Playa

Name: Playa
Address: 27842 Canal Rd, Orange Beach, AL, United States, 36561
Telephone: (251) 981-9891
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.4

4.4

833 Reviews

$30 and under

Seafood

Top Tags:

Welcome to Playa Restaurant at Sportsman Marina. Centrally located across the bay from Perdido Bay Bridge, we're a hidden treasure. We love the beach and the food it attracts. Chef Bill Briand’s menu features great Gulf seafood, grilled steaks and regional foods that are sourced locally, truly offering something for everyone in the family. Throw in the best tropical drinks and lots of southern hospitality - served in a care-free and beautifully designed casual atmosphere with the best water front view in Orange Beach - and you will not want to leave.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 21, 2022

May 2022

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

7:00 PM

Booked 66 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(251) 981-9891

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Seafood, American, Southern
Hours of operation
Brunch Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Tue–Sat 11:00 am–3:00 pm Bar Tue–Sat 3:00 pm–4:00 pm Dinner Tue–Sat 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(251) 981-9891
Website
http://www.playaoba.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Resort Casual
Executive chef
Bill Briand
Private party facilities
Playa is available for all different type events from business cocktail receptions, to full out wedding receptions. Even if you want a small intimate dinner party in our private room (the surf room) up to 10 people to celebrate an anniversary or birthday, custom coursed menus are available and reservations required. We can host events from 10 people up to 300 persons! Check us out at playaoba.com for more information. Due to COVID-19, regulations have changed, only a max of 8 persons per table.

Location
27842 Canal Rd Orange Beach, AL 36561
Neighborhood
Orange Beach
Parking details
We have 3 transient boat slips for docking at Sportsman Marina.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

Murder Point Oysters Raw*
1/2 dz, cocktail, horseradish
- MKT
Playa Shrimp Ceviche$14.00
1/2 dozen Gulf shrimp, salsa, cucumber, avocado, Valentino, lime, tortilla chips
Crab Claws
fried or marinated
- MKT
The Playa Platter
1/2 dozen raw oysters, 1/2lb chilled peel & eat Gulf shrimp, 1/3lb marinated crab claws
- MKT
Smoked Tuna Dip$15.00
pickled peppers, saltines
Fried Gulf Oyster$12.00
1/2 dz, slaw, horseradish cream
Crab Toast
Gulf crab in creamy lemon dressing, jalapeno, red onion, avocado spread, tomatoes, toasted sourdough
- MKT
Chilled Peel' N' Eat Shrimp$17.00
1/2 lb chilled shrimp, cocktail sauce
Coconut Shrimp$14.00
fried Gulf shrimp, coconut, rum, chili flake, cilantro, spicy mayo

Non-Seafood Appetizers

Street Corn$5.00
corn on the cob, AL white BBQ, cotija cheese, chile
Fried Grits$14.00
goat cheese, pepper jelly
Orange Sesame Ribs$12.00
ginger slaw, japanese cucumber
Guacamole Your Way$10.00
make it your way with all the fixin's on the side

Salads

Playa House$8.00
romaine, arugula, hearts of palm, pineapple, pickled peppers, crispy prosciutto, coconut-lime vinaigrette
Grilled Romaine$12.00
grilled romaine, cotija cheese, crispy ham, lemon dressing
Caesar$8.00
romaine, garlic croutons, parmesan cheese
Sesame Seared Tuna$18.00
rare blackened tuna, Napa cabbage, arugula, cucumber, red onion, toasted seasame, creamy ginger sesame vinaigrette

Add-Ons

Mahi$14.00
Fried Oysters (6ct)$12.00
Fried Shrimp (9ct)$9.00
Grilled Chicken$7.00

Entrées

Redfish on the Half Shell
oven-roasted skin-on redfish, roasted cherry tomatoes
- MKT
Island Gulf Shrimp$26.00
crispy rum Gulf shrimp, coconut rice, ginger slaw, spicy aioli, cilantro
Seared Tuna$32.00
pepper-seared tuna, cucumber salad, coconut scallion rice, sushi BBQ, spicy aioli
Whole Gulf Fish
roasted tomatoes, tomato butter
- MKT
Orange Sesame Ribs$24.00
8 orange glazed sesame BBQ ribs, ginger slaw, Japanese cucumber salad
Fried Coconut Grouper$29.00
crispy coconut battered Gulf grouper over romaine and arugula, hearts of palm, pineapple, pickled peppers, crispy prosciutto, coconut-lime vinaigrette
Grilled Mahi$30.00
squash & zucchini ribbons, grilled vegetable couscous, tomato butter
Tuna Poke Bowl*$27.00
6 oz. of diced raw tuna, avocado, cucumber, seaweed salad, coconut rice, fried onion, ponzu, sushi BBQ, spicy aioli
Cajun Pork Chop*$28.00
cajun spiced pork chop, bacon smothered, collard greens, pepper jelly
Filet Mignon*$42.00
8 oz. filet mignon, garlic mashed potatoes, mushroom demi-glace
Taco Bowl$18.00
choice of: chicken, Gulf shrimp, or Gulf fish served with Spanish rice, black beans, chimi-slaw, lime sour cream, cotija cheese, tortillas & lime
Playa Burger$15.00
two 1/4lb patties, grilled pineapple, fried onions, cheddar cheese, Playa BBQ & Alabama white BBQ sauce, brioche bun, served with fries

Sides

Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Bacon-Smothered Collard Greens
Coconut Rice
French Fries
Street Corn
Seaweed Salad

Desserts

$10

Cheesecake
New York syle, seasonal fruit, whipped cream
Key Lime Pie
graham cracker crust, whipped cream, lime zest
Strawberry Shortcake
goat cheese whipped cream
Peanut Butter Pie
chocolate cookie crust, whipped cream

Kids Food

Available for kids 12 years & under, served with fries

Cheeseburger$8.00
Fried Shrimp$7.00
Cheese Quesadilla$7.00
Chicken Strips$7.00
Fried Fish Bites$7.00

N/A Beverages

Topo Chico Sparkling Water$3.00
Iced Tea$3.00
Coffee$3.00
Abita Root Beer
- Btl$4.00
Soft Drinks$3.00

What 833 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4

4.4 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.4Service
4.6Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Mobile
Healthy
Mobile
Great for Lunch
Mobile
Scenic View
Mobile
Vibrant Bar Scene
Mobile
Most Booked

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OT
OpenTable Diner
New Orleans
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined 1 day ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food! Noise level was a little high. Great waitress!
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined 1 day ago
overall4food4service4ambience5
Good date night.
a
anitat
Louisville
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful!!!!! We had small children with us and the staff was very helpful and accommodating! Food was great and the menu was updated and classic!
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 1 day ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Based on positive online reviews my husband and I had lunch at Playa while on vacation. The service and food were outstanding. Background music was really cool as well with some Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Sting throwbacks.
LN
LovinNash
New Orleans
32 reviews
vip
5.0
32 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
We sat at the bar. The oysters were perfect. Hot, crispy on outside, and moist on inside. Saxon was our bartender and was very attentive. We also enjoyed the tuna salad.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Atlanta
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined 5 days ago
overall4food4service4ambience4
Food was good. Bar was backed up, new bartender so drinks were slow
TB
TicoB
New Orleans
14 reviews
3.0
14 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall3food3service2ambience3
Not the best night this time. Sorry to see the POKE app go away and change of POKe entree Ordered Margaritas when we ordered all items. Came Long after entrees arrived and after we had to ask. Was told “only one bartender “ odd response. Need to better explain the guacamole- diner has to mash and create - avocado was not ripe so bit of a chore Order and app and salad. Barely got the salad when all entrees arrived. Used plate pick up was weak- had to ask and hand to server - she may need more training. Had issues when trying to settle the check with 2 credit cards. Server wanted to argue couldn’t be done and wanted to spilt out who had what. After we requested she try splitting 50:50 again- she did and it worked. No acknowledgement that we may have been correct. No desserts offered. Disappointed 1 we’ve had better.
TC
TonyC
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
overall3food4service1ambience2
Had to ask server if tip was included because she didn’t offer detail check. It was included for our group of 10. If she gave us the detail up front I would have tipped even more. Server was short , unpleasant and shady.
X
Xjpilot
Memphis/West TN
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Able to be seated quickly with our reservation and the food was outstanding!
JI
JulieI
Nashville
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Tuna Poke Bowl was amazing ! Great covered patios and very friendly staff.
A
Alison
Baton Rouge
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was great! Can't beat the view. Food and service both excellent.
K
Kelli
Austin
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
overall4food4service4ambience5
Birthday Celebration
d
djfoodie
Birmingham
17 reviews
5.0
17 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
We went early (4:30) with three small kids. We had a nice seat by the window and our waiter and trainee were very attentive. Everything was great! Loved the crab toast and the coconut shrimp apps!
T
Torisauer
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on May 12, 2022
overall2food4service3ambience4
Went for my boyfriends birthday and I brought a cake earlier in the day and was told there would be a note on our reservation. Our sever knew nothing about it, which is fine, but when I told him about it it took him 15 minutes to bring it out (after her had already given us dessert) we were ready to go after waiting for awhile and they just brought me the box and said “well it’s the thought the counts” needless to say I spent an extra hour leaving work early to bring the cake for no reason
T
Tammy
Atlanta
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 12, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great atmosphere and food!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Western NC
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on May 12, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
We had the Redfish. It was very good! Had a slice of key lime pie for desert. It was as good as you can find it anywhere. Our sever was Valerie. She has plenty of experience at Playa. We have a condo next door, so it’s fun to walk to supper!
KR
KerryRuss
Mobile
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on May 12, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was delicious!! Service was good! Servers seemed overwhelmed…..running around a lot! Seemed a bit hurried! Overall a great dinning experience! We will be back! ♥️
SA
SusanA
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 11, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Restaurant was beautiful inside with great views of the marina. We made a reservation and were sat right away. Appetizers were delicious. We had the fried grits and coconut shrimp. Both were really good. Our entrees were fantastic. This was the best meal we had all week in Orange Beach.
A
Allaboutsteaks
Memphis/West TN
32 reviews
vip
1.0
32 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall1food1service1ambience1
We arrived on time for our 6:45 reservation. We waited over 2 hours for our food. When we asked about our food we got a lecture that we had only waited 45 minutes and that we shouldn’t complain. I have never been treated so poorly at a restaurant in my life. Then when we finally got our food the burgers were burnt. 2 of us ordered burgers with no pineapple so the waiter stuck her hands in the burgers and threw off the pineapple. Then when we asked for ketchup she was a furious and came and slammed the ketchup on the table. So service and food were both horrible. We will never go back!
RH
RichH
Mobile
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall3food1service4ambience5
The ribs were not very good. They taste like reheated leftovers.
MM
MalloryM
Denver
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food is consistently excellent. Must try the playa house salad too! It is incredible.
M
Michael
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall1food3service1ambience3
We really wanted an enjoyable Mothers day. Unfortunately the service was so bad it overwhelmed the experience.
j
jimbo
Louisville
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Nice clean marina restaurant overlooking bay. Food was nicely prepared & service was excellent
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
Mother’s Day- very good
TD
TomandDi
Chicago
17 reviews
vip
3.0
17 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall3food2service4ambience4
Love the location and our server was super friendly. The wine list is limited but the bottle we had was good. The deviled crab dip appetizer is good but it takes a while so it came with our entrees, and it was served with “butter crackers” (saltines), which made it a bit too salty. My filet was perfectly cooked but the garlic mashed potatoes were flavorless and not creamy, like they came out of a box. My husband had the Mahi which was okay but the whole dish was so salty he couldn’t finish it. The sauce for the vegetable couscous was overly rich and salty too. We wanted to love it but the food was just “meh” for the price.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Tahoe
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall2food3service3ambience3
My Mahi was just a ok dish would Never order it again!
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall4food4service2ambience3
Great food! Time between drinks, appetizers, and entrees was unusually long but worth the wait.
CC
CarlaC
Washington DC
1 review
vip
3.0
1 review
Dined on May 7, 2022
overall3food3service1ambience5
Terrible service.
S
Sunshine
New York Area
13 reviews
vip
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on May 7, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We are at Playa last night and it was perfect! The food was excellent, the service was excellent, the ambiance was excellent. It was obvious to me that the owners and/or managers are very concerned with ensuring the best experience for their customers. I would definitely go back if in the area again!
JH
JoeH
Nashville
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 6, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Disappointed that conch fritters and a fish sandwich were no longer on the menu. The website under "about" does mention the fritters. Food was good. We ate upstairs outside which was perfect.
KF
KathyF
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 6, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our dinner was delicious and our server was a sweetheart! She was delightful to talk with and helped to make it a very enjoyable experience.
FM
FlyingMonkeys
Memphis/West TN
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 4, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Love the food, sat outside, such a pleasant evening for our party of 8. We’ll be back!
g
georgew
Nashville
26 reviews
vip
3.0
26 reviews
Dined on May 4, 2022
overall3food3service4ambience4
Food not so good. Service was fine.
SM
ScottM
Nashville
6 reviews
vip
3.0
6 reviews
Dined on May 1, 2022
overall3food4service5ambience5
Food was very good. Unfortunately, the timing was really bad. The entree came out within a few minutes of the entree. Felt rushed although it was a slow night.
M
Mark
London
36 reviews
vip
4.0
36 reviews
Dined on May 1, 2022
overall4food5service2ambience5
Never good when you have to ask where is your food. Micheal told us he was going to speak to manager because it was taking so long. Food was great! They gave us dessert
OT
OpenTable Diner
New Orleans
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on May 1, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our first time at Playa and it was amazing. We were returning home from a weekend at the beach and decided to try Playa and it was well worth it.
JT
JimT
Birmingham
3 reviews
1.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 1, 2022
overall1food1service1ambience3
We got a reservation at 8:30 and the seated us about 30 minutes early. Food took over an hour to get to the table. We saw the waitress only twice during that time. When the food arrived it was very cold. The manager came out and comped our meals. The manager said that they had staffing issues all spring. They handled the situation correctly and I appreciate the comped meal. I have heard so many good things about Playa. I will try it again, but it won’t be any time soon. I want to wait until they get their staffing worked out.
DC
DCparent
Washington DC
6 reviews
4.0
6 reviews
Dined on May 1, 2022
overall4food4service2ambience3
We love this restaurant and have a home right down the street so we come here often. The food is awesome, as is the service. However, lately it's been hit or miss. Looks like they may be overbooking or not finding enough kitchen staff. The wait staff seemed to have plenty of time but the kitchen was backed up so it took a while for our order. We will definitely go there again since its so close and we have enjoyed it so much in the past but I hope they figure out their issues for the next time.
TB
TcyB
Birmingham
11 reviews
1.0
11 reviews
Dined on May 1, 2022
overall1food1service1ambience1
So sad. We’ve eaten here before and it was great. Last night was disastrous. After sitting for almost an hour with no food we were told there was an “issue” in the kitchen. It was then we noticed no one had food, even those who had arrived before us. We never saw our server again. We had arrived at 7:30. It was now almost 9. We spoke to management then left.
M
Markk
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 30, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Seared tuna was perfect. Orange Ribs are a delight. Virginia our server was the best.

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
Physical distancing
- Extra space between tables

Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
- Staff temperature check required

FAQs

Playa offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (251) 981-9891.

Playa is rated 4.4 stars by 833 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 21, 2022

May 2022

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

7:00 PM

Booked 66 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(251) 981-9891

27842 Canal Rd Orange Beach, AL 36561

Additional information

Neighborhood
Orange Beach
Hours of operation
Brunch Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Tue–Sat 11:00 am–3:00 pm Bar Tue–Sat 3:00 pm–4:00 pm Dinner Tue–Sat 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
Cuisines
Seafood, American, Southern
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Resort Casual
Parking details
We have 3 transient boat slips for docking at Sportsman Marina.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Executive chef
Bill Briand
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.playaoba.com/
Phone number
(251) 981-9891
Private party facilities
Playa is available for all different type events from business cocktail receptions, to full out wedding receptions. Even if you want a small intimate dinner party in our private room (the surf room) up to 10 people to celebrate an anniversary or birthday, custom coursed menus are available and reservations required. We can host events from 10 people up to 300 persons! Check us out at playaoba.com for more information. Due to COVID-19, regulations have changed, only a max of 8 persons per table.

Playa

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Additional information

Coconut Shrimp

Playa Burger

Filet Mignon

Seafood Appetizers

Murder Point Oysters Raw*

Playa Shrimp Ceviche$14.00

Crab Claws

The Playa Platter

Smoked Tuna Dip$15.00

Fried Gulf Oyster$12.00

Crab Toast

Chilled Peel' N' Eat Shrimp$17.00

Coconut Shrimp$14.00

Non-Seafood Appetizers

Street Corn$5.00

Fried Grits$14.00

Orange Sesame Ribs$12.00

Guacamole Your Way$10.00

Salads

Playa House$8.00

Grilled Romaine$12.00

Caesar$8.00

Sesame Seared Tuna$18.00

Add-Ons

Mahi$14.00

Fried Oysters (6ct)$12.00

Fried Shrimp (9ct)$9.00

Grilled Chicken$7.00

Entrées

Redfish on the Half Shell

Island Gulf Shrimp$26.00

Seared Tuna$32.00

Whole Gulf Fish

Orange Sesame Ribs$24.00

Fried Coconut Grouper$29.00

Grilled Mahi$30.00

Tuna Poke Bowl*$27.00

Cajun Pork Chop*$28.00

Filet Mignon*$42.00

Taco Bowl$18.00

Playa Burger$15.00

Sides

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Bacon-Smothered Collard Greens

Coconut Rice

French Fries

Street Corn

Seaweed Salad

Desserts

Cheesecake

Key Lime Pie

Strawberry Shortcake

Peanut Butter Pie

Kids Food

Cheeseburger$8.00

Fried Shrimp$7.00

Cheese Quesadilla$7.00

Chicken Strips$7.00

Fried Fish Bites$7.00

N/A Beverages

Topo Chico Sparkling Water$3.00

Iced Tea$3.00

Coffee$3.00

Abita Root Beer

Soft Drinks$3.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

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Filters

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Screening

FAQs

Does Playa offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Playa restaurant rated?