Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Northwest Florida

OpenTable

Updated October 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in Northwest Florida? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Renaissance

4.9

4.9 (105)

$31 to $50

Traditional French

Santa Rosa Beach

About the restaurant

Pure white Haussmannian wall panel moldings, gold mirrors, marble bistro tables, herringbone floors, green velvet booths…

…The sweet perfume of Rosemary, Thyme, Toasted Baguette, Truffles, Boeuf Bourguignon served by an elegant waiter…

…Melodies from Serge Gainsbourg and Edith Piaf are playing in the back, you love these songs, you try to guess the words…

…A Champagne bottle suddenly pops. You hear that very typical sound of 1500 years of French history in a bottle.

You have landed in Paris.

But are there palm trees in Paris?

Is it the Seine River? Why do you see a white sandy beach on the horizon? Are we in Paris? Or are we in “Floride”?

Come and see for yourself.

You are eating at Renaissance tonight!

Miam! Bon Appétit.

Top review

jim

Dined 4 days ago

Valerie was wonderful. From paris and food was great

Mom & Dad's Italian Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (738)

$30 and under

Italian

Tallahassee

About the restaurant

Mom & Dad's Italian Restaurant has been an iconic restaurant in Tallahassee for over 50 years. The authentic italian atmosphere is full of friends and family enjoying the delicious recipes passed down through generations.

Top review

John

Dined 4 days ago

Our evening was wonderful. Garrison and Maggie were great. Food was fantastic as usual. We were celebrating my mother’s 94th birthday and it was a great time. Hoping to be able to celebrate her 95th there next year.

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Pazzo Italiano Destin

4.8

4.8 (1981)

$30 and under

Italian

Destin

About the restaurant

Two friends, two devoted family men, two restaurant lovers and now businessmen, that have been serving and delighting others for over 20+ years. We are excited to share with you our passion, our heart’s work: Pazzo Italiano.

Our menu has been carefully pieced together to bring you a combination of your favorite Italian staples, some more sophisticated flavors with a touch of fun and some new crazy combinations. We look forward to sharing our passion for taste and our love for service with you…

Top review

Fordvip

Dined 2 days ago

Always the best service and food! Our favorite in Destin!

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Basil and Baxter's Kitchen & Cocktails

4.8

4.8 (273)

$30 and under

American

Destin

About the restaurant

Locally owned and operated.. We have a unique menu blending American cuisine with a touch of creole. Lunch varies from our popular shrimp & grits, to our delicious and filling $9.99 specials like bourbon chicken or sweet n sour chicken, to a fresh beef burger. Dinner provides a daily special on our blackboard often offering local grouper or steak, or consider our dinner menu with salads, pastas, steaks and unique entrees. Brunch on Sunday offers a la carte menu, buffet from 9am till 130pm, along with $10 bottomless mimosas. We also have a full bar with a great wine list.

Top review

Todd

Dined 3 days ago

Excellent food. Great menu choices, and it was hard to decide what to get. We will be going back to try more options. Also a very relaxed environment. All four of us highly recommend it.

O'Brien's Bistro

4.7

4.7 (441)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Pensacola

About the restaurant

Voted -Best Locally Owned & Best Casual Dining Restaurant in Pensacola by VIP Pensacola Magazine readers poll.

A small locally owned restaurant where great food is paired with great wine.
O’Brien's Bistro is one of the few restaurants in Pensacola truly owned and operated by the chef!

Our menu items are just some of the flavor combinations we have created. Our kitchen staff will try to accommodate menu changes or requests you may have. Our goal is if the ingredients are on the pages of our menu, we can cook it your way, well, of course, within reason!

Top review

Bobby

Dined on Sep 24, 2024

The Salmon was delicious and the service excellent!

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Popular dish

Filet Mignon

Brother Fox

4.7

4.7 (136)

$31 to $50

Spanish

Pensacola

About the restaurant

We pay tribute to the rugged individualism of Pensacola’s unique historic cultural significance, specifically its Spanish influence. Real and super-rustic, the kitchen presents Old World cookery at its roots, with all the layers peeled back. Brother Fox utilizes a live-fire approach to cooking almost everything that we serve, from coal-roasted oysters to Carne Asada for two, served with hot tortillas. Our beautiful outdoor seating sets the stage for a casual meet up with friends for a glass of wine from regions near and far, carafes of Bathtub Gin or Sangrias from the bar. Inside, the cuisine and casually elegant design are the embodiment of a “neighborhood” spot that caters to visitors and residents alike, for special occasions, celebrations, and some of the finest wood-fired cuisine in Pensacola. Imagine food with soul, both exciting and traditional, in a breezy setting, right in the heart of Old East Hill.

We are open daily for Dinner at 5pm

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 6 days ago

Great food and great service. Will definitely be back.

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Experience

Astral Under the Stars

Ocean Club Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (1037)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Destin

About the restaurant

Christmas Eve/Christmas Day/New Year's Eve Updates:

PLEASE CONTACT THE RESTAURANT DIRECTLY FOR THESE HOLIDAYS & ANY DAYS THAT ARE BLOCKED DUE TO LARGE PARTIES!

Main Phone number: 850-267-3666 (Office Manager/Kathleen)

We will have a special Christmas Day Menu, which will be uploaded as soon as it is approved. Please check back by December 5, 2021.

New Year's Eve will have 3 seatings with 3 different menus and different price points. Menus will be uploaded no later than December 5, 2021.
Early Seating 4:30 pm $59.95 per person
Middle Seating 6:30 pm $89.95 (live music) per person
Late Seating 9pm till? $119.95 (LIVE MUSIC/BAND W/ CHAMPAGNE TOAST) per person

Ocean Club Management

Top review

Johnvip

Dined on Sep 20, 2024

Ocean Club never fails to be one of our favorite dining choices. So consistent in every way. We always start at the bar for an appetizer and glass of wine. All of the employees treat us like family. And, Brett makes our night with his wit and friendly personality. Try the garden room for a wonderful venue for your table.

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4.5

4.5 (496)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Tallahassee

About the restaurant

For over 30 years, friends and families have enjoyed a unique combination of friendly service, eclectic ambiance and award-winning cuisine at Food Glorious Food. Our shaded outdoor patio, upper and lower indoor dining, and private events room provide the perfect setting for a special dining experience.

Top review

Javier

Dined on Sep 21, 2024

Food was so good. Highly recommend & will go back.

Wild Olives Market & Cafe

4.5

4.5 (99)

$50 and over

Mediterranean

Seagrove Beach

About the restaurant

WILD OLIVES

Wild Olives in SeaGrove, Florida features gourmet cheeses and fine wines along with a bistro menu. The menu is well thought out, with salads, platters, small plate offerings and entrées. Chris' burger is the burger you won't forget. Small plates at Wild Olives are made for sharing, and, if you choose several, you can create a meal for your entire party. Salads are served with bread, so they can be almost a meal in and of themselves. You have to try the Crispy Tuna Poke, Fried Goat Cheese and Crab Cakes with Red Pepper Aioli. Popular main entrees include the Chef's Cut, Greek Catch and Paprika Chicken with Pancetta, don't forget about Chris' Famous Reuben "Dagwood".

Chef Chris Trovas prepares Chef's Specials weekly with fresh local seafood.

Wild Olives is known for Friday Night Wine Tastings, they take place every Friday from 4pm-7pm.

Wild Olives is a Family-Friendly Restaurant!

Join our VIP Email List by visiting www.wildolives30a.com

STAY WILD

Top review

mcguirevip

Dined on Sep 27, 2024

Megan was wonderful The grouper Greek style was amazing We are locals One of our favorite restaurants

red onion organic restaurant

4.4

4.4 (21)

$30 and under

Mediterranean

Destin

About the restaurant

Mediterranean style restaurant with Greek tapas and small plates.