation. read more
4 months ago
Wow!! I was insanely amazed by this place. The restaurant itself is located in the square and it is decorated very cute. Whether you eat inside or out, it's an elevated vibe. Both entrees that we got were incredible. The French dip was very flavorful and came with a lot of meat. The grits were a good texture and also delicious. I don't think you can go wrong with anything you order. The service was great too and our waitress was very sweet! read more
1 month ago
10 months ago
This is THE restaurant of Seaside. Such a beautiful, fun place to walk around, and the great Southern Cafe is the perfect type of food to indulge in here, especially for those out-of-town, Yankee visitors. We had a party of 7, and were seated immediately, no reservation, for an early dinner around 5:30. There was definitely a line later, so get here early. The food was fantastic. Although not the best fried green tomatoes I've ever had, they were very good. I got the shrimp and grits entree, which was great. They put a lot of this shredded sweet potato situation on top of things. It was good, but I could have done with a little bit less of it. It is teetering on solely being a garnish, I didn't need any more than 3-4 bites of it. Service was good, the weather was perfect for our outdoor dinner. The star of the dinner was by far and away the mojitos. Or "vojitos." It was a vodka cocktail loaded up with fruit. I got the strawberry lemon one. I believe it was called "lemongrass." There were sooooo good. They would be even better on a hot summer day walking aorund. read more
18 days ago
First time here! Loved the vibe of the place and we sat outside which has a cool bar too. Their homemade hot sauce is legit! If you like hot sauce you gotta try it. We started with the pimento cheese app and then shared the grits ya ya. Our waitress was super friendly and recommended the grits ya ya and it was delicious. read more
This was our least favorite restaurant we visited when in the area for 5 days. Sadly, it's where we decided to come on our last night. To start, the hostess was very unwelcoming. We got there a little after 8 PM and were quickly told it would be a 45 min-1 hour wait. There were several tables open that we could see, but we said that was totally fine and gave them our information. Since we had so much time, we decided to walk around. We ordered a drink at a bar across the street, and as we were paying and grabbing them, we received a text from Great Southern that our table was ready. Only 6 minutes had passed (see photo for proof). This was very frustrating to us. Nonetheless, we wasted the cocktails we ordered and went back to get our table. Server took a while to come and was MIA a lot, but he was very nice. My husband and I both ordered a cocktail from the specialty list, and both were disappointing. The drinks we got from their happy hour (25% off 3-5 PM) earlier in the week were better. We decided to order two of their items that were boxed and bolded, which we assumed meant were some of their favorite options...the crab claw appetizer and grits a ya ya. The crab claw appetizer was so bad. The amount of actual claws was pitiful, and it was smothered in a creamy but flavorless sauce. They were overcooked and mushy, making it hard to get the meat off of the claws. It was also served lukewarm. Would not recommend this item, especially for $28. The grits a ya ya was a better item. Nothing I'll return back to get, but thankfully not as disappointing as everything else we experienced here. A bit one-noted, but the hot sauce on the table helped add some much needed flavor. There are so many great restaurants in the area...we would advise going elsewhere. read more
1 year ago
I came here for breakfast and had a great experience. The waitress originally said it would be a 30 minute wait, but it was only about 15. We ordered the café breakfast and the steak and eggs. Both came with biscuits, which were amazing! The steak and eggs also came with grits, which is what they are known for. You have to order them!! The orange juice was fresh too. Our waitress was friendly and checked on us many times throughout our meal. Sitting outside was great because of the shade they have with the roof and siding. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in Seaside. read more
2 months ago
3 months ago
Ordered 2 Bushwackers from their "BFF Frozens" porchside bar. $16 each. Comes in a tiny plastic cup and they did not even fill them up all the way. Criminal. read more
Lovely location in the heart of Seaside. We ordered from their Sunday Brunch menu. My husband and I tried their calamari and we were very pleased. I followed mine with the fried green tomato and crab cakes eggs Benedict and my husband tried their calamari po'Boy. We were celebrating our anniversary so I had a skinny mimosa which instead of the actual oj, they infuse the prosecco with a spritz of orange oil! Ingenious! Everything came out promptly, at the right temperature, well plated, and so delicious. The place is comfortable, clean, well decorated inside and out on their "porch" outdoor area. Service was casual, helpful and friendly. We will be back every time we are in town! read more
9 months ago
Dinner or lunch at The Great Southern is always a must when we visit Santa Rosa Beach. We also love the shrimp and grits for dinner. Be ready for a long wait but it is worth it. read more
3 months ago
14 days ago
15 days ago
This place is great !!! There was a 30-40 minute wait on Sunday around 5:30, so just be prepared. We Ordered some mixed drinks (Habanero margarita, bourbon smash) and they were very good. Once we were seated, we Ordered the calamari appetizer which was also great. It tasted better using the spicy oyster sauce at the tables instead of the salsa/sauce it came with. For mains, we ordered the Grits a YaYa, meat and three sides, and the buttermilk chicken sandwich. All the food was tasty and very filling. Valerie our server was also excellent and checked in on us to make sure we had everything and gave us some good suggestions. read more
I went here strictly for dessert (off of a recommendation by a local) and they did not disappoint. The key lime pie was so delicious and a massive portion for the price. The location is beautiful and very warm and welcoming. The staff was friendly. read more
Great service. The best chicken and waffles! The chicken was lightly breaded, tender and moist with good flavor. The waffle was a huge portion and somehow they kept it all hot topped with an orange marmalade. This may have been the best we had ever. We did swing back later for a mojito which everyone recommended as well as the Yelp cast. We weren't impressed with the drink flavor but they will fu-up! I thought the price for 2 mojito @$40 was a bit steep and a foul but that chicken tho!! read more
2 months ago
3 months ago
The Great Southern Cafe offers a more upscale vibe with the combination of a southern charm mixed in with an establishment. They have a great menu with a little bit of everything from land to sea items. They are known for their mojitos and I highly recommend ordering one of those as they are made fresh. Their crab cakes were delicious you get a set of 2. For our main dish we got their blackened fish with a side of sweet potato fries and fried okra. A wonderful place to go and get dinner while staying in Santa Rosa. read more
Today was my second time here and I was a little disappointed in comparison to last time. I got the black and blue salad with a medium steak but it came out well done. The sauce was good though and the steak was seasoned well. The grits were just alright, I wasn't getting much of a smoked Gouda taste though. Another person ordered the pecan crusted shrimp platter and out came regular fried shrimp. Granted, it was all good but not what we ordered. We didn't say anything so I am unsure how they would have fixed it but it is weird that half of the dishes we ordered came out wrong. The fries are thick and very good. Warning; the gluten free bun is quite crumbly. read more
The wait is always long to get dinner. We sat at the outside bar. Every time we come here we meet fun people. The mojitos are the best ever! Bartenders are nice and attentive. Just a good vibe to relax, chat, and enjoy your time. One spot we love to come while we are in town. read more
9 months ago
Wonderful experience, beautiful street table side, great service, took waiters recommendations. Food was so good. We are returning next week again for lunch. The lobster bisque is so delicious, large pieces of lobster in cup. read more
3 months ago
3 months ago
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More info about Great Southern Cafe
83 Central Sq
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
Directions
(850) 752-9191
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https://www.thegreatsoutherncafe.com
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Ask the Community - Great Southern Cafe
Do you take reservations?
Any vegan options?
Salad, vegetable plate and some sides. We don't have a lot of vegan options, but do have some. Ask your server to help you decide.
Are you guys subtracting the $15 parking tab?
How does that make sense? Parking has nothing to do with great southern that's seaside.
Are y'all still doing raw oysters during happy hour --if so , what time?
$11 dozen oysters during happy hour 3-5 daily
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78 reviews that are not currently recommended
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