Overall great lunch at the GM today. A little hot on the patio, no fans going in our direction. We have been going here for years. We had the calamari, the BBQ shrimp, a wedge salad, and the fried shrimp, as well as adult beverages. The calamari was disappointing though due to the lack of calamari and the over abundance of banana peppers. In the past there was mostly calamari with a few banana peppers and pickles. Please go back to the way it was! Our server was greater and competed the calamari! They also had live music today which was nice! read more

The Grand Marlin - Calamari - Seafood Near Me - Gulf Breeze, Florida

food is great, service is awesome/attentive, very professional. obviously a little more expensive but great for a nice outing

No review could really encapsulate how incredible our experience was at The Grand Marlin! Our server Ryan was just top notch- super friendly and went above and beyond for us to help us celebrate multiple birthdays and an anniversary in our party. Additionally, the live music on the covered patio was a great touch. Loved how the vibes here were more than just another touristy seafood spot on the beach. Now for the food- everything was absolutely incredible. They print their menus daily to ensure it's up to date with their fresh catches. We started with the crab claws and BBQ oysters, which were both so flavorful and perfect appetizer. The garlic butter from the crab claws was so good I could have drank it straight from the dish. For mains: The special they had when we went last Friday was tilefish with grits, brussel sprouts, and fried shrimp and it was a must (2/6 at our table got this). Another big hit was the grouper piccata- this is another must get, and what the local in our party gets everytime she comes. The whipped potatoes are just delicious. Other dishes we got were the filet mignon and honey wasabi yellowfin tuna. You truly can't go wrong with anything on the menu! In the words of our server.. "chef could prepare a shoe and I'd eat it!" To finish the night, we had the key lime pie & the signature praline basket (with a brownie). Both desserts were, you guessed it, amazing. The key lime pie enthusiast at our table said it was the best he's ever had. The Grand Marlin will be seeing me again next time I'm in town!! read more

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Food is delicious and fresh. Customer service was exceptional. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff. Ambience is very warm and welcoming. Thank you so much Jason for such an amazing experience. read more

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Beautiful spot right on the water. You pull up and it looks like it's going to be a special night. Here's the thing though. It's a big room and it really matters where they sit you. They put us in the middle, nowhere near a window, so we never got the water view we came for. If the weather's nice, ask to sit outside. That alone takes it from good to great. The kitchen's the real deal though. Get the seafood platter. The shrimp, scallops, and fish all cooked perfectly, the fried calamari was excellent, and the lobster mashed potatoes were incredible. A couple misses. The gumbo was too thin, I like it thicker. And the battered lobster tails come with a vanilla sauce that's way too sweet. Lobster's already sweet, so it was almost dessert. The drinks ran sweet too. It's expensive, but you can tell that the second you pull up, so no surprise. Sit outside, get the seafood platter, and you'll have a great night. read more

5/10/2026: Grand Marlin is top-notch! We had an incredible experience here on May 10th. Our server, Brittany, gave excellent service and was incredibly accommodating. Since the three of us in our group aren't big eaters, we asked to split a portion of everything we ordered, and she didn't blink an eye. We started with the BBQ shrimp, which was fantastic! It's not a heavy, traditional BBQ flavor--it's more of a rich, New Orleans-style sauce. With six shrimp total, it was perfect for splitting, especially with the delicious bread served alongside it to soak up that amazing sauce. Nom!! Two of us split the wedge salad, and Brittany happily accommodated our special request for ranch instead of blue cheese. Our other friend had the kale salad and thoroughly enjoyed it. For the main course, the three of us split the filet mignon, which came with a dollop of mashed potatoes. The char on the steak was absolutely fabulous, and the potatoes paired with it perfectly! The restaurant is fairly dark and can get a bit noisy on busy nights, but we enjoyed our time immensely. Grand Marlin has private rooms and is easily the most high-end restaurant on Pensacola Beach. Our total was $178.00 before tip, which is well worth it. The attire ranges anywhere from dressy to beach casual, they have several great seating options for special occasions, and there's even a gift shop with some great finds. For anyone who remembers, this used to be the Boy on a Dolphin years ago. As an honorary Pensacolian since 1975, I consider myself a bit of an expert on all things Pensacola Beach--and you won't be disappointed here! Pro tip: Get a group photo by the bay before leaving. Even at night, it shows off those perfect Pensacola views. read more

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The Grand Marlin was the dining choice for me and my colleague (and his wife). The covered outdoor patio bar/dining on the water made it a perfect destination. We started w the Blue Angel Chips app and cocktails to start the event. The colleague had the Seared Red Snapper, his wife had the Grouper Piccata, and I had Blackened Shrimp. All well prepared, tasty, and professionally served by Emma. While I prefer the patio/outdoor bar dining, they appear to have indoor dining as well. read more

The Grand Marlin - Gulf Shrimp (blackened), TGM Grouper Piccata, Seared Red Snapper. - Seafood Near Me - Gulf Breeze, Florida

I finally had the opportunity to visit last night. My date and I started off with drinks on the outside bar which were great, there was live music and it was a great ambience. After our table is ready we went in had the crabcakes... The crabcake was amazing and delicious however they were a few bites that had crab shell in it and that was a bit unpleasant. The grouper piccata was fantastic, I cannot get over how delicious roasted capers tasted, my date had the seared red snapper. All in all wonderful food and wonderful time and our server was very accommodating, pleasant, and wonderful for offering suggestions. read more

What can you say about the GM that hasn't already been said? We've been a few times and I wish I had more pictures. I'll get more next time. I've had the fried lobster appetizer twice and it is great. This past time I got the grouper piccata which is their signature dish and it was amazing. Just get it, don't even think about it. My wife had the sauteed crab fingers and she said they were very good. The cocktails are all very good also. I did make a mistake the first time I went in getting the gumbo but I know better than to get gumbo outside of Louisiana. That said, it was not the worst gumbo I've ever had. This place is as fancy as you want to make it but it also has a laid back vibe and it depends on where you sit. Sit bar side if you want to feel like you're still at a beach restaurant or sit dining room side if you want to celebrate a special occasion. I will be back in one month and I can't wait. read more

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Absolutely some of the best Seafood I've ever ate from NC down to Miami around the gulf coast the grand marlin is good.. if they offer fresh catch take the swordfish it's my favorite read more

The food was absolutely great and worth the price. The same was soft and the sauce worked will with the veggies. The praline basket was a great surprise. Our waitress was very attentive and made sure our drinks were full and the food was good. It feels like a kinda upscale beach-y restaurant. It seemed like guests were wearing collars and dresses but it was not a requirement. Overall, a great experience! read more

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Absolutely divine dining experience for our anniversary! We try to come yearly for our anniversary dinner and The Grand Marlin once again did not disappoint. Service is something others should model their restaurants after and food is divine. We have had the red snapper and grouper piccata, both excellent. This time we enjoyed fried shrimp and Maryland Style Crab Cakes followed by a shared piece of key lime pie. If you're a key lime pie connoisseur, this is the best on the island. It's almost a whipped texture as opposed to the traditional heavy tasting ones. Tip: Get a reservation for a day/time that is not as busy. Use google, etc. to help identify off-peak days/hours of operation. The busier times can be quite loud, so off-times are a must if you want something quieter/low-key or a bit more romantic/date-night vibe. read more

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Went here with friends and the meal was phenomenal. We had the oysters as an appetizer that were fresh and large. Our wait staff was super attentive. Our meal was beyond delicious. The Grouper Picatta was fresh and I would order it again and again!! It was the best fish I have had in a LONG time--and we live in South Florida surrounded by great seafood restaurants. We both had the same dish. Our friends had the wasabi tuna and raved about it. All four of us shared the brownie sundae. Would come to this restaurant again. Great sunset views too. Parking was close and easy to get a spot--this was a week day and they were packed! We went on their wine special day for 50% off--nice surprise. read more

If you're in Pensacola The Grand Marlin is an absolute must. Everything we had was outstanding from start to finish. I ordered the swordfish with mashed potatoes and green beans, and it was hands down phenomenal--perfectly cooked and full of flavor. My boyfriend had the BBQ oysters and wedge salad, and both were just as amazing. And then... dessert. Truly the best I've ever had in my life. The chocolate brownie with ice cream, pecans, chocolate sauce, and berries was next-level incredible. Gluten free! To top it all off, the Mexican mule was refreshing and perfectly made. Great food, great atmosphere, and an all-around unforgettable experience. We'll definitely be back! read more

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We stopped by for dinner on New Year's Eve. Lovely restaurant w great views of Pensacola beach. Plenty of parking. Friendly welcoming staff. We had the salt n pepper calamari, crispy lobster fingers, creamy mushroom bisque n seafood gumbo. The crispy lobster fingers was flash fried n tasted so good and so were the calamari n the soups. For entrees we had the seared red snapper w beans n mashed potato, grouper piccata, grilled scallops w beans n mashed potato n the heirloom squash agnolotti. The snapper was really crisp n tasted good. The grouper piccata was cooked well n was v flavorful. The scallops tasty too n so was the agnolotti. We finished our dinner w praline basket , crème brûlée n pecan butter cake, oh my the deserts were heavenly. The praline basket was out of this world n so was the pecan butter cake. Thank u for a great dinner n lovely views. Will be back again when in the area read more

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Food came out fast and tasted delicious. The staff are friendly and attentive. Quiet and relaxing atmosphere. Make sure to stop by the gift shop after you eat to get 10% gift shop purchase. read more

The Grand Marlin - Seafood Near Me - Gulf Breeze, Florida

Came for dinner and to see the sunset. Both were amazing! We ordered the following: Oysters Rockefeller BBQ oysters Crispy lobster fingers Key lime grilled lobster dinner with mashed potatoes and green beans Grouper piccata with mashed potatoes and spinach x 2 Parmesan truffle fries Praline dessert with ice cream and berries Cake dessert with poached pear and ice cream The girls had white wine sangria and some other wine. Great night, great food and great company! read more

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I always enjoy my time at the Grand Marlin and this time was no different. Great seafood served by an amazing staff in a great ambiance. The views here are amazing. If you are in tge area, I would definitely recommend a visit here. read more

This is our 4th time here, twice for Dinner and twice for Sunday Brunch. We save this restaurant for Special occasions which I leave in the comments after asked if we are celebrating anything. NOT Once have it was acknowledged by their wait staff. So disappointed. Yes we enjoy the food and wish the waitress would say something. Service this past Sunday was not up to par as, I had an empty glass of beverage sitting and was not asked if I wanted a refill. Also when our main entrees arrived our waitress did not remove the empty appetizers dishes so, we just moved them to the side. We were not asked if everything was ok and if we needed anything but I did ask for more syrup for my waffles. It never came so I left my dish to be boxed up and asked again for the syrup. We would like to dine here again as there was other Brunch items we would like to try but, not if we get the same service. read more

The Grand Marlin - Seared Scallops, Seared Red Snapper, sautéed mushrooms - Seafood Near Me - Gulf Breeze, Florida

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This was a great choice! We had the fried lobster, baked oysters, shrimp and grits, shellfish platter, fried shrimp and a steak. They have a "wine down Wednesday" special where their bottles are 50% off if you get two entrees. Our server was nice and helped with recommendations. We sat inside because it was raining, but their outdoor seating area overlooking the water looks amazing! We will definitely go back. read more

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Grand Marlin used to be my favorite restaurant, but it's just not anymore. Tonight was definitely disappointing... especially for $460. The Grouper Piccata was thin, dry, and overcooked. I could tell the entree had been sitting under the heat lamp for a while because the mashed potato was hard to the point of pastey... almost inedible. I did not say anything because I did not want to make a fuss in front of our guests. I requested the salmon entree I ordered "to go" be cooked between medium rare and medium. I specifically told the server not to let the kitchen overcook it. When I asked my mom how it was, she said it was dry and disgusting and would never order it again. Also, you would think for $37 the salmon entree would come with a vegetable, but it did not, so I paid six dollars extra for soggy asparagus. Honestly, after seeing the picture, I am not sure why the chef let the salmon leave the kitchen. It should have been thrown away. Terrible! We have had similar experiences on our last couple visits so, needless to say, we probably won't be back for a while. read more

The Grand Marlin - Salmon Entree - Seafood Near Me - Gulf Breeze, Florida

Always a great experience. Bartenders are amazing! We got a couple of drinks at the bar and then headed to our reserved table. Our waitress was great, super friendly and gave us good recommendations for dinner. We had a great time, and will definitely come back. read more

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Stellar service, cool vibes upscale atmosphere and amazing food and views. Does not get any better. You can't go wrong with grouper picatta, their signature dish. read more

Me and my husband went for date night. Expected it to be pricy but the portions were so small. My husband had shrimp and grits. The grits wouldn't have even filled a cup serving. The grand marlin cocktail was terrible. It tasted like what I could imagine air freshener would taste like. View was wonderful. Service was good. Probably wouldn't go back. read more

Great food. Never had a bad meal there. Good Service. Ambience was OK but very noisy. We had a table of 10 with a birthday and couldn't hear each other speak. They did the best they could. read more

Enjoyed a lovely lunch today here. We opened the store at 11:00 and were seated at a great table on the west side overlooking Little Sabine inlet. My wife and I shared a bowl of gumbo. It was heavy on the okra, which is fine with us, but it kinda overwhelmed shrimp and sausage. The flavors, however, were lovely. Very enjoyable. Will definitely have again. We both ordered the BBQ shrimp as an entree and were likewise very pleased with GM's offering. The shrimp were nicely cooked and the BBQ sauce here is most enjoyable. Another do again. My brother enjoyed the fried shrimp which were perfectly breaded and cooked. The generous portion of french fries were irresistibly crisp on the outside and just so soft on the inside. I checked! We would do these same dishes again in a heartbeat. read more

The Grand Marlin - Outside bar and dining - Seafood Near Me - Gulf Breeze, Florida

We dined at The Grand Marlin for Sunday Brunch. We enjoyed everything we ordered. Especially nice that they offer $3.50 mimosas & house bloody Mary's! Our friend orders the gigantic seafood, bloody Mary, which comes with a lobster tail and a bunch of other stuff and it's really amazing to look at. It tasted too. We ordered the lobster fingers which typically come with three, but because we were a party of four our server asked if we would like to add an extra so that we would have four on the platter which was a great idea and we did. They were delicious. I had six gulf oysters on the half shell, they were large with nice flavor. BBQ shrimp were ordered, as was a Caesar salad & several omelettes. The fingerling potatoes my husband & I loved. I had the chefs feature omelette, which was a bacon with caramelized onion omelette topped with three fried oysters! Exquisite. The server sent the leftovers back to the kitchen to be boxed up for us to go. Our only challenges during our meal was that it is very loud in the restaurant and unfortunately, we were seated by two large parties with young children who were antsy & loud. My other suggestion to the restaurant that is if their main elevator is out of order (like it was when we visited), they need to have proper signage for handicapped customers. There is a service elevator at the back of the garage on the opposite end, but the sign on that elevator says for employees & deliveries only. So we trapped all around the garage, making the entire lap only to get back to hiking up the stairs with two people who found that extremely challenging. As we were exiting the restaurant, there was an elderly couple and a man with a cane trying to tackle the stairway down, and we directed them to go see the hostess, who said that they could use the service elevator. Unfortunately, it was cloudy during our visit and not a very nice day, so we hope to return during nice weather, especially to partake of outdoor dining and the lovely bar that faces the water. read more

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Fabulous!!!! Food was amazing!! View was amazing!! Desserts were amazing!!! Ryan was amazing!!!! Went on Tuesday night & again on Friday during our vacation. read more

What an amazing dinner. It was very busy here with spring break but we took a chance on Grand Marlin and zero regrets. Our server Amber was amazing from start to finish even though she was busy. When she greeted us she wished us happy anniversary right away she was very informative at the food and gave us some favorites. We had the smoked tuna dip (a must) i had the sautéed crab claws omg so delicious my husband had the panko crusted swordfish. We were so full we couldn't eat our anniversary dessert. The food and service was amazing and the views are awesome! We had a couple of drinks very good. read more

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We were waited on by Steven , he did an exceptional job. The fried lobster tails were on point and the grouper was cooked perfectly, I really enjoyed the ambience and views were great. Thank you for the great experience. read more

This is the best dining experience on Pensacola Beach. Yes, it's pricey, but well worth it. We started with the BBQ Baked Oysters. Amazing! You'll definitely be slurping these babies. My wife ordered the Field Greens salad. We started devouring before my photo...so good! I ordered the Seared Red Snapper, served on whipped potatoes with asparagus. Delicious. I ordered the Lump Blue Crab Cake and this was as amazing as I had hoped. My wife ordered the grilled swordfish and she loved it. I recommend The Grand Marlin wholeheartedly! read more

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It's always a great place to go for upscale and delicious dining. The service is also top notch. #iraeats #iraeats1 read more

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been coming here for years. it's unfortunate the food quality continues to slip. new chef? no clue. thinner grouper piccata , overcooked red snapper, kinda mealy shrimp cocktail. so bummed. read more

5 !! Service is wonderful. Food is delicious! Setting is serene right on the water. Go as fast as you can!! read more

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Fantastic. Best food on our whole trip through 30A to Destin to Pensacola. Compliments to the chef. Server Emma R was the best! Great views and chill atmosphere. read more

Had a fantastic time at Grand Marlin! Recommend any and all of the seafood! We had the scallops and the tuna dishes. Loved the fresh shucked oysters by Don who was so nice and easy to talk to at the bar. He recommended the Rattlesnake oysters which were some of the best we've ever had. Highly recommend coming here for a date night or great meal. We'll be back probably weekly! lol read more

As my friend Andy says, the Grand Marlin is one of the hidden jewels of Pensacola. Every dish was outstanding. The gumbo was the proper consistency, with the okra cooked correctly. The blackened Red Snapper daily special had the right amount of heat. The Key lime pie slice is about 3 inches thick! We definitely will return. read more

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My wife surprised me with a celebratory birthday dinner here. It was our first time dining at The Grand Marlin and it did not disappoint! Definitely recommend the lobster fingers, ribeye, and espresso martini! Our server, Chelsea, did a wonderful job. read more

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The service was good. We didn't have to wait even though it was peak dinner time and the parking lot was full. I wouldn't say the atmosphere was great. We ate on the patio. It's just a large open space with tables. I'm not crazy about what I ordered - shrimp and grits. The shrimp and grits came drowning in a very soupy sauce. Not what you would call your typical or traditional shrimp and grits. It wasn't all that good. The shrimp didn't have good flavor. My coworker ordered a stake and it was considerably undercooked and tough. Overall, it was a less than average experience. read more

The service was fantastic, and the food was amazing. The photo was taken after I sliced one of the scallops, but they were cooked to perfection. The server was amazing and so were the bartenders. read more

The Grand Marlin - cooked perfection and my wife had the surf and turf, which was equally amazing - Seafood Near Me - Gulf Breeze, Florida